[nysbirds-l] Singing Kentucky Warbler Chenango County NY

[David Nicosia]

All,

I was doing Breeding Bird Atlasing on my block in Beaver Meadow SF northern
Chenango County today and came across a singing Kentucky Warbler, What is
most unusual is that it was amid many northern breeders in a mixed northern
hardwood/spruce forest. At the same time this bird was singing, I had
BLACKBURNIAN, MAGNOLIA, BLACK THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, RED BREASTED
NUTHATCHES and other birds of northern affinities singing.  It was quite a
surprise to hear this "southerner" amid the others. Fortunately, I was able
to get some photos.I did almost a 10 mile loop on my block through
mostly northern hardwood/spruce/pine forests and was happy to see that (at
least in this location) many species seemed very common to abundant. I
tallied 77 singing OVENBIRDS!  I also had 32 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS in
nearly 10 miles.  In any event, it was a great day to be out before the
storms hit.

ebird list is here w/ KEWA photos
https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S110986836

Best,
Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Swainson's Thrush Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area Chenango Co. NY

[David Nicosia]

All,

After much searching, I finally found a location that has decent numbers of
SWAINSON'S THRUSH in Chenango County. For many years, it seemed easy to get
this species in New Michigan State Forest Pharsalia NY during summer. This
year I did have one singing bird on the Old CCC Truck Rd well west of the
intersection of North Rd. I had this bird singing one time among three
trips. This state forest in particular used to be a stronghold of this
species for many years outside of the Adirondacks and Catskills. Logging
and the tornado in 2011 seems to have hurt this species in New Michigan SF.

I checked out Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area today and was pleasantly
surprised to hear at least 4 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES singing on CCC Truck trail
near the large bend( 42.623006°N and 75.707625°W). There are a lot of
younger spruces there amid scattered large spruces. I definitely heard 4
singing males and possibly one more farther down. This is the most I have
had in one location up there in many years.  There were a lot of MAGNOLIA
WARBLERS in this general area and other locations nearby. BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLERS were quite common in the deep spruce woods along with mixed spruce
/ northern hardwoods. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS also were very numerous. Each
of these species I confirmed breeding as you could hear begging young all
over.

Here is my list which has two audio recordings of the beautiful song of
SWAINSON'S THRUSH.

https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S91180525

Best,
Dave

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[nysbirds-l] Global Big Day and Massive White-Winged Scoter Flight Broome Co. NY

[David Nicosia]

All,

Had about 7 hours to bird today so I made the most of it and began at one
of our local hotspots - Whitney Point Dam. along Keibal Rd. Jim Hoteling,
one of our fine local birders, made it there early and reported an amazing
250+ WW SCOTERS on the dam. I came up quickly and we found even more up the
reservoir. We had a close estimate of *400 WW SCOTERS* which crushed the
Broome Co previous high count record of 27. I also looked around the Finger
Lakes county's ebird reports and it looks like this could be a record for
upstate NY in the counties away from Lake Ontario/Lake Erie and of course
it pales in comparison to the staggering numbers that have been counted
from Long Island.  This is the most of this species I have ever seen away
from the coast by far. There were also other reports of high numbers of WW
SCOTERS around the Finger Lakes too. I suspect last night's heavy rain
coincided with a big migratory flight of this species and many of these
birds were forced down. Amazingly we carefully checked all the scoters and
only came up with 1 SURF SCOTER. We also had 4 RED-NECKED GREBES which are
rare in Broome Co but regular each year.

Keibal rd in Whitney Point is unique in that it has woodland and field
habitat that comes right up to the lake.  There were quite a few warbler
flocks mostly Yellow-rumped, but we also had several other species   List
for Keibal Rd is here https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S87440451

Upper Lisle County Park was quiet as we hit it midday and it was beginning
to get windy with temperatures around 40F. Upper Lisle Co. Park list is
here https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S87472754

I totaled 103 species in Broome County which was decent. I wish I had more
time.

I hope many of you had an awesome day too!

Good Birding to all!
Best,
Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Bird shootings in Delaware County!

[David Nicosia]

Delaware County Sheriff is telling people to stop shooting birds on wires
so as to *not cause power and telecommunication outages!*  But there is NO
mention in the article that this is highly illegal and bad for the birds!
So basically it's OK to shoot a bird not on a wire? Unbelievable. The
NYSDEC police should be notified by the sheriff or the sheriff should
arrest these folks. What the heck is going on?  What can be done?

see article in a Binghamton News Radio Station website...
https://wnbf.com/delaware-sheriff-quit-shooting-birds-on-wires/

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] King Eider still present Keibal Rd Whitney Point Reservoir late this afternoon 11/10/2020

[david nicosia]

All, 

The KING EIDER was farther up the shore on the Whitney Point Reservoir as seen 
from Keibal Rd this afternoon on a gloriously warm sunny day. The bird was 
farther offshore too and frequently diving. The exact location where I had the 
bird today was   42.352361°N and 75.980250°W. The bird was slowly working its 
way south again a little farther offshore. 

I also had a flyover COMMON REDPOLL my first in Broome Co in a few years. The 
bird unfortunately flew right toward the sun so I couldn't get a flight photo. 
I also heard a PINE SISKIN as well. I thought I heard evening grosbeaks too but 
they were so distant I am not 100% sure. 

It was pretty quiet for songbirds. I didn't even get an american goldfinch! But 
there was an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW that was calling and occasionally singing a 
little which was cool near the end of the road. 

My ebird list can be found here...   https://ebird.org/checklist/S76093911

Best, 
Dave Nicosia 

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[nysbirds-l] King Eider Broome Co. Whitney Point Dam Whitney Pt. NY Today Nov 8 2020

[david nicosia]

All, 

>From the beginning of Keibal rd on the west side of Whitney Point Dam Whitney 
>Point, NY, I found a female-type KING EIDER very close to the shore near the 
>beginning of the dirt road. The bird was at times maybe 15 feet away from the 
>shore. This is the first Broome e-bird record, and the first I am aware of for 
>possibly 20 years in the county. The bird was actively diving and staying in 
>the same vicinity for over an hour. The exact location can be found here...

https://goo.gl/maps/9VjwHhT2nqtV3V2s9

See:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S76013128


for photos.

Best,
Dave Nicosia 




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[nysbirds-l] Unusual Weather Pattern - More Vagrants? Cave Swallows??

[David Nicosia]

All,

We are experiencing an incredible stretch of southwest winds that began
Wednesday Nov 4th and is expected to last until Tuesday the 10th. That is 7
days of unseasonably mild southwest flow. I ran some wind trajectories from
southern Texas and other points in the southwest U.S and most of them end
up in southeast Canada in 3 to 5 days. If these winds pick up some stray
birds they would eventually make their way south probably mostly along the
coast.  I wonder if we will see an influx of CAVE SWALLOWS in the northeast
like many Novembers. Looking at ebird there have been only a few CAVE
SWALLOW reports in southern NJ and in PA/MD,  all prior to this warm spell.
Also maybe a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER or two will show up?  The SAGE
THRASHER is unrelated to this pattern since it was spotted on Nov 4th after
that cold spell (and snow that we had upstate!).  Anyway, good luck and
enjoy the gorgeous fall weather! It will be interesting to see what shows
up.

Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] American Golden-Plover declines - wind farms?

[David Nicosia]

https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/global-warming/mid-holocene-warm-period

https://phys.org/news/2008-10-ice-arctic-ocean-years.amp?__twitter_impression=true

The Arctic was warmer due to orbital parameters back then, not an enhanced
greenhouse effect, or slightly warmer sun like today. I believe the Earth's
obliquity was larger, meaning more sunlight in summer. Anyway, our species
are still around that nest in the Arctic so they somehow survived this
warmer period up there. Now we will never know if it caused a decline in
species and what species in particular.

Are other shorebird species declining as migrants in NY?  I don't have a
firm grasp on this at all. It is just based on qualitative impressions.
(maybe someone else does?)  I remember easily seeing 50-100+ pectoral
sandpipers at Knox-Marcellus marsh back 5 years or so in the fall. Now it
is hard to get more than 30. Many times it is just a dozen or so of late.
These are just my observations and could be off. I know the pectoral
sandpiper also is a spring migrant through the plains and midwest. Baird's
Sandpiper, another spring migrant through the Plains, always seems like we
get just a few here and there each fall in NY and I don't see much change
there. Buff-breasted sandpipers, another similar migrant, always seems to
be reported here and there and is even more rare.

I also just read a scientific study that suggests American Golden-Plovers
do not avoid wind farms. "Homoya, W., J. W. Moore, P. J. Ruhl, and J. B.
Dunning (2017). Do American Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis dominica) avoid
wind-energy turbines in agricultural fields in Indiana during spring
migration? Wilson Journal of Ornithology 129:863–871."  But there is no
evidence that the turbines are killing birds.  The sighting of the wind
farms is probably the most important aspect for bird conservation. That is
why it is important for local birders and bird organizations to be aware of
placement of said wind farms. I guess my main point is we can't get
complacent about green energy. We can't make the assumption that it will be
"good" for our birds. It has to be sited properly and away from important
habitats for our migrants.

But you still see this stuff
https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/2020/04/09/ny-strikes-down-wind-farm-objections/2970483001/

I know there was much outcry from the birding community since this is a
major golden eagle migratory pathway and now there will be wind farms all
around. The state also blew off the local residents in Windsor that don't
want this. Anyway, this could get ugly in the future if we increase our
wind farms by 4 times.

Dave Nicosia








On Sat, Oct 24, 2020 at 6:01 AM Joseph O'Sullivan 
wrote:

> What paleoclimate study or studies come to the conclusion that the Arctic
> was 2-4c warmer 8000 years ago? I would like to read those reports. Could
> you provide a link?
>
> On Fri, Oct 23, 2020 at 7:59 PM David Nicosia 
> wrote:
>
>> All,
>>
>> In Broome Co we have been fortunate to have had a great year for the
>> AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER. That is most definitely related to the drawdown of
>> Whitney Point Reservoir which empasses ebird hotspots of Upper Lisle Co.
>> Park, Dorchester Park and Keibel Rd.   But, based on looking at Bull's
>> comment from his 1974 publication and many of you chiming in on how much
>> less common this bird is, what could be causing this decline?   The only
>> thing that has changed significantly for this species , especially in the
>> last 10-15 years, is the proliferation of wind farms in the central Plains
>> and midwest. This is a major migratory pathway for this species especially
>> in the spring and still even in the fall. The rapid and continued rapid
>> deployment of wind farms in fields where these birds forage and rest on
>> their way to the Arctic likely has something to do with the population
>> declines.  The Arctic has not warmed much since 2010 and the fact that the
>> Arctic was 2-4C warmer 8000 years ago vs today based on paleoclimate
>> studies suggests that this is not a major factor at least yet. Winter
>> grounds look similar and I could not find anything published related to a
>> use of a new pesticide or herbicide down there. They also like the wetter
>> areas on their winter grounds that are grazed by cattle which hasn't
>> changed much. So unless the declines are cyclic related to availability of
>> other prey for predators (lemmings etc) the only other thing to consider is
>> the rapid increase in wind farms in a major migratory pathway for this
>> species. I think as birders we have to be careful supporting wind farms.
>> Wind farms and solar farms Which can destroy a lot of field and forest
>> habitat DO have an impact on birds. And energy compani

[nysbirds-l] American Golden-Plover declines - wind farms?

[David Nicosia]

All,

In Broome Co we have been fortunate to have had a great year for the
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER. That is most definitely related to the drawdown of
Whitney Point Reservoir which empasses ebird hotspots of Upper Lisle Co.
Park, Dorchester Park and Keibel Rd.   But, based on looking at Bull's
comment from his 1974 publication and many of you chiming in on how much
less common this bird is, what could be causing this decline?   The only
thing that has changed significantly for this species , especially in the
last 10-15 years, is the proliferation of wind farms in the central Plains
and midwest. This is a major migratory pathway for this species especially
in the spring and still even in the fall. The rapid and continued rapid
deployment of wind farms in fields where these birds forage and rest on
their way to the Arctic likely has something to do with the population
declines.  The Arctic has not warmed much since 2010 and the fact that the
Arctic was 2-4C warmer 8000 years ago vs today based on paleoclimate
studies suggests that this is not a major factor at least yet. Winter
grounds look similar and I could not find anything published related to a
use of a new pesticide or herbicide down there. They also like the wetter
areas on their winter grounds that are grazed by cattle which hasn't
changed much. So unless the declines are cyclic related to availability of
other prey for predators (lemmings etc) the only other thing to consider is
the rapid increase in wind farms in a major migratory pathway for this
species. I think as birders we have to be careful supporting wind farms.
Wind farms and solar farms Which can destroy a lot of field and forest
habitat DO have an impact on birds. And energy companies don't care about
this stuff, they want to make money. My contention is that wind farms are
what is causing the declines in the golden plovers and other shorebirds
passing through the middle of the country. With projections of a 4 times
increase in wind farms by 2050, this could be a major issue. If our country
goes through with this without a commitment from China, Russia or India to
reduce CO2 emissions it will all be a waste.  So in summary I don't agree
with Audubon's  position on renewable energy. I think it could have major
negative impacts for our birds. A climate that is gradually warming likely
will help birds, not hurt them. Summers without cold rainy periods are good
for nesting. A warmer less stormy arctic is good for arctic
nesting shorebirds. When we had a  very chilly summer with leftover snow in
the Arctic a few years back I remember the nesting season was proclaimed
really bad by researchers up there. So let's be very careful about
supporting renewable energy when it leads to destruction of habitat and
literally death of our birds. I am concerned about the future related to
this.

Dave

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls

[david nicosia]

 This comes from the official Canada website that Bonaparte's Gull has "large 
increases" and they come to this conclusion with CBC data!  Based on your 
accounts they are completely wrong, but I thought it was a credible site since 
it was from the Canadian Government. My bad. 
see 
https://wildlife-species.canada.ca/bird-status/oiseau-bird-eng.aspx?sY=2019&sL=e&sM=c&sB=BOGU



On Sunday, October 18, 2020, 10:04:07 AM EDT, Richard Veit 
 wrote:  
 
 I dont think this is correct.  the "increase" in Maine is up from a few 
hundred birds in the entire state to a couple of thousand (on all counts), and 
that was only in one year.  Similarly, most of the "increase" in North Carolina 
is due to a single data point.  Counts of many tens of thousands have been 
recorded on the Great Lakes, on the USA/Canadian border in the Campobello 
Island, in Massachusetts and in North Carolina, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s, 
but with a few counts of this magnitude into the 1990s.  There have been no 
records of any concentrations othis magnitude (tens of thousands) anywhere as 
far as we can tell, and I do not see how relatively small increases in Maine 
and North Carolina can account for these birds.  i dont know what the basis of 
a "big increase" in Canada is, but that seems to conflict with the opinions of 
everyone in the USA who was followed these Bonapartes flocks for 20-40 years.
On Sat, Oct 17, 2020 at 4:56 PM David Nicosia  wrote:

In Canada, they list Bonaparte's Gulls as having a "large increase".  
In Shai's graph of CBC you can see a definite decline of wintering BOGUs from 
the 70s, 80s and 90s to the 2010s in the RI and LI areas.  
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96951581@N02/50482248298/
I ran sea surface temperature departures from normal for the last 10 years and 
you can see that the area centered around Nova Scotia/Maine has warmed 1-2C in 
this time period. To see if maybe the BOGUs are wintering farther north on the 
east coast, I looked at CBC data from Maine and indeed there is a significant 
increase in BOGUs for their CBCs which matches the declines that Shai showed. I 
couldn't get the Nova Scotia data to work for some reason.  I also looked 
farther south and in NC, for instance, there also has been significant 
increases in CBC data for BOGUs too. So the decline at least around LI and 
maybe even around Niagara Fall's probably is related to the warming climate. 
Birds are shifting their wintering ranges farther north.  In the Great Lakes 
area, if the waters remain open farther north some birds just don't make it 
down. The same is for the northeast coast.  In NC, I don't have much of an 
answer other than the sea surface temperatures haven't warmed as much there.  
 




On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 10:14 AM  wrote:

Willie, that is very interesting. I had a quick look at CBC results - for NJ 
rather than NY, so as to avoid including any "Niagara Falls concentration 
effect," and the recent trend does appear to be a decline (with a few 
‘exception’ years mixed in). In this graph "120" is 2019, and numbers extend 
back to turn of century. I know "birds per party hour" is a rough measure (I 
was a CBC compiler for > 25 years, potential party-hour reporting vagaries 
acknowledged), but the numbers do suggest either a decline in population or a 
shift in wintering behavior.

Sorry, this was a quick take, now back to the ol’ day job…

Rick

P.S.  Hope the attached graph comes through - if now (and you're interested) I 
can send on the side.

-Original Message-
From: bounce-125036389-3714...@list.cornell.edu 
 On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 9:34 AM
To: '& [NYSBIRDS]' 
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls

I have enjoyed the recent posts about Bonaparte's Gulls. Some of the highest 
concentrations of Bonaparte's Gulls in the world occur along the Niagara River, 
with estimates of 50,000 to 100,000 on some days. It is a spectacle to witness 
this blizzard of gulls on the Niagara but it seems that numbers have declined, 
particularly in the last ten to 20 years. It is unfortunate that the only 
evidence that I can offer for this are my own subjective observations. Counts 
of gulls on the Niagara have been done sporadically and it is only in recent 
years that organized counts have been conducted on a yearly basis, with three 
counts per season (late fall/winter), by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Numbers of Bonies, as they are affectionately called here, month to month along 
the Niagara, are highly interesting. Twenty to fifty years ago, numbers would 
begin to build on the Niagara in late July with most of these birds consisting 
of one-year-olds. By mid August, there would be a significant influx of adults, 
only just finished with their breeding activities in Canada. Hundreds of 

Re: [nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls

[David Nicosia]

In Canada, they list Bonaparte's Gulls as having a "large increase".

In Shai's graph of CBC you can see a definite decline of wintering BOGUs
from the 70s, 80s and 90s to the 2010s in the RI and LI areas.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96951581@N02/50482248298/

I ran sea surface temperature departures from normal for the last 10 years
and you can see that the area centered around Nova Scotia/Maine has warmed
1-2C in this time period. To see if maybe the BOGUs are wintering farther
north on the east coast, I looked at CBC data from Maine and indeed there
is a significant increase in BOGUs for their CBCs which matches the
declines that Shai showed. I couldn't get the Nova Scotia data to work for
some reason.  I also looked farther south and in NC, for instance, there
also has been significant increases in CBC data for BOGUs too. So the
decline at least around LI and maybe even around Niagara Fall's probably is
related to the warming climate. Birds are shifting their wintering ranges
farther north.  In the Great Lakes area, if the waters remain open farther
north some birds just don't make it down. The same is for the northeast
coast.  In NC, I don't have much of an answer other than the sea surface
temperatures haven't warmed as much there.








On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 10:14 AM  wrote:

> Willie, that is very interesting. I had a quick look at CBC results - for
> NJ rather than NY, so as to avoid including any "Niagara Falls
> concentration effect," and the recent trend does appear to be a decline
> (with a few ‘exception’ years mixed in). In this graph "120" is 2019, and
> numbers extend back to turn of century. I know "birds per party hour" is a
> rough measure (I was a CBC compiler for > 25 years, potential party-hour
> reporting vagaries acknowledged), but the numbers do suggest either a
> decline in population or a shift in wintering behavior.
>
> Sorry, this was a quick take, now back to the ol’ day job…
>
> Rick
>
> P.S.  Hope the attached graph comes through - if now (and you're
> interested) I can send on the side.
>
> -Original Message-
> From: bounce-125036389-3714...@list.cornell.edu <
> bounce-125036389-3714...@list.cornell.edu> On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna
> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 9:34 AM
> To: '& [NYSBIRDS]' 
> Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls
>
> I have enjoyed the recent posts about Bonaparte's Gulls. Some of the
> highest concentrations of Bonaparte's Gulls in the world occur along the
> Niagara River, with estimates of 50,000 to 100,000 on some days. It is a
> spectacle to witness this blizzard of gulls on the Niagara but it seems
> that numbers have declined, particularly in the last ten to 20 years. It is
> unfortunate that the only evidence that I can offer for this are my own
> subjective observations. Counts of gulls on the Niagara have been done
> sporadically and it is only in recent years that organized counts have been
> conducted on a yearly basis, with three counts per season (late
> fall/winter), by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
>
> Numbers of Bonies, as they are affectionately called here, month to month
> along the Niagara, are highly interesting. Twenty to fifty years ago,
> numbers would begin to build on the Niagara in late July with most of these
> birds consisting of one-year-olds. By mid August, there would be a
> significant influx of adults, only just finished with their breeding
> activities in Canada. Hundreds of individuals could be seen at the source
> of the river (Buffalo/Fort Erie) and below the falls or in the
> Lewiston/Queenston area. At times there would be well over a thousand,
> particularly when there was a good southwesterly blow that would push more
> of them to the eastern end of Lake Erie. These numbers more or less
> continued, perhaps with a slight decrease, into October, although whenever
> there was a southwesterly blow numbers would spike considerably. The big
> numbers would arrive in late October/early November and reach their highest
> levels later in November. Numbers would then slowly decrease into January
> when at some point, ice formation would cause most of them to depart.
> During some milder winters, several hundred would remain through the
> season. In a typical winter, only a handful would remain. Starting in
> February, numbers would slowly start to increase and by late March they
> would be abundant again. Numbers would dwindle during April and they would
> be completely gone by about the third week of May, save for a variable
> number of non-breeding birds. June and July have been the nadir of the
> Bonies occurrence on the Niagara, although there were usually some
> immatures around, particularly on Lake Erie.
>
> To me, the most dramatic change with the Bonies here has been the numbers
> during spring. Whereas their spring numbers used to be very comparable to
> those during late fall, there have been some springs recently where peak
> numbers were barely into the hundreds, as opposed to the mult

Re: [nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls

[david nicosia]

 I quick check of ebird in Januaries indeed shows many more BOGUs wintering 
into Lower Michigan, Lake Huron and vicinity in milder winters. The colder 
winters they do not stay up there at all. There are all south. That could 
explain some of the lower numbers recents years. 
On Thursday, October 15, 2020, 03:12:51 PM EDT, David Nicosia 
 wrote:  
 
 To clarify, I wonder if they are sticking around the upper Great Lakes more in 
the winter since the ice has been much less recently up there. That would 
affect our numbers in NY
On Thu, Oct 15, 2020 at 3:10 PM David Nicosia  wrote:

I wonder if BOGUs are wintering farther north due to recent milder winters? 
On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 7:12 PM  wrote:


I’m most pleased at the developing discussion on small gulls and other bird 
population fluctuations (mainly declines ☹).

 

One quick thought – on choice of statistics (which several raised): when 
dealing with crowd sourced data (yeah, that includes CBC, well-tended though it 
is), it’s always apples and oranges to some degree. If the effect is strong 
enough, it will carry through across a number of approaches (as seems to be the 
case here, not insignificantly!). 

 

The best evidence for this discussion would be either (1) a Zeusian, universal, 
longitudinal population census worldwide, or (if Zeus isn’t around), a really 
accurate sampling census, based on sightings by a giant number of random field 
groups, to determine likelihood. Neither such precise dataset is readily at 
hand. So we have to squint at what we have, augmented by rich, expertized field 
observations, which fortunately are in at least adequate supply.

 

As I said at the start of my post, I didn’t have much time this morning and 
grabbed what I could find quickly. Very pleased to see additional info others 
have posted (e.g., from CBCs where the data parameters are known personally, 
and thus trustable, as w/Dick’s), or longitudinal counts from Niagara (a world 
concentration point, with systematic censuses), or even careful notes from 
Gravesend Bay (though movements here can be ephemeral – but hey, it’s still 
information, and I like the place!).

 

Hope folks keep grappling with how to best sort all of this stuff out.  Citizen 
science at its best should actively embrace these issues – even though I 
actually kind of hate the term “citizen science” as it’s sort of condescending 
and ambiguous, but probably that’s just me.

 

Best to the list,

Rick

 

From: Richard Veit  
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 5:07 PM
To: rc...@nyc.rr.com
Cc: Willie D'Anna ; & [NYSBIRDS] 
; Emily Peyton 
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls

 

here is a plot of bonaparte's gulls on massachusetts cbcs 1979-2018.  All the 
major coastal aggregation spots i know of (Campobello Is, maine, Newburyport, 
MA, Provincetown and Nantucket, MA, Jones Inlet, NY, Staten Island, NY) have 
dropped from thousands to tens of thousands of birds to handfuls.  We missed it 
on the Staten Island CBC this year and saw hardly any at Nantucket.  I used 
just total birds rather than birds per party hour in the graph because the 
birds are all in one place and are either seen or not seen, regardless of how 
many people or groups on the cbc  (more or less)

 

On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 10:08 AM  wrote:


Willie, that is very interesting. I had a quick look at CBC results - for NJ
rather than NY, so as to avoid including any "Niagara Falls concentration
effect," and the recent trend does appear to be a decline (with a few
‘exception’ years mixed in). In this graph "120" is 2019, and numbers extend
back to turn of century. I know "birds per party hour" is a rough measure (I
was a CBC compiler for > 25 years, potential party-hour reporting vagaries
acknowledged), but the numbers do suggest either a decline in population or
a shift in wintering behavior.

Sorry, this was a quick take, now back to the ol’ day job…

Rick



-Original Message-
From: bounce-125036389-3714...@list.cornell.edu
 On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 9:34 AM
To: '& [NYSBIRDS]' 
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls

I have enjoyed the recent posts about Bonaparte's Gulls. Some of the
highest concentrations of Bonaparte's Gulls in the world occur along the
Niagara River, with estimates of 50,000 to 100,000 on some days. It is a
spectacle to witness this blizzard of gulls on the Niagara but it seems that
numbers have declined, particularly in the last ten to 20 years. It is
unfortunate that the only evidence that I can offer for this are my own
subjective observations. Counts of gulls on the Niagara have been done
sporadically and it is only in recent years that organized counts have been
conducted on a yearly basis, with three counts per season (late
fall/winter), by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Numbers of Bonies, as they are affectionately called here, month to mon

Re: [nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls

[David Nicosia]

To clarify, I wonder if they are sticking around the upper Great Lakes more
in the winter since the ice has been much less recently up there. That
would affect our numbers in NY

On Thu, Oct 15, 2020 at 3:10 PM David Nicosia  wrote:

> I wonder if BOGUs are wintering farther north due to recent milder
> winters?
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 7:12 PM  wrote:
>
>> I’m most pleased at the developing discussion on small gulls and other
>> bird population fluctuations (mainly declines ☹).
>>
>>
>>
>> One quick thought – on choice of statistics (which several raised): when
>> dealing with crowd sourced data (yeah, that includes CBC, well-tended
>> though it is), it’s always apples and oranges to some degree. If the effect
>> is strong enough, it will carry through across a number of approaches (as
>> seems to be the case here, not insignificantly!).
>>
>>
>>
>> The best evidence for this discussion would be either (1) a Zeusian,
>> universal, longitudinal population census worldwide, or (if Zeus isn’t
>> around), a really accurate sampling census, based on sightings by a giant
>> number of random field groups, to determine likelihood. Neither such
>> precise dataset is readily at hand. So we have to squint at what we have,
>> augmented by rich, expertized field observations, which fortunately are in
>> at least adequate supply.
>>
>>
>>
>> As I said at the start of my post, I didn’t have much time this morning
>> and grabbed what I could find quickly. Very pleased to see additional info
>> others have posted (e.g., from CBCs where the data parameters are known
>> personally, and thus trustable, as w/Dick’s), or longitudinal counts from
>> Niagara (a world concentration point, with systematic censuses), or even
>> careful notes from Gravesend Bay (though movements here can be ephemeral –
>> but hey, it’s still information, and I like the place!).
>>
>>
>>
>> Hope folks keep grappling with how to best sort all of this stuff out.
>> Citizen science at its best should actively embrace these issues – even
>> though I actually kind of hate the term “citizen science” as it’s sort of
>> condescending and ambiguous, but probably that’s just me.
>>
>>
>>
>> Best to the list,
>>
>> Rick
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Richard Veit 
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2020 5:07 PM
>> *To:* rc...@nyc.rr.com
>> *Cc:* Willie D'Anna ; & [NYSBIRDS] <
>> nysbird...@list.cornell.edu>; Emily Peyton 
>> *Subject:* Re: [nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls
>>
>>
>>
>> here is a plot of bonaparte's gulls on massachusetts cbcs 1979-2018.  All
>> the major coastal aggregation spots i know of (Campobello Is, maine,
>> Newburyport, MA, Provincetown and Nantucket, MA, Jones Inlet, NY, Staten
>> Island, NY) have dropped from thousands to tens of thousands of birds to
>> handfuls.  We missed it on the Staten Island CBC this year and saw hardly
>> any at Nantucket.  I used just total birds rather than birds per party hour
>> in the graph because the birds are all in one place and are either seen or
>> not seen, regardless of how many people or groups on the cbc  (more or
>> less)
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 10:08 AM  wrote:
>>
>> Willie, that is very interesting. I had a quick look at CBC results - for
>> NJ
>> rather than NY, so as to avoid including any "Niagara Falls concentration
>> effect," and the recent trend does appear to be a decline (with a few
>> ‘exception’ years mixed in). In this graph "120" is 2019, and numbers
>> extend
>> back to turn of century. I know "birds per party hour" is a rough measure
>> (I
>> was a CBC compiler for > 25 years, potential party-hour reporting vagaries
>> acknowledged), but the numbers do suggest either a decline in population
>> or
>> a shift in wintering behavior.
>>
>> Sorry, this was a quick take, now back to the ol’ day job…
>>
>> Rick
>>
>>
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: bounce-125036389-3714...@list.cornell.edu
>>  On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 9:34 AM
>> To: '& [NYSBIRDS]' 
>> Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls
>>
>> I have enjoyed the recent posts about Bonaparte's Gulls. Some of the
>> highest concentrations of Bonaparte's Gulls in the world occur along the
>> Niagara River, with estimates of 50,000 to 100,000 on some days. It is a
>> spectacle to witnes

Re: [nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls

[David Nicosia]

I wonder if BOGUs are wintering farther north due to recent milder winters?

On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 7:12 PM  wrote:

> I’m most pleased at the developing discussion on small gulls and other
> bird population fluctuations (mainly declines ☹).
>
>
>
> One quick thought – on choice of statistics (which several raised): when
> dealing with crowd sourced data (yeah, that includes CBC, well-tended
> though it is), it’s always apples and oranges to some degree. If the effect
> is strong enough, it will carry through across a number of approaches (as
> seems to be the case here, not insignificantly!).
>
>
>
> The best evidence for this discussion would be either (1) a Zeusian,
> universal, longitudinal population census worldwide, or (if Zeus isn’t
> around), a really accurate sampling census, based on sightings by a giant
> number of random field groups, to determine likelihood. Neither such
> precise dataset is readily at hand. So we have to squint at what we have,
> augmented by rich, expertized field observations, which fortunately are in
> at least adequate supply.
>
>
>
> As I said at the start of my post, I didn’t have much time this morning
> and grabbed what I could find quickly. Very pleased to see additional info
> others have posted (e.g., from CBCs where the data parameters are known
> personally, and thus trustable, as w/Dick’s), or longitudinal counts from
> Niagara (a world concentration point, with systematic censuses), or even
> careful notes from Gravesend Bay (though movements here can be ephemeral –
> but hey, it’s still information, and I like the place!).
>
>
>
> Hope folks keep grappling with how to best sort all of this stuff out.
> Citizen science at its best should actively embrace these issues – even
> though I actually kind of hate the term “citizen science” as it’s sort of
> condescending and ambiguous, but probably that’s just me.
>
>
>
> Best to the list,
>
> Rick
>
>
>
> *From:* Richard Veit 
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2020 5:07 PM
> *To:* rc...@nyc.rr.com
> *Cc:* Willie D'Anna ; & [NYSBIRDS] <
> nysbird...@list.cornell.edu>; Emily Peyton 
> *Subject:* Re: [nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls
>
>
>
> here is a plot of bonaparte's gulls on massachusetts cbcs 1979-2018.  All
> the major coastal aggregation spots i know of (Campobello Is, maine,
> Newburyport, MA, Provincetown and Nantucket, MA, Jones Inlet, NY, Staten
> Island, NY) have dropped from thousands to tens of thousands of birds to
> handfuls.  We missed it on the Staten Island CBC this year and saw hardly
> any at Nantucket.  I used just total birds rather than birds per party hour
> in the graph because the birds are all in one place and are either seen or
> not seen, regardless of how many people or groups on the cbc  (more or
> less)
>
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 10:08 AM  wrote:
>
> Willie, that is very interesting. I had a quick look at CBC results - for
> NJ
> rather than NY, so as to avoid including any "Niagara Falls concentration
> effect," and the recent trend does appear to be a decline (with a few
> ‘exception’ years mixed in). In this graph "120" is 2019, and numbers
> extend
> back to turn of century. I know "birds per party hour" is a rough measure
> (I
> was a CBC compiler for > 25 years, potential party-hour reporting vagaries
> acknowledged), but the numbers do suggest either a decline in population or
> a shift in wintering behavior.
>
> Sorry, this was a quick take, now back to the ol’ day job…
>
> Rick
>
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: bounce-125036389-3714...@list.cornell.edu
>  On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna
> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 9:34 AM
> To: '& [NYSBIRDS]' 
> Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls
>
> I have enjoyed the recent posts about Bonaparte's Gulls. Some of the
> highest concentrations of Bonaparte's Gulls in the world occur along the
> Niagara River, with estimates of 50,000 to 100,000 on some days. It is a
> spectacle to witness this blizzard of gulls on the Niagara but it seems
> that
> numbers have declined, particularly in the last ten to 20 years. It is
> unfortunate that the only evidence that I can offer for this are my own
> subjective observations. Counts of gulls on the Niagara have been done
> sporadically and it is only in recent years that organized counts have been
> conducted on a yearly basis, with three counts per season (late
> fall/winter), by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
>
> Numbers of Bonies, as they are affectionately called here, month to month
> along the Niagara, are highly interesting. Twenty to fifty years ago,
> numbers would begin to build on the Niagara in late July with most of these
> birds consisting of one-year-olds. By mid August, there would be a
> significant influx of adults, only just finished with their breeding
> activities in Canada. Hundreds of individuals could be seen at the source
> of
> the river (Buffalo/Fort Erie) and below the falls or in the
> Lewiston/Queenston area. At times there would be well over a 

Re: RE:[nysbirds-l] American Golden-Plover - another NYS migrant to worry about?

[david nicosia]

 Could it be the mass erection of wind farms in the central Plains? Many of 
these shorebirds including AGPL  migrate up through the Plains in the spring. 
With more and more wind farms and higher ones too in the Plains, could the 
mortality of the breeding adults finally be showing up? I can imagine a whole 
flock of shorebirds in a flooded muddy field surrounded by wind farms. A falcon 
or other predator comes by and they fly right into the turbines. Weather 
patterns could also be a big factor too as mentioned. I do hope it is the 
latter. If it is not, many of our shorebirds (and other species) will be 
imperiled by the growth of wind farms.  
On Thursday, October 15, 2020, 12:24:45 PM EDT, Larry Trachtenberg 
 wrote:  
 
 I wonder if those who regularly bird the dirt / farm fields of Orange County 
black dirt region can weigh in on frequency/infrequency of sightings of golden 
plovers over the last decade or so.  I use to get there but only sporadically 
and remember one really big day with about 25 birds but that was probably five+ 
years ago.  I also see from various posts some of the fields in the Black Dirt 
region are now less accessible than they once were (or even inaccessible) .

Thanks

L.  Trachtenberg
Ossining


-Original Message-
From: bounce-125041945-26736...@list.cornell.edu 
 On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 12:14 PM
To: '& [NYSBIRDS]' 
Subject: RE:[nysbirds-l] American Golden-Plover - another NYS migrant to worry 
about?

-CAUTION: EXTERNAL EMAIL



Like Angus, I also have noticed fewer reports and smaller numbers of American 
Golden-Plover in Western New York. I live on Lake Ontario in Niagara County 
where most autumns I could see this species without any special effort. That 
is, I'm not one to hunt down a species for my year list, unless I am doing a 
big year, but I still would find them. A few years ago, I noticed that newer 
birders were chasing after reports of this species for their year list and I 
assumed that they simply did not understand their habitat preferences or else 
they could find their own. However, two years ago, I did a big year in Niagara 
County and I had to actively search for Golden-Plover on two dozen occasions 
before I finally found a single bird.
Two weeks later, I had two birds for a grand total of three in the county for 
the year, a year in which I was exceptionally active. Of course, my difficulty 
might simply be attributed to Golden-Plovers having a poor breeding season but 
I never had any adults and I was active through the summer when they would have 
passed through.

The Buffalo Ornithological Society (BOS) maintains a database of noteworthy 
bird sightings in the BOS Region, which includes all of Kingbird Region One 
plus the Niagara peninsula of Ontario. I don't have the skills to generate a 
graph of high yearly counts from this database but from looking it over, it 
seems that high yearly counts have decreased considerably. For example, there 
are fewer triple-digit counts in the Niagara peninsula of Ontario which is the 
best area in the region to find this species. Western NY would occasionally get 
triple-digit counts as well but there have been none since 1997. And even 
double-digit counts are fewer than before 2000.

This year, I managed to see one Golden-Plover in Niagara County, a bird found 
by someone else, and it was on a pier on Lake Ontario, not in a field.
I spent considerable time looking in fields for this species this fall but 
found none.

Willie D'Anna
Wilson, NY


Subject: American Golden-Plover - another NYS migrant to worry about?
From: Angus Wilson 
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:18:10 -0400
X-Message-Number: 6

I am glad to see an informed discussion about the apparent decline in 
Bonaparte's Gulls both in western and coastal New York State. Birding forms 
tend to focus on the positive such as new sightings, influxes, and 
weather-related events, with much less attention given to species that might be 
disappearing before our eyes. The human brain is not very good at accessing the 
absence of something and birding record systems are seemingly not much better 
either.

Aside from Bonaparte's Gull, I have wondered about the status of America 
Golden-Plover in the state. In the past several years I've noted few if any 
reports of larger flocks that would draw birders to sod fields and other grassy 
habitats in the fall, especially in eastern Long Island. In recent years only a 
scattering of Golden-Plovers have been reported in the fall (principally from 
late August to late October), rarely more than two together. Many people may 
have successfully ticked their 'year bird' and not given much more thought to 
it but the reality is that we probably are all ticking the SAME few birds.

Looking at the tallies for some of the hotspots for southbound plovers it was 
not long ago that flocks of 60-100+ were frequent in and around Riverhead 
(Suffolk NY). 2016 seems to have been the last good

[nysbirds-l] Upper Lisle County Park Today 10/11/2020- AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and more

[David Nicosia]

With the continued draw down of the Whitney Point Reservoir, Upper Lisle
Co. Park in Broome County continues to support extensive mudflats and some
of the best birding we have seen here in over 10 years.  Two juvenile
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS continue along with two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
juveniles for neat comparison.  There were also DUNLIN, PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, KILLDEER and SOLITARY
SANDPIPERS. Habitat continues to support the later migratory shorebirds and
mainly juveniles. I also had a flyover LAPLAND LONGSPUR which was quite a
surprise. I heard the distinct "tee eer" whistle calls which had harsher
notes mixed in. Bird was in flight over upper reservoir mudflats. Great
looks in flight. There also loads of AMERICAN PIPITS and flyover PINE
SISKINS. It was a great day for sparrows as well with sparrows almost
everywhere. I had 9 species and probably underestimated numbers. A
highlight was 23 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS feeding in one spot. Warblers are
getting very scarce up here now too as fall progresses.  6 YELLOW-RUMPEDS,
1 PALM and 1 late NORTHERN PARULA was all I could find. I had a few other
unidentified warblers as well.

My ebird list is herehttps://ebird.org/checklist/S74693518

Good birding,
Best,
Dave Nicosia

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Broome Co. Birds last few weeks: Hudsonian Godwit, Glossy/White-Faced Ibis, Forster's Terns, American Golden-Plovers and Franklin's Gull

[David Nicosia]

All,

I haven't posted to this list for a while but it was pretty slow until
recently.  On September 11th, I had a first county record HUDSONIAN GODWIT
at Dorchester Park Whitney Point. The bird didn't stay long and
unfortunately I was the only person to get on it. There were some gulls
near one of the small jetties. I heard a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER coming from
there so I went over and found the Godwit in my binoculars. This location
is behind a shack at Dorchester where they rent kayaks and canoes.
Unfortunately, a worker spooked all the gulls and godwit/plover before I
could get my scope on the godwit. It did get it in flight in my scope with
excellent views. Unfortunately it didn't come back. I checked all around
the reservoir to no avail.

The drought conditions up here have recently led to really low levels on
the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers which made for extensive mudflats and
gravel bars. Aside from some cool shorebirds (nothing unusual) Jon Weeks
found a Glossy/White-Faced Ibis on September 27th. We haven't been able to
ID it to species level yet since it is immature. A challenging ID as you
know. The bird is still present as of today. The location is Cheri A.
Lindsay Park, an ebird hotspot in Binghamton.

Here are some ebird lists that have excellent photos of this Ibis.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S74308189?view=photos

https://ebird.org/checklist/S74236229?view=photos

Then Whitney Point dam was drawn down almost 4 feet exposing the shallow
areas of Upper Lisle County Park leading to extensive mudflats and gravel
bars over the last week. There is a lot
of shallow water and bait fish. This is the best habitat for gulls/terns
and shorebirds that I have seen here in more than 10 years. It is a bit
late for the bulk of shorebird migration but I have told
our local folks that anytime we have storms or a strong front to check this
area out.  On Saturday Oct 3rd we had 4 Forster's Terns up there, which are
pretty rare in Broome.
see https://ebird.org/checklist/S74360552

On Sunday, we had 5 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS fly over and land on the gravel
bars at Upper Lisle. This is a high count for Broome County as far as I
know. The birds were juveniles. I picked them
up by call and got on them in flight. They were calling again on the ground
and were relocated. Fortunately Jay McGowan and his wife were also birding
Upper Lisle and they got some great views
of these awesome birds. Jay and Livia also tallied 92 species Sunday
October 4th which is a record for Upper Lisle, previous record was 87
species.

My checklist is here with fair photos of the AGPL
https://ebird.org/checklist/S74411991

Then today October 7th with a cold front coming through, I get a text from
Jon Weeks one of our local birders here who also found the ibis. He had an
unusual gull that he thought was either
a LAUGHING GULL or FRANKLIN'S GULL. I got up there after work and
relocated the gull which turned out to be a FRANKLIN'S GULL. Another rarity
for Broome County.

see https://ebird.org/checklist/S74539138


So with the FRGU Upper Lisle County Park now has 201 species for 2020, our
best year up here so far too date. The place also is in the top ten for all
ebird hotspots in NY state so far. Hopefully
we will keep this habitat a little longer before they fill-up the
reservoir.

Best,
Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] South Polar Skua at Robert Moses State Park (Suffolk County)

[david nicosia]

 Courtesy Tropical Storm Faymore interesting rarities possible on the 
Island next couple days as you can imagine. Good luck.
On Friday, July 10, 2020, 09:54:06 AM EDT, Ken Feustel 
 wrote:  
 
 At 9:35AM a near shore dark morph  South Polar Skua was observed from RMSP 
Field 2. The bird was observed harassing an Osprey (about 2/3 the size of 
Osprey) that was carrying a fish before heading East. Decent numbers of Great 
Shearwaters as well.

Observers: Ken & Sue Feustel, Doug Futuyma

Sent from my iPhone

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[nysbirds-l] Upper Lisle County Park in Broome Co. Sunday March 29th 2020- 54 species!!

[David Nicosia]

All,

In these crazy unprecedented times we are in, there is still one constant -
spring migration; and what a great way to "social distance" yourself. I
birded for around 3 hours by myself at Upper Lisle County Park Whitney
Point area, an ebird hotspot in Broome Co. There were loads of waterfowl
down on the north end of the reservoir and ponds. Jon Weeks first texted
this morning about CANVASBACKs which are gorgeous birds and rather uncommon
in Broome Co. I was already at Upper Lisle when I received this text and
was near Claybanks. I eventually made my way to the point and wow...I
counted 88 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 46 LESSER SCAUP (no greaters!) and 2 pair of
CANVASBACK. There was also one basic plumage BONAPARTE'S GULLS in with this
group and a pair of RUDDY DUCK which included a gorgeous male in breeding
plumage. There were a lot of passerines too making for a lot of diversity.
My ebird list
is here: https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S66364168

Best,

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper Broome Co. Susquehanna River Gravel Bars Endwell/Vestal NY

[David Nicosia]

All,

I found a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER while walking the gravel bars on the
Susquehanna River between Vestal and Endwell NY this morning. The bird was
at the west most gravel bar visible from the guard rail RIver Rd Endwell,
NY (e-bird hotspot). The exact location is here
https://goo.gl/maps/5re1cMdp4ABHAs2eA

E-Bird List is here with photos: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59684603

I was on the Murphy's Pits side (another e-bird hotspot). This small area
has been a magnet for many rare shorebirds in Broome Co over the years.
This is the second time we have had BAIRD'S SANDPIPER here (last time I
believe was 3-4 years ago). We also have had WILSON'S and RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES, STILT SANDPIPER,(spring and fall) BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, and
WILLET to my recollection. I walked at least a 1/2 mile of gravel bar this
morning and this spot was the only area where there were a good diversity
of shorebirds and of course the Baird's. I wonder why this is such a good
spot? It is easily viewed from the guard rail River Rd Endwell, NY which is
convenient.

Best,
Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Hurricane Dorian

[David Nicosia]

Dorian likely will pass well southeast of LI Friday night to Saturday.
There will be northerly winds from the surface to at least 30,000 feet AGL
Saturday morning. In the lowest few thousand feet winds will be primarily
north to northeast.  I am not sure what this means for LI exactly, but the
deep northerly winds no doubt will bring a lot of birds from Canada.  I
wonder if some migrants would head south over the ocean and then turn back
and head north or west as they likely will avoid the storm. It could be
interesting along the coast even if we don't see typical hurricane birds.
Wish I was on the island Saturday

Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Hurricane Dorian

[david nicosia]

 Dorian likely will pass well southeast of LI Friday night to Saturday. There 
will be northerly winds from the surface to at least 30,000 feet AGL Saturday 
morning. In the lowest few thousand feet winds will be primarily north to 
northeast.  I am not sure what this means for LI exactly, but the deep 
northerly winds no doubt will bring a lot of birds from Canada.  I wonder if 
some migrants would head south over the ocean and then turn back and head north 
or west as they likely will avoid the storm. It could be interesting along the 
coast even if we don't see typical hurricane birds. Wish I was on the island 
Saturday 
Dave Nicosia 
On Tuesday, September 3, 2019, 07:57:25 PM CDT, Shaibal Mitra 
 wrote:  
 
 The earliest models for Dorian’s track indicated a likelihood that the storm 
would track almost due north and pass to the west of Long Island—or at least 
parts of Long Island. This is the scenario that is likely to produce tropical 
terns and other Gulf Stream birds onshore on Long Island. With many people 
talking about Dorian and buzzing over the potential for storm birds, I’ve 
pulled out maps and bird data for several storms that passed west of or across 
Long Island near this date: David (1979), Fran (1996), Floyd (1999), Ernesto 
(2006), and Irene (2011)—all of these were productive for storm birds.

For better or worse, at this point, it appears that Dorian will almost 
certainly whip out to sea to the south and east of us, as so many tropical 
systems do. Storms of this sort often interrupt the trans-oceanic migrations of 
species that would otherwise pass over us (various shorebirds, jaegers, Black 
Tern, etc.), but they do not bring tropical terns, etc.

(Note: my obvious desire to see storm birds has NO influence on the weather and 
is not responsible for any harm or good wrought by any storm; the storm will do 
what it does, and we may simply wish to be prepared for the ornithological as 
well as other consequences).

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore


1979 Major Hurricane David

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/1979/Major-Hurricane-David

>From Richard L. Ferren, summarizing effects in Rhode Island: “A minimum of 62 
>Sooty Terns, at least five Bridled Terns, and a Brown Noddy passed Point 
>Judith heading northeastward in the very late afternoon hours, with additional 
>Sooties audibly passing the point after dark. Other Sooties were found dead at 
>Napatree Point and seen exhausted inland at Kingston, while eight 
>oystercatchers appeared at Napatree. More Sandwich Terns were seen the next 
>day.  Five Royal,  16 Black,  and one Gull-billed Tern, and three Black 
>Skimmers were also seen. A flock of 68 Red and six Red-necked Phalaropes at 
>Galilee, and a Red-necked Phalarope and seven Black Terns were seen inland at 
>Richmond the day of the storm; eight oystercatchers at Napatree the day after 
>was then a large number. A final total of seven Sandwich Terns was a maximum 
>count for the state at the time.”


1996 Major Hurricane Fran

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/1996/Major-Hurricane-Fran

morning: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S20370719
morning: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S20370663
evening: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S20467354
next day: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S20467579


1999 Major Hurricane Floyd

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/1999/Major-Hurricane-Floyd

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S24442955
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S27002826


2006 Hurricane Ernesto

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2006/Hurricane-Ernesto

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S24420867


2011 Hurricane Irene

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2011/Hurricane-Irene

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S8737686
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S8737724
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S8737900
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S8737940


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[nysbirds-l] Balsam Lake Mountain in Catskills- Blackpoll Warbler and Others Today 7/13/2019

[David Nicosia]

Took an afternoon hike up Balsam Lake Mountain in the western Catskills w/
my wife. I didn't expect too much given the time of day but I was surprised
at the bird song this late. The highlight for me was a singing male
BLACKPOLL WARBLER at the summit which is 3731 Feet above sea level. Once
you get above 3500 feet balsam fir rapidly takes over and by 3600-3700 feet
it is pretty much a forest almost exclusively of balsam fir. The trees are
not that tall likely owing to the harsh climate up there. There were at
least 3 SWAINSON'S THRUSH singing easily heard from the fire tower. I also
had  at least 3 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS in this area, a MAGNOLIA and a few
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS as expected. There was a BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER
singing in the boreal zone. I made it a point to find this bird visually to
rule out a CAPE MAY or BAY-BREASTED WARBLER which would be out of range but
in good habitat.

Some other items of interest: BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS were the most
common warbler on this hike present from the beginning of the blue trail at
Dry Brook Trail head.  I counted 16 singing males and they were wholly in
the deciduous woods of sugar and red maple, black cherry, various species
of birch and beech. There were no conifers over the first 2/3 of the hike
yet this species was the most common warbler. The BLACK-THROATED GREEN was
absent from the boreal forest zone and even in the mixed zone above 3500
feet. I noticed BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS in with the BT Greens but
beginning around 3000 feet  or so and going into the mixed zone but also
absent in the boreal forest zone. RED-EYED VIREOS were abundant in the
deciduous forest zone but rapidly declined as you approached 3500 feet and
were absent above this level.  HERMIT THRUSHES were the most common thrush
in the deciduous forest to the mixed conifer/deciduous zone but also absent
in the boreal forest zone. There was one WOOD THRUSH at the base of the
trail. I also noticed only 1 AMERICAN ROBIN at the beginning of the trail.
DARK-EYED JUNCOs were present from the base of the trail to the summit.
There were no species that live in "edge" habitats or clearings.

There were also very few squirrels or chipmunks. I noticed just 2 chipmunks
and 1 squirrel over 6 miles of hike. There were also virtually no crows or
blue jays either and no cowbirds. This was a large expanse of forest with
little to no edge so species diversity was down but you could see there
were less predators or cowbirds either.  Some of the smaller patches of
woods that I hike in Broome and surrounding counties are literally full of
chipmunks, red and gray squirrels, crows and blue jays. So you can see the
difference between a big patch of forest and fragmented patches of woods.
It is amazing that many of these same species hang on in fragmented
forested areas outside the Catskills and Adirondacks given the presumed
higher amount of predation and more cowbirds!

One other neat thing was a lone CHIMNEY SWIFT flying by the fire tower
which is around 3800 feet above sea level. This bird wasn't staying around
and heading east.

My ebird list is here:  https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58152706

Best,
Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Does the Hermit Thrush still breed on Long Island???

[David Nicosia]

Thanks all. Glad to see they are at least hanging on down there. In the
southern tier they are pretty common and found in different habitat than LI
which is neat. They seem to prefer drier habitats in the uplands, generally
northern hardwood, pine, hemlock but sometimes even oak and pine or just
straight deciduous woods of maple, beech birch, and oak. There is overlap
with wood thrush and veery too. Veeries seem to be the most common with
hermit and wood thrushes next depending on habitat. Wood thrushes the last
few years, at least locally, seem more plentiful. As droves of ash trees
die up here, there is a resurgence of undergrowth which wood thrushes
favor.

 I agree with Shai though, this next iteration of the NY breeding bird
atlas could really be sobering for some species.


On Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 11:47 AM Eileen Schwinn 
wrote:

> Having just returned from Hunters Garden in Eastport, both Mike Higgiston
> and I heard our FOY Hermit Thrush.  (We were there between 8-10am). I
> believe Steve Biasetti and Tom Moran heard at least one Hermit Thrush there
> yesterday.
>
> We also heard and saw Steve and Tom’s Arcadian Flycatcher, and had
> excellent views of a Black-billed Cuckoo. Other normal residents were
> there, including Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanager and Pewee.   All birds were
> seen and heard between the water tower turn off and the open area, along
> the dirt road.
>
> The road in is extremely driveable, at least to the water tower turn off,
> with minor potholes and packed sand/dirt. Ticks, however, are still
> present, even on the sparse grasses of the dirt road.
>
> Rounding out the morning, we saw a Yellow-crowned Night Heron in the marsh
> off the tiny boat basin, West End Ave., East Quogue.
> Eileen Schwinn
> Mike Higgiston
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 28, 2019, at 10:01 AM, TURNER  wrote:
>
> Hi David: As a person who does a fair amount of hiking and birding in the
> LI Pine Barrens, it has been many years since I've heard Hermit Thrush
> singing; this is somewhat surprising given the success conservationists
> have had in preserving tens of thousands of acres of suitable habitat.
>
> John Turner
>
> On June 28, 2019 at 8:56 AM David Nicosia  wrote:
>
> Does the Hermit Thrush still breed in the pine barrens of Long Island?  I
> noticed on the ebird map for June 2019 no HETH reports for LI.
> Curious.
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[nysbirds-l] Does the Hermit Thrush still breed on Long Island???

[David Nicosia]

Does the Hermit Thrush still breed in the pine barrens of Long Island?  I
noticed on the ebird map for June 2019 no HETH reports for LI.  Curious.

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[nysbirds-l] Purposeful Birdwatching

[David Nicosia]

All,

I am enjoying the slower pace since our breeding birds are here for a while
now.  This allows me to get back to my LOOB which I do have!  But when I
have time I like to enjoy our breeding birds and here in upstate NY in the
hills we have many beautiful warblers that nest.  This year I am looking
at  warblers that use conifers habitats especially with the hemlock wooley
adelgid moving into the southern tier and the needle cast fungal diseases
that are plaguing our conifers. This two species most common species in
mixed conifer/deciduous woods and fully coniferous woods here in Broome are
blackburnian and black throated green warblers.

First of all, fortunately, the hemlock wooley adelgid has not done any
noticeable damage but has been detected in Broome. On the other hand, many
of our white pine forests are being decimated by a needle cast fungal
disease. Whole forests are littered with dead pine needles. The new growth
survives but the rest of the needles fall off. From what I have read, the
needlecast only kills the weaker trees and some pines can be defoliated for
up to 10 years and not die. So I am not certain if these trees will succumb
or survive. It looks pretty bad right now in some forests.  Fortunately the
CCC Norway Spruce plantations which are pretty much mature have limited
problems at least in Broome. My observations clearly show that Blackburnian
warblers favor the spruce plantations even though they are not native.
Black Throated Green Warblers favor mixed hemlock, northern hardwood
forests composed of maple, beech, birch and northern red oak. But there are
weird exceptions where blackburnians dominate some mixed hemlock woods here
and there. I also noticed that blackburnian warblers are more likely to be
in mixed woods composed of white pine vs black throated greens which again
are mostly with hemlocks. Black Throated Greens really seem to avoid the
norway spruce plantations.

This seems counter to what I have read which states that blackburnian
warblers favor hemlocks the most. I don't see that around here at least.
They like the spruce plantations far more and white pine. I also have found
blackburnians don't seem to be bothered by woods that are seeing the
needlecast disease to the pine trees. They were quite common in Triangle
State Forest Broome Co where this disease is really bad. Many of the white
pines have almost no needles left except for a touch of new growth. They
look dead. Yet the blackburnians are still common in this tract of the
forest. This goes along with some recent research I read that showed
blackburnians were still present in woods hit hard by the hemlock wooley
adelgid given that the hemlocks were still holding on and not completely
dead.

Anyway, as was stated on this thread, now is the time for real bird
"watching"

Please DISREGARD the previous email on this topic, I accidentally hit the
enter button before I proofread and finished my thoughts.


Best,
Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Purposeful Birdwatching

[David Nicosia]

I am enjoying the slower pace since our breeding birds are here for a while
now.  This allows me to get back to my LOOB which I do have!
But when I have time I like to enjoy our breeding birds and here in upstate
NY in the hills we have many beautiful warblers that nest.
This year I looking at  warblers that use conifers habitats especially with
the hemlock wooley adelgid moving into the southern tier and the needle
cast fungal diseases that are plaguing our conifers. This two species most
common in mixed conifer/deciduous woods and fully confiferous woods here in
Broome are blackburnian and black throated green warblers.

First of all, fortunately, the hemlock wooley adelgid has not done any
noticeable damage but has been detected in Broome. On the other hand, many
of our white pine forests are being decimated by a needle cast fungal
disease. Whole forests are littered with dead pine needles. This new growth
survives but the rest of the needles fall off. From what I have read, the
needlecast only kills the weaker trees and some pines can be defoliated for
up to 10 years and not die. So I am not certain if these trees will succumb
or survive. It looks pretty bad right now in some forests.  Fortunately the
CCC Norway Spruce plantations which are pretty much mature have limited
problems at least in Broome. My observations clearly show that Blackburnian
warblers favor the spruce plantations even though they are not native.
Black Throated Green Warblers favor mixed hemlock, northern hardwood
forests composed of maple, beech, birch and northern red oak. But there are
weird exceptions where blackburnians dominate some mixed hemlock woods here
and there. I also notice that blackburnian warblers are more likely to be
in mixed woods composed of white pine vs black throated greens which again
are mostly with hemlocks. Black Throated Greens really seem to avoid the
norway spruce plantations.

This seems counter to what I have read which states that blackburnian
warblers favor hemlocks the most. I don't see that around here at least.
They like the spruce plantations far more and to a lesser extent white
pine. I




On Wed, Jun 26, 2019 at 6:08 PM pmaxp  wrote:

> Folks:
>
> Down my way (Gainesville, FL) during the doldrums of June (intense heat
> and humidity), we have the June Challenge. A friendly county-only
> competition to observe the most species. Everyone shares their finds. It is
> both fun and interesting and it gets all who participate out in the field
> visiting our regular hot spots and less frequently visited locations. I
> believe June Challenges occur in counties all over the US, perhaps overseas
> as well.
>
> If anyone is interested for the future, I can send along the official
> rules as used in Florida.
>
> cheers,
>
> Peter
> (temporarily in Orient, NY)
>
> On Jun 26, 2019, at 4:56 PM, Naomi Lloyd  wrote:
>
> This is my time of year for birdwatching rather than birding.
>
> Naomi Lloyd
>
>
> On June 26, 2019, at 3:10 PM, Andrew Baksh  wrote:
>
>
>
> There is something quite serene and enjoyable during those slow periods in
> getting to know your common birds. Robins are still cool birds for me;
> especially those spotted ones ;-)
>
> The reality is, we live in the age of instant gratification. We want our
> birds now! Fast and lined up for us.
>
> 
> "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the
> ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own
> abhorrence." ~ Frederick Douglass
>
> 風 Swift as the wind
> 林 Quiet as the forest
> 火 Conquer like the fire
> 山 Steady as the mountain
> Sun Tzu   *The Art of War*
> 
>
> (\__/)
> (= '.'=)
>
> (") _ (")
>
> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!
>
>
> Andrew Baksh
> www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
>
> On Jun 26, 2019, at 2:26 PM, ArieGilbert 
> wrote:
>
> Re doldrums:  one cannot appreciate a great day of birding without bad
> days. Yin/Yang
>
> Also  its important to have LOOB
>
> ( life outside of birding )
>
> Arie Gilbert
> No. Babylon NY
> www.PowerBirder.Blogspot.com
> www.QCBirdClub.org
>
> Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
>
>  Original message 
> From: Shaibal Mitra 
> Date: 6/26/19 11:11 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: "NYSBIRDS (NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu)" 
> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Purposeful Birdwatching
>
> Judging from many, many recent conversations with fellow birders, it seems
> that people are having a tough time of it during these June doldrums. From
> independent sources over the past week, I've heard: "crushing
> disappointment;" "why is it so bad?;" "is it going to get better?"
> "something could show up, right?;" "didn't birding used to be good?;" "this
> place used to be good, I think" and more. And this has mostly been in the
> context of ordinary, local birding, not directly related to the more
> ominous big-picture concerns expressed by Chris recently.
>
> My usual response, admittedly sl

[nysbirds-l] Last Couple Days in Broome Co. - GRAY CATBIRD, LONG-TAILED DUCK, REDHEADS, WINTER WREN....

[David Nicosia]

Great birds last couple days for Broome Co.

REDHEADS- between 4 and 6 Boland Pond.
GRAY CATBIRD Boland today  w/ Jim Hoteling. Bird was in thickets across
road from parking area eating berries. This is the most unusual and rare
bird for Broome Co. this time of year.
SWAMP SPARROW- one at Boland continues.
WINTER WREN- heard calls yesterday at Boland right behind houses.
LONG-TAILED DUCK- beautiful wintering male yesterday at Harold Moore Park
COMMON GOLDENEYES- harold moore today.
AMERICAN ROBINS- in several locations today, BOLAND, VICTORY STREET and in
JC Oakdale Rd.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Nelson's Sparrow and others Upper Lisle County Park Whitney Point, NY

[David Nicosia]

All,

I was birding Upper Lisle this morning, I came up to the red gate on the
Truck Road and then started walking toward the spruces. I saw a lot of
birds in the weedy marshy area by the pond there, close to where the Glossy
Ibis was found this spring. I started some phishing and on the top of a
weekstalk was a NELSON'S SPARROW. This is unusual in that it is very early
for these species plus it is quite a rare bird for Broome County. The
sparrow was fairly small, but had clear orangish-yellow on the face, malar
stripe and along on the upper chest to the flanks where there was some
streaking. I got great looks at the bird before it flushed into the weeds
with a few song sparrows and others. If you try for this bird, it is very
weedy, and WET. This is the first Broome record in a few years and again
extremely early. I also had a nice mix of migrants on Claybanks trail
including: black-throated green, ovenbird, black and white, tennessee,
bay-breasted, canada warblers, american redstarts, yellow-throated vireo,
several red-eyed vireos, baltimore oriole, rose-breasted grosbeak, least
flycatcher and eastern wood-pewee all in one small area on the trail. The
trees were moving with birds as there was a large flock of cedar waxwings
too. There was also a steady "stream" of bobolinks flying over with their
"ink" "ink" calls.

E-bird list is below
Upper Lisle County Park, Broome, New York, US
Aug 19, 2018 6:32 AM - 9:08 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
56 species (+1 other taxa)

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)  3
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
Great Blue Heron (Blue form) (Ardea herodias [herodias Group])  3
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Barred Owl (Strix varia)  1Bassett
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) (Dryobates pubescens pubescens/medianus)  3
Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern) (Dryobates villosus [villosus Group])  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus)  4
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  3
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  3
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  5
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  5
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  12
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  32
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  7
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  3
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) (Sitta carolinensis carolinensis)  12
House Wren (Northern) (Troglodytes aedon [aedon Group])  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (caerulea) (Polioptila caerulea caerulea)  1
Veery (Catharus fuscescens)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  4
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  25
Purple Finch (Eastern) (Haemorhous purpureus purpureus)  5
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  11
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)  1
Nelson's Sparrow (Interior) (Ammospiza nelsoni nelsoni/altera)  1* very
rare and unusually early.  Sparrow sized bird. Orangish Yellow  pattern on
face above eye, this yellowish pattern went down to upper breast including
malar. Grayish patch on face below eye.  Very distinctive.
Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica) (Melospiza melodia melodia/atlantica)  3
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)  50Stream of bobolinks overhead.
Estimated
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  3
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) (Agelaius phoeniceus [phoeniceus Group])
2
Common Grackle (Bronzed) (Quiscalus quiscula versicolor)  3
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  1
Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)  2
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)  2
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  15
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)  1Wing bars and worn Chestnut
on flanks.
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  8
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  2
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)  1
warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) (Parulidae sp.)  2
Northern Cardinal (Common) (Cardinalis cardinalis [cardinalis Group])  12
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  5
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] 20 species of Warblers Broome Co. including CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, MOURNING and TENNESSEE

[David Nicosia]

Yesterday, May 10th George Chiu and I hit the roads of northern Broome
County to see what migrants and newly arrived breeders dropped in from
Wednesday night's strong south winds. King Street Town of Barker, NY is a
favorite local spot that has a lot of breeders and we started there. I am
happy to report good numbers of BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK THROATED BLUE,
OVENBIRD, BLACK THROATED GREEN WARBLERS which are breeders. MAGNOLIA
WARBLERS are just arriving here. We also had a nice migrant "wave" in an
open area with one large spruce and some smaller aspen and bushes near a
pond. We don't have northern breeders at this spot so we are pretty sure
the BLACKBURNIAN, MAGNOLIA and BLACK and WHITE were part of this wave which
included 4 CAPE MAYS in one tree and a gorgeous BAY-BREASTED WARBLER!
Farther up King Street, we heard a MOURNING WARBLER close to where it
typically breeds. Then at Upper Lisle County Park we had our first
TENNESSEE WARBLER of the season singing its classic three part song. We
also had a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER singing a golden-winged song which was cool!
All in all we had 20 species of warblers.

Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Radar musings

[David Nicosia]

The radar reflectivity that we see is proportionally to the amount of water
in a given volume of atmosphere as sensed by the radar. Birds are largely
made up of water and hence they are highly reflective. Hence, when we see
high radar returns from birds it is due to the density of birds in that
given volume even if they are flying faster. Hence, the higher the
reflectivity the more birds there are in a volume. Larger birds will be
much more reflective than smaller birds because reflectivity is
proportional to the diameter of the target(bird) raised to the 6th power.

When we look at highly reflective  precipitation on the radar and its very
windy it still correlates to heavy precipitation. There are know known wind
velocity corrections that are used nor have I ever heard about this in my
27 years of working radar.

In upstate NY we have seen an amazing transformation from almost birdless
two days ago to the woods filling up rapidly with new arrivals. Most of
these birds are breeders. I would say that "true" migrants have been fairly
scarce among the landbirds up here. For you folks downstate, I imagine the
birds keep going until they reach either decent habitat or their breeding
grounds farther north. You need bad weather for migrant "waves" as you
probably know, especially thunderstorms. I wait for thunderstorms to end
and position myself (when I can) near a lake or body of water or other
migrant trap. This has worked very well for me. I am sure many of you have
experienced this  bad weather = good birds.  Best of luck.

Dave Nicosia


On Thu, May 3, 2018 at 7:39 PM Steve Walter  wrote:

> I think I might have run into some musings at the Forest Park water hole
> today, maybe even some hallucinations. But once again, numbers surely
> weren’t as high as the radar reflectivity might have suggested. I would say
> there were more birds than there had been, but nothing to write home about
> (for the younger folks, that’s what we did before we had NYSBIRDS to write
> to). I still wonder about the effect of leaf out being late. There seem to
> be a decent number of Black-and-White Warblers in – they of course don’t
> make their living in the foliage. I wore green today to try and make the
> surroundings more inviting to other species. It’s debatable how well that
> worked.
>
>
>
> It seems to me that the early night radar tends to look promising on many
> nights. But I also like to get a look at the radar as soon as I wake up,
> which may not be until dawn some days. To me, that has not looked so good,
> although Peter tells me that may be too late already. In any event, there
> is stuff on the radar now at 7:30 P.M.  – rain. Also some strange stuff
> well offshore. But the rain will move out, and the flow remains southwest.
> It’s gotta happen one of these days.
>
>
>
> As for species, you know I don’t like to get into species lists. Everyone
> that gets out gets the same stuff. But if I need to mention some species, a
> Yellow-throated Vireo came down to the water hole. Offhand, I can’t
> remember one coming down – even when one is around singing. And for those
> who like to study the waterthrushes, a Northern and a Louisiana were
> crossing paths today. Even without binoculars, they were easily separable
> by the different colored eyebrow stripes (although it’s not always that
> easy).
>
>
>
> Steve Walter
>
>
>
> *From:* Peter Reisfeld [mailto:drpi...@yahoo.com]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 02, 2018 11:05 PM
> *To:* NYSBIRDS ; EBirds NYC <
> ebirds...@yahoogroups.com>; Steve Walter 
> *Subject:* Radar musings
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The radar pattern tonight is similar to what it was last night.  High
> reflectivity and high velocity in a NW direction.  Does this mean tomorrow
> will be birdy or quiet? I can’t say for sure but I’d like to share some
> thoughts about it.
>
> Steve brings up the issue of promising radar reports but poor showings on
> the ground.  The mediocre showing today despite high reflectivity on radar
> is a phenomenon I have seen a number of times before. It has been my
> impression that this occurs more frequently on nights when migration
> velocity is high.  I have never seen an explanation for it, but thinking
> about it today, a theory occurred to me.
>
> To illustrate the theory, I’d like to use the analogy of rain on a
> windshield.  Whenever I am driving on the highway in the rain, the faster I
> drive, the harder it seems to rain.  While driving fast does not increase
> the density of raindrops falling from the sky, it does cause many more
> drops to hit the windshield per second as you drive into a steadily falling
> stream.
>
> Perhaps it is the same with bird radar.  When birds are flying
> particularly rapidly, more of them may intersect with the radar beam per
> second.  This produces an increase in reflectivity, without an increase in
> density of birds.  Since we generally assume that high reflectivity is due
> to high bird density, the spurious increased reflectivity would make it

[nysbirds-l] Fwd: [cayugabirds-l] Update on Weather and front

[David Nicosia]

-- Forwarded message -
From: david nicosia 
Date: Sat, Apr 14, 2018 at 8:52 PM
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Update on Weather and front
To: Cayuga birds , ,
David Nicosia 


Well, the front set up farther north than expected and so did the heavier
precipitation today. So we had a shallow front across central NY today. The
surface front was in far northern PA and the front at 5000 feet (roughly)
was actually across Lake Ontario. So north of this in Canada was the main
precipitation shield and hence no fallout conditions down here. Central NY
saw chilly conditions with northerly winds between the surface and a few
thousand feet with southwest to west winds above this. Overnight many birds
were migrating north so presumably birds that migrate higher than a few
thousand feet up kept going into southern Canada on the southwest winds and
stopped where the rain was. In reality the bird migration likely was sorted
out based on how high each species or even individuals migrate. To get a
fallout we need a solid batch of precipitation which typically has cloud
tops around 10 to 20 feet which is a wall for the migrants. Since this
precipitation set up farther north than predicted is why it wasn't that
impressive. However, winds between 5000 and 15000 feet were strong from the
west-southwest and maybe this could be why the western meadowlark showed
up?  It is also interesting that in western NY the front was a bit deeper
and could explain why Jody saw more migrants. Anyway, always learning.

Tonight we will see south winds aloft, north winds close to the ground.
Precipitation again will be across northern NY. More arrivals will be the
norm. I think once the cold front comes through Monday with heavier rain we
will see more migrants.

Thanks and good birding to all!
Dave

On Friday, April 13, 2018, 7:33:30 AM EDT, David Nicosia <
daven102...@gmail.com> wrote:


Last night there was massive migration in the eastern U.S that stopped in
northern NY state where there was a rather diffuse front. Not sure if there
will be any significant concentration of migrants. This morning as of this
writing the front at the surface is across the northern counties of PA and
then drops southeast south of the Catskills. At  about 5000 feet up the
front is farther north roughly from Buffalo to south of Albany but again it
is not a very sharp front yet. At about 1 feet up the winds are from
the west and its hard to find any front. So what this means is that birds
that migrate between 5000 and 1 feet and up probably will keep going
unless they encounter precipitation. At this point there isn't much
precipitation near NY or in the northeast U.S. Once the storm intensifies
in the midwest and pulls east, the front at all levels up to 10-15 thousand
feet will sharpen up and precipitation will spread east.

Right now it looks like the surface front will lift back north to the
southern tier of NY state today but the precipitation will stream across
northern NY so I wouldn't expect too much just arrivals and some pockets of
migrants.

For tonight, the precipitation and associated front aloft shifts south and
looks to be setting up from about Buffalo to Albany and it will be raining
north of this. The surface front will actually drop south into northern PA
but it will be shallow as the precipitation will be farther north. So I
would expect best conditions across upstate NY north of the southern tier,
which includes the Finger Lakes area, and Buffalo to Albany.

Its hard enough to predict the weather so trying to predict what the birds
will do is even harder. Hopefully some of this will pan out.

Good Luck!
Dave Nicosia
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[nysbirds-l] Lesser Black-Backed Gulls Broome Co.

[David Nicosia]

This morning I had 3 adult Lesser Black-Backed Gulls on the ice at
Dorchester Park in Whitney Point, NY. The birds were with 1st and/or 2nd
cycle herring gulls. This is the 3rd year in a row, at least, that we have
had this species in Broome Co. Strangely, it has been several years since I
have had a great black-backed gull which overall is more common in NY
state

Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Curlew Sandpiper vs Dunlin in Basic Plumage

[David Nicosia]

We all make mistakes. No worries. I found this VERY helpful in learning
more about DUNLIN and CURLEW SANDPIPERS in basic plumage.

On Wed, Sep 27, 2017 at 2:49 PM, Mike  wrote:

> I'm a fan of getting the word out and giving people a chance to see the
> bird, even if it isn't what we originally thought.
> That said, I'm kind of glad I didn't see this bird! Lol
>
> Mike Cooper
> Ridge, LI
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Sep 27, 2017, at 1:30 PM, Arie Gilbert 
> wrote:
> >
> > In a recent post it was said “Shorebirds are not easy.”  Yep.
> >
> > I’ll admit to a modicum of embarrassment at getting this ID wrong.
> Having said so, multiple field guides refer to a field mark of white rump,
> which I saw well, but upon which I apparently placed undeserved weight.
> Well if you can't trust a field guide...
> >
> > Of course with a potential rarity the question becomes does one wait
> until you are > 100% certain, or do you get the info out right away. Some
> said parse the post with caveats such as “possible” or other pull-backs;
> Its just that at the time everyone present concurred on the ID. Doesn't
> excuse the animus.
> >
> > In other posts, the age, overall shape, and molt have been suggested as
> taking precedence over what I heretofore felt is an 'obvious' field mark,
> *if* seen well. Those other elements require far greater study IMHO though.
> >
> > A reference web page was proffered regarding this “ID Challenge”.
> Careless readers, perhaps including myself, might stop at the top of the
> page where it states that a previous instance was ultimately decided
> because of, wait for it, the white rump!
> >
> > The page contains valuable information though arguably as explained
> above, interjects a bit of confusion.
> >
> > Hopefully, an actual Curlew Sandpiper will show up and more hopefully, I
> will be the one to find it ( and correctly ID it )
> >
> > In that event, be on the lookout for a posting where the species listed
> is 'Wolf' 
> >
> > Arie
> >
> > North Babylon, NY
> >
> > ---
> > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
> > http://www.avg.com
> >
> >
> > --
> >
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> >
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> >
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[nysbirds-l] Summary of September 9th Knox-Marcellus / Puddler's Marsh Montezuma Dike Walk

[David Nicosia]

All,

We had 22 people walk the dike between Knox-Marcellus / Puddler's Marshes
Montezuma on Saturday September 9th. Some folks started on Towpath Road and
met
up with us on the dike as most walked down from East Road. We also had a
nice group of young birders from the SUNY ESF bird club join us.

This was a day of great bird diversity as Jay McGowan recorded an amazing
109 species between Towpath Road and the dike.
See:  http://bit.ly/2eYqdg9   This is a testament to the great bird
diversity we enjoy in the Cayuga Basin!

Highlights from our walk included a flyover AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER that we
first identified by call. The bird circled around a few times and we got
great looks at the bird which was a molting adult. We also had BAIRD'S
SANDPIPER initially at the beginning of the walk. This bird was in very
poor lighting at first and we struggled a bit on the ID. On the way back at
the very end of the path on the edge of the water in the channel, we found
the bird again in much better lighting and there were actually two of them!
We also had a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER closer to Towpath Rd from the dike.
We also saw many KILLDEER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, both species of
YELLOWLEGS, LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. A few of us saw a dowitcher
briefly and a few had a STILT SANDPIPER at the beginning.  We also got
great looks at an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and 3 NORTHERN HARRIER
soaring close and low. There were also 11 SANDHILL CRANES and many species
of waterfowl.

My list can be found here which does not include Towpath Road
http://bit.ly/2vW1LTJ

Thanks to all who came along and thanks to the fine folks at Montezuma for
supporting these annual shorebird walks.

Dave Nicosia

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] Montezuma Shorebird Walk at Knox-Marcellus+Puddler's Marshes Saturday September 9th 7 am

[David Nicosia]

All,

Tomorrow *Saturday September 9th at 7 am*, I will be leading another
shorebird
walk on the dikes between Knox-Marcellus Marsh and Puddler's marsh
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

We will meet at the Montezuma Visitor's Center at 7 am and
drive over to East Road and walk down the dikes.  If you want to go directly
to East Road,  be there by 715 am.

Bring binoculars, spotting scope (if you have one) and make sure you wear
sturdy boots, bring sunscreen, insect repellent, plenty of water, and
snacks. The walk should last until 11 am to noon or so, depending on how
much we see.

The weather is looks very good:   Mostly sunny. high near 64. Calm wind
becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

See you there,
Dave

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[cayugabirds-l] Saturday Sept 2nd Montezuma Shorebird Walk

[David Nicosia]

All,

We had around 25 people for the 3rd shorebird walk of the season down the
dikes between Knox-Marcellus and Puddler's Marshes at Montezuma.

Highlights: at the beginning from East Rd there were 3 STILT SANDPIPERS
that were in basic plumage, likely juveniles. The STILTs were near some
yellowlegs which made for nice comparisons. We also had 4 peep species also
very nice for comparisons.   LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were most
common  but we did get nice views of 2 molting adult WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. The WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were close
to SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS making for nice comparisons on size, shape and
primary projections. Additionally, the BAIRD's was near some LEAST
SANDPIPERS again making for good comparisons.  The difference between
coloration, more buffy for baird's vs more brownish/rufous for least, and
dark legs(baird's) vs light legs(least) was evident. There were also a lot
of KILLDEER and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS too for comparison. Of course both
species of yellowlegs at times were in people's scopes.  This is by far the
BEST way to learn the shorebirds in my opinion: seeing the birds in the
field right next to other similar species.  No book or video comes close to
this experience of learning. And all this just isn't possible from East Rd
or Towpath Rd because the distance is too far. So if you are interested in
getting better at shorebirds, I highly recommend these shorebird walks.

Other highlights: a steady stream of BOBOLINKS flying over the marsh, views
of MARSH WRENS, a very cooperative VIRGINIA RAIL, NORTHERN HARRIERS and
many BALD EAGLES.

The list that I compiled can be found here...
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38953924

Thanks again to all who came along and to the fine folks at Montezuma for
supporting these walks. I will be leading another walk this coming Saturday
Sept 9th same time and place. 700 am Montezuma Visitor's Center or 715 am
from East Road. The walk will end between 11 am and noon.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] American Golden-Plover William Hill Park Susquehanna River Johnson City NY Broome Co. Today

[David Nicosia]

All,


Once again, the gravel bars on the Susquehanna River are yielding some

great shorebirds from this park in Johnson City Broome County!


Late this afternoon, I found a juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER

on the gravel bars easily seen from the yellow sign in William Hill Park

not far from the dike near the Johnson City Home Depot. The bird was pretty

much in the same location for over 2 hour feeding on earthworms.


There were also 10 GREAT EGRETS which I believe may be a high

count for Broome County. Additionally, the BAIRD'S SANDPIPER

continues along with several LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a couple

LEAST SANDPIPERS, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and many many

KILLDEER. Our stilt sandpiper that was here seems to have moved on.


Another treat was a flock of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS that were

descending down to the river at times chasing mayflys. I estimated

about 30. I was joined by George Chiu and Victor Lamoureux  and

we really enjoyed the nighthawks, plover and other great birds here.

This place really has been excellent this fall.


ebird list can be found here with poor photos of the american golden-plover.


http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38965493


Dave

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[nysbirds-l] Montezuma Shorebird Walk at Knox-Marcellus+Puddler's Marshes Saturday September 2nd 7 am

[David Nicosia]

All,

This coming *Saturday September 2nd at 7 am*, I will be leading another
shorebird
walk on the dikes between Knox-Marcellus Marsh and Puddler's marsh
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

We will meet at the Montezuma Visitor's Center at 7 am and
drive over to East Road and walk down the dikes.  If you want to go directly
to East Road,  be there by 715 am.

Bring binoculars, spotting scope (if you have one) and make sure you wear
sturdy boots,
bring sunscreen, insect repellent, plenty of water, and snacks. The walk
should last until
11 am to noon or so, depending on how much we see.

The weather is looks very good Saturday:  Sunny, high near 70. Southeast
wind 3 to 5 mph.

See you there,
Dave

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] Shorebirds Broome County- STILT and BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS

[David Nicosia]

The last two days we have had a STILT SANDPIPER and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER on
the gravel bars of the Susquehanna River from Johnson City to
Endwell/Vestal NY. The STILT SP is the first reported one in Broome since
2002. BAIRD'S is regular every 1 to 2 years here.

Dave Nicosia

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] Knox-Marcellus and Puddler's Marsh Montezuma NWR Aug 21, 2017 Eclipse Birding!

[David Nicosia]

Went to KM and Puddler's Marsh Montezuma today given the recent influx of
shorebirds as reported by others.

Started on Towpath road with the idea of getting some passerines, waders,
waterfowl and maybe a few shorebirds. It was late morning so the lighting
was great. There was a grater grating Towpath! road!!  Its still bad but
its getting better. Very muddy in spots. Highlights were large number of
BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. I counted more than 30 in the air with many
more in the trees by Puddler's. There were also 2 EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES down
low by the road calling and singing which was neat along with other
passerines.

Then I went to East Road and it was during the eclipse time. At first, the
shimmer was bad and it was brutally hot but as the eclipse progressed it
got cooler and the shimmer went away making for excellent viewing from East
Road to the NE part of KM Marsh. Both phalarope species were easily found.
The RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was swimming in the water with two and then
eventually 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPES running around likely crazy. Their light
plumage and behavior made it easy to find them. Additionally, there were
nice numbers of STILT SANDPIPERS, lots of dowitchers. I saw SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS for sure, but there were many more that were too distant for me
to call. I was impressed by the number of PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and in the
drier areas LEAST SANDPIPERS. I didn't see as many SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS
as I expected. There were also many KILLDEER, several SEMIPALAMATED PLOVERS
and 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.  The habitat is starting to look very good for
baird's  and buff-breasted sandpipers as there is a lot of drier areas.
Hopefully these birds will show up soon.

My ebird list can be found here with some poor photos...
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38751626


Good birding to all

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Today's Shorebird Walk Montezuma NWR Knox-Marcellus Marsh Aug 12, 2017

[David Nicosia]

We had a dozen people this morning and walked the dike between
Knox-Marcellus Marsh and Puddler's Marsh. Water levels are fairly high
still and the best shorebird habitat is interspersed between quite a bit of
vegetation.  Viewing was often difficult but occasionally we would get some
decent looks. There was a PEREGRINE FALCON terrorized the birds most of the
time we were there from around 7 am to 1130 am . This made for lots of
shorebirds and others in flight which was neat.  The waders were most
impressive with large numbers of GREAT EGRETS and nearly as many GREAT BLUE
HERONS all on the north side of K-M Marsh initially. As we walked down
toward the dike initially, Jay McGowan spotting a smaller white heron which
turned out to be a juvenile SNOWY EGRET. The bird gave us decent scope
views and photos but only hung around for about 30 minutes or so and then
flew south over the tree line. There were also decent number of
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS adults and juveniles. Additionally lots of
waterfowl. We did have at least 3 SANDHILL CRANES (probably more). I also
got lucky and got a short glimpse of a SORA that quickly went back into the
reeds. Unfortunately, I don't believe anyone else got on this elusive bird,

As for songbirda, there was a fair amount of flyover BOBOLINKs, at least 2
INDIGO BUNTINGS, SWAMP SPARROW, MARSH WREN and CEDAR WAXWINGS among others.
Some of us did get a look at a MERLIN in the woods on the way back to the
cars near the end of the outing.

Shorebirds were in decent numbers but again hard to see. We saw many flying
around . Species found were   PECTORAL SANDPIPERs , SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERs, LEAST SANDPIPERs, 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, many SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS, groups of juvenile SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. We got good looks at
the "tiger stripe" pattern on the tertials of these birds.  There were also
a lot of KILLDEER around with both species of yellowlegs.  A few of us
heard a SOLITARY SANDPIPER but it was not seen. This gave us 10 species of
shorebirds for this outing.  I accidentally selected a DUNLIN from my ebird
app which was an error. So the initial checklist sent out to the Seneca
County ebird rare bird alert for the snowy egret was in error with the
DUNLIN. I corrected this. I totaled 63 species, but as a group this number
likely is higher.

Thanks to all who came along and a big thanks to Montezuma NWR for allowing
these shorebird walks in the fall migration season!!!

My ebird list for this outing can be found here (along with photos of the
Snowy Egret): http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/email?subID=S38603820


Dave Nicosia

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Shorebird Walk at Knox-Marcellus+Puddler's Marshes Saturday August 12th 7 am

[David Nicosia]

All,

This coming *Saturday August 12th at 7 am*, I will be leading a shorebird
walk on the dikes between Knox-Marcellus Marsh and Puddler's marsh
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

We will meet at the Montezuma Visitor's Center at 7 am and
drive over to East Road and walk down the dikes.

Here are some recent checklists from ebird from this area...

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38514241

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38495833

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38485565

As you can see there is a nice variety of birds with some shorebirds. More
birds should be on the way this week given the weather patterns.

Bring binoculars, scope (if you have one) and make sure you wear sturdy
boots, bring sunscreen, insect repellent and water (plenty of water!!)  and
snacks.  In the past, we have had a few people get dehydrated and sometimes
the insects can be pretty bad. The walk should last until 11 am to noon or
so, depending on how much we see.

Any questions, let me know and thanks again to the folks at Montezuma for
allowing
this opportunity each year!!

Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Robert Moses SP Seawatching 6/18/17

[David Nicosia]

The last few days have featured a very strong high pressure system south of
Newfoundland and a prolonged easterly flow toward the Mid Atlantic Coast
which then curves to southerly up the coast from the Bahamas to the New
England coast. The placement of this high pressure system and its strength
is anomalous for this time of year owing to the southward displacement the
jet stream for June. There has been an easterly wind anomaly of between 25
and 30 mph that is strongest from well offshore right to Long Island. This
could explain some of what you have observed.

On Mon, Jun 19, 2017 at 10:59 AM, Shaibal Mitra 
wrote:

> As we were leaving, we saw Pete Morris arriving, and we couldn't resist
> joining Doug and him for some more effort.
>
> Compiling observations for the day yields the following remarkable numbers
> for Robert Moses SP yesterday:
>
> Great Shearwater  669
> Cory's Shearwater 48
> Manx Shearwater 8
> Sooty Shearwater 9
> Wilson's Sturm-Petrel 6
> Northern Gannet 5
> Parasitic Jaeger 1
> Black Scoter 4
>
> To put the Great Shearwater total in perspective, my previous high count
> from land on Long Island over 21+ years was 45, on 23 June 2001, at
> Democrat Point. The general pattern is for Great to be vastly outnumbered
> by Sooties during good early season flights, then by Cory's on good days
> later. In fact, in my Long Island seawatching experience, the overall
> frequency and abundance of Great from land has generally been very similar
> to that of the perceived-as-rare Manx: one or a few single-digit counts per
> year, versus many more and larger counts of Sooty and Cory's.
>
> We await more data from other areas, but it is already obvious that the
> numbers of Greats from the Jones Inlet area were far in excess of any
> counts there in recent memory, and it appears that numbers from further
> east on the island were unexpectedly low (usually they increase steadily
> eastward). The occurrence of exhausted birds (including the Brown Booby)
> suggests a prolonged storm far offshore during prior days that was
> positioned in such a way as to trap birds in the New York Bight (if
> weather-savvy folks could check on this, I'd appreciate it). Locally at
> least, the wind speeds were never in the range that would cause shearwaters
> any difficulties.
>
> Shai Mitra
> Bay Shore
> 
>
> Following up on Steve's report and after hearing about the Jones Beach
> flight, Shai and i returned to Robert Moses and put in another hour
> (4:22-5:22). Spectacular views on many birds as they passed by close to
> shore.
> Great Shearwater  177
> Cory's Shearwater. 5
> Manx Shearwater. 4
> Sooty Shearwater. 1
> Parasitic Jaeger. 1
> Black Scoter. 4
> No. Gannet 2
>
> Doug Futuyma just arrived to take up the vigil here.
>
> Patricia Lindsay
> Bay Shore
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> From: bounce-121607595-11143...@list.cornell.edu [
> bounce-121607595-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Steve Walter [
> swalte...@verizon.net]
> Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2017 4:40 PM
> To: nysbird...@list.cornell.edu
> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Robert Moses S.P. Sea Watching 6/18
>
> I spent the morning sea watching at Robert Moses State Park Field 2 from
> about 6:30 (not seriously until the fog eased around 8:30) to 12:30 (when
> the fog thickened again). Also joining in the effort were (until about
> 10:30) Brent Bomkamp, Pat Palladino, and Taylor Sturm, and (from about 11
> to 12) Pat Lindsay, Shai Mitra, and Peter Morris. Actually, I have to give
> them more credit than that, as they picked out a lot more birds than I did.
> But I think I did a decent job of being the scribe. So here is what I
> scribed.
>
> Great Shearwater – 119
> Cory’s Shearwater – 23
> Sooty Shearwater – 1
> Shearwater sp. – 21 (most earlier on when denser fog added to the ID
> difficulty; Brent thought one may have been a Manx, but too difficult to
> confirm).
> Wilson’s Sturm-Petrel – 6
>
> One amusing sequence involved two Great Shearwaters, closer in than
> expected, and a swimmer, further out than expected. The shearwaters slowed
> down to investigate the swimmer, with the second one actually landing very
> close to him. It flapped its wings at him (or something like that) a bit
> before moving on.
>
> Afterwards in the parking lot, a few Larus fuscus americanus (well, they
> might be in a few thousand years).
>
> I didn’t know about the Brown Booby until I was already at Robert Moses.
> As I’ve mentioned before, I get the reports off the archives. I don’t know
> how well that always works. I’m pretty sure I checked last night and the
> booby reports hadn’t made it to the archives yet. I know that when I looked
> this morning, it was obvious why I choose not to get the e-mails. I see a
> lot of reports of things like Yellow Warbler getting in the way of the
> reports I really need. Why? Okay, Steve, be nice, stop your rant right
> there.
>
>
> Steve Walter
> Bayside, NY
> http:/

[nysbirds-l] Laughing Gull, Ruddy Turnstone and Black Bellied Plover Broome Co. NY May 30

[David Nicosia]

Today's thunderstorms no doubt dropped down some rare migrants/vagrants.
Dorchester Park Whitney Point, NY had a LAUGHING GULL and a RUDDY
TURNSTONE which are both rare for Broome. Then later in the day, Murphy's
Pits Vestal NY
had a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER full breeding plumage.

see:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37272962
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37274276

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Migration floodgates to open Tuesday Night-Wednesday night???

[David Nicosia]

All,

We have endured a prolonged cool spell with plenty of rain
and many of our neotropical migrants are late or their
main "surge" of numbers has been delayed, at least here
in the southern tier. Looking at the weather models, from
Tuesday night through Wednesday night a strong surge
of warm southerly winds are expected from the Gulf of
Mexico all the way through the Ohio Valley to the northeast
U.S. I would expect a lot of our neotropical migrants to surge
in and even the later ones too, like  tennessee, cape may,
bay-breast, wilsons, canada warblers and even blackpoll.
I know I left many off...

For additional more in-depth specie forecasts see
ebird's "birdcast".

Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Franklins Gull Still Present Whitney Point Mon 5/8/17

[David Nicosia]

Bird was relocated this morning 5/8/17 in  the same field
across from Arby's / Dunkin Donuts from Rte 11 in Whitney
Point, NY

Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Franklin's Gull continuing Whitney point NY area

[David Nicosia]

Still present. 3 spots that it has been seen: Dorchester Park, ball fields
behind Whitney Point elementary school off Kiebal rd and presently in field
across from Arby's Rte 11 Whitney Point. Basically hanging out with a flock
of mostly ring billed Gulls.

Dave  Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Audio Clips of Franklin's Gull Broome Co Today

[David Nicosia]

see ebird checklist   http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36587033

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Franklin's Gull Broome County Dorchester Park/Whitney Point Dam Area May 6th, 2017

[David Nicosia]

This morning Jim Hoteling found a strange gull with a hood and red bill at
Dorchester Park Whitney Point Dam area. Initial thoughts were a LAUGHING
GULL since we have had one before here. George Chiu got up there before me
and he was thinking FRANKLIN'S GULL instead. As I was about 5 minutes away
I get a text with the dreaded  "the bird flew". How many times does this
happen to you? Anyway, George and Jim tracked the bird as it flew over the
dam and dropped. The Whitney Point Elementary School with its ball fields
are on the other side. So I went there instead of Dorchester and when I saw
bunch of RING-BILLED GULLs on the ball field my excitement peaked, and it
was an easy find. I noticed the thick eye-rings first, smaller bill and
size and I agreed with George's assessment. Looked good for a FRANKLIN'S
GULL, a first county ebird record and possibly first county record!!!  I
texted an image to an all-out expert I know from the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology and he also agreed.

Images can be found here...
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36586894

The bird was foraging and eating a bunch of earthworms. He was having a
feast since it was very wet and there were earthworms all over. Then the
bird started vocalizing which was really neat.  I have never heard a FRGU
before, certainly different than LAGU.  Then the bird took off alone and
flew back over the dam toward Dorchester Park. I went back there, refound
the bird, the bird didn't stay there long and it then took off and flew
around me for a few minutes I got some audio recordings which was really
neat. The bird flew north toward Upper Lisle County Park. I got it in my
scope and watched it until he was out of sight. The bird did not take off
that high as it stayed below the ridge line. So I went to Upper Lisle and
searched all places I know that gulls hang out and didn't find any gulls at
all. Hopefully, it will come back later today or tomorrow. The bird
certainly was finding a lot of food!!

Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Retraction of Blue Grosbeak Broome Co.

[David Nicosia]

Turns out this is an indigo bunting that was singing a purple finch-like
song. Bill too small for BLGR. Thanks to Jay McGowan and Chris Wood for
their comments.

My impressions was that it had rufous on the wings but lighting was not
that great. Oh well...
now to eat some humble pie...  :(

see   http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36452636

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[nysbirds-l] Lousy Photos of Blue Grosbeak Upper Lisle Co. Park Broome Co. NY

[David Nicosia]

A digi-scoped some lousy photos of the BLUE GROSBEAK.

The bird had faint rufous wing bars but these didn't come out.

Lighting was poor unfortunately.


see  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36452636


Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Blue Grosbeak Upper Lisle County park. Broome county.

[David Nicosia]

Just had a singing BLUE GROSBEAK from claybanks trail Upper Lisle County
park in Broome co.  The bird was singing voraciously for a while and then
chased by Purple finches.  Another Black Vulture was seen in Vestal NY
today as well. Am I still in upstate NY?

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Little Gull re-found Upper Lisle County Park Today 4/7/17

[David Nicosia]

The LITTLE GULL originally found by George Chiu
yesterday at Dorchester Park was near the rusty bridge
in the channel at Upper Lisle County Park this afternoon.
(an ebird hotspot)

The bird was with several BONAPARTE'S GULLS. I spotted
it by the white primary feathers near the back of the bird.
The bird showed dark underwings while preening and of
course when taking off. Also apparent was the gray from
the mantle to the nape.

See  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35762089
for more photos. These aren't that good
since the bird was more distant and on the water.

The bird flushed with the entire flock of BOGUs and headed
back down the channel to the upper end of the reservoir.
With north winds again tonight, the bird may stick around.
The biggest problem is access. Upper lisle is severely flooded
and you can't get a vantage point to see down the channel.
Also if the bird flies back down to Dorchester, your best bet
is trying from Kiebal road since Dorchester Park is closed
and they won't allow anyone even to walk down into the park.

Anyway, a great new bird for Broome County and another excellent
find by George Chiu!

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Photos of Little Gull Dorchester Park Broome County 4/6/17

[David Nicosia]

see  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35739589

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Little Gull Broome County- First County Record

[David Nicosia]

Today George Chiu found a first Broome County record  LITTLE GULL
at Dorchester Park in Whitney Point. The bird was with a bunch of
Bonaparte's Gulls and at times on the parking lot of the boat launch.
The bird was an adult in basic plumage.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Another Black Vulture report Broome Co. NY Town of Chenango.

[David Nicosia]

All,

Before this year, we would have single Black Vultures seen about once every
1-2 years or so
In Broome County.

We had 7 earlier in March and now today another one was seen
soaring north with a group of TVs over Boland Pond, an ebird hotspot
in Broome County. The bird was found by Jon Weeks. I wonder if pretty
soon this won't be as big a deal as this specie seems to be rapidly
spreading north!

Best,
Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Next Big Migratory Push Friday / Saturday

[David Nicosia]

All,

The next period of sustained southerly winds and eventually some
decent rainfall looks to begin early Friday and last into Saturday for NY
state

I imagine a lot of our migrants are holding up given the massive
snowstorm and unseasonably chilly air the northeast has seen.
My experience is after these periods, the first day of south winds
its like an "explosion" of migrants.

Best,

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Black Vultures Broome County

[David Nicosia]

We had 7 black vultures today in Vestal, NY. This is a high count for our
county of which this specie is rare. Adrian Burke first found them this
morning.

Dave Nicosia.

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[nysbirds-l] Ross's Goose Chenango NY Broome County

[David Nicosia]

This morning George Chiu found a Ross's Goose with a group of Canada geese
at Boland Pond in Chenango, NY. The bird didn't stay long and flew off
to the south. I re-found the bird within a grouping of Canada Geese at
Chenango Bridge
Park in Chenango, NY later in the morning. The bird continues in this
general area as of
late afternoon. This is the second time in the last 4 weeks that Ross's
Geese have
been recorded in Broome County. Before this, we have never recorded a
Ross's Goose in Broome County before!!

Here are two photos...
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33686353


Dave Nicosia
Johnson City, NY

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[nysbirds-l] Ross's Goose Chenango, NY Broome County

[david nicosia]

This morning George Chiu found a Ross's Goose with a group of Canada geeseat 
Boland Pond in Chenango, NY. The bird didn't stay long and flew offto the 
south. I re-found the bird within a grouping of Canada Geese at Chenango Bridge 
Park in Chenango, NY later in the morning. The bird continues in this general 
area as oflate afternoon. This is the second time in the last 4 weeks that 
Ross's Geese have been recorded in Broome County. Before this, we have never 
recorded a Ross's Goose in Broome County before!! 
Here are two photos...http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33686353


Dave Nicosia
Johnson City, NY  
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[nysbirds-l] Ross's Geese Johnson City, NY Broome County

[David Nicosia]

3 ROSS'S GEESE were found among a flock of CANADA
GEESE at the Polar Shot Golf Course in Johnson City,  NY
today by Derek Green and Tim Hill.  This constitutes a
first record (e-bird) for Broome County.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] White-eyed Vireo Endicott, NY Broome County Nov 24-25, 2016

[David Nicosia]

A WHITE-EYED VIREO was found and photographed
yesterday at the Chugnut River Walk Endicott, NY (ebird hotspot)
by Mike Jordan. The bird was refound this morning but not seen since 1000
am.

see http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32693220

Very unusual this time of year and especially since it is a very rare
bird up here in the spring with only a few records in the past decade or so.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Montezuma Wildlife Drive Today Nov 19th 2016

[David Nicosia]

Headed up to Montezuma NWR this morning. My first stop
was Benning Marsh and I got on the WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER,
LESSER YELLOWLEGS and KILLDEER pretty quickly.
These birds were directly across from the parking area.

Then I drove back around to do the wildlife drive more
carefully. First bird of interest was a late MARSH WREN
calling in the marsh grasses not far from the road across
from Larue's Lagoon. With some phishing the bird came
out and I got some nice looks.

Then there was the waterfowl on the main pool.
It was spectacular, plain and simple. Large numbers
and lots of variety. Based on Mike Tetlow's numbers
I grossly underestimated the numbers in my ebird
report. But nevertheless it was awesome. All
normal *aythya* species were present (minus TUDU).
There were loads of AMERICAN WIGEON, and GADWALL.
Additional birds were RUDDY DUCKS, MALLARDS,
NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER,
and 1 BUFFLEHEAD. I tried but failed to refind
the EURASIAN WIGEON seen here recently.
Also present in large numbers were AMERICAN COOTS.
There were also several PIED-BILLED GREBES. After
enjoying the diversity of the waterfowl for a while in 64F
weather, the cold front came through with very strong
winds and  a sudden temperature drop.

So I went back to Benning and I found all
the above shorebirds again plus a GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
I had a nice light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK soar over
Benning as well.

Additionally, I saw 4 swallows fly over Benning south toward the
main pool. They were pretty high up and flying south with the winds.
The lighting was poor and I did not get any color on these swallows.
I don't think they were TREE SWALLOWS but can't be sure. Could
they have been CAVE SWALLOWS heading south in the strong
north winds?? Not sure on this

On the way out I stopped at Goose "Haven" and saw the CATTLE
EGRETS which posed nice for me.

My ebird lists are here...

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32621595

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32621751

Dave Nicosia

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Re:[nysbirds-l] [cayugabirds-l] Brown Booby continues.....pics

[David Nicosia]

Brown booby continues same spot as of 350 pm.
On Sep 21, 2016 1:28 PM, "Dave K"  wrote:

> The Brown Booby continues on Buoy 49.
>
> Pics at
>
> https://flic.kr/p/Mkj124
>
> Brown Booby 9-21-16 Cayuga Lake St Park 
> 
>
>
>
> --
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[cayugabirds-l] Buff-Breasted Sandpiper Murphy's Pits Susquehanna River, Vestal NY

[David Nicosia]

All,

Had the great fortune of finding a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
among KILLDEER along a very low Susquehanna river at Murphy's Pits Vestal
NY in Broome County this morning.

This appears to be a first Broome County record at least via ebird. We will
have
to check with the NYS records committee as well. The bird was actively
foraging
and very hard to photo as the bird was in constant motion. I managed a few
decent
digiscope images. The bird had a fresh look to the scapulars with whitish
borders
to these feathers suggesting the bird is a juvenile. Dan Watkins and Victor
Lameroux joined me after I sent a rare bird alert out.

Here are some of the photos I took earlier:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157673507430325

The bird also is being seen now from River Rd across from Murphy's. As the
afternoon progresses lighting is better from River road and I would suggest
looking from there. Plus Murphy's has restricted access and closes at 430
pm.
River Road should offer decent views as it is directly across from the
gravel bars
and muddy areas where the bird is being seen. My experience with this
species on the coast is that they tend to stick around for a while so maybe
this
guy will be with us at least a few days.

Good luck.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Buff breasted sandpiper Murphy's pits Vestal NY

[David Nicosia]

Possible first record for Broome Co. BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER foraging on
gravel bars and muddy areas by boat launch Murphy's pits. Bird likely can
be seen from guard rail River rd Endwell NY too. Will post photos later.

Dave Nicosia.

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[nysbirds-l] Shorebird Trip Saturday August 27th, 2016 7 am Montezuma Visitor's Center

[David Nicosia]

All,

We will meet again 7 am at the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center
Saturday August 27th for another "shorebird" field trip. Water levels
continue low at traditional shorebird hotspots this time of year so we have
had to improvise a bit. Thanks to Dave Nutter and Jay McGowan who were
"scouting" last week and informing me of what they were seeing around other
parts of the refuge.  We will basically go where the birds are being seen.

For now we will start with Wildlife Drive which has been very good for a
nice variety of birds and at least last Saturday the best there was,
locally, for shorebirds. If shorebirds are being seen or reported this week
elsewhere we will adjust our plans. So for now, meet at Montezuma Wildlife
Refuge Visitor's Center 7 am Saturday the 27th and we will go from there.

Below is our ebird list for last Saturday's Field Trip which was Wildlife
Drive only.We spent about 4 hours. We had 66 species.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31163247

Thanks
Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Shorebirds and Others Tuesday July 5th 2016

[David Nicosia]

Had the day off so went to Montezuma from mid morning to mid afternoon
Today.
Even though the heat of summer continues to build fall shorebird migration
has begun
as others have noted. Started at Knox-Marcellus Marsh from Towpath Rd. Road
is dry so not
as bad but still very uneven with giant potholes ("pot"hole is an
understatement in places!!!).

LESSER YELLOWLEGS have been very common. I estimated about 200 birds. There
were
at least a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS but by far LESSER predominate. Also there
were
several flocks of peeps with many hiding down low in the mud and emergent
vegetation. They
were all LEAST SANDPIPERS except for 2 nice PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. I could
have
missed others as there were so many distant birds. There were also many
KILLDEER
some with young, at least 10 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS around, and 7 DOWITCHER sp.
that have been seen and IDed as Long-Billed. They were very distant for me
as some looked
like they had that "hump" shape but again distance was my problem. I was
able to digi-scope
these guys through my scope on 70X and got some poor images. If someone can
point out
any discernable field marks on these dowitchers please share offline to my
email address.
Photos are below.

The CASPIAN TERNS are increasing and at one point I had 22, 17 on the
ground and 5 flying around.
There were 13 BLACK TERNS. I managed a nice photo of one in flight.

In addition to the shorebirds and terns, I had a TUNDRA SWAN!! This bird
had a smaller more curved
bill, the eye was separate from the bill and most telling was a light
yellow dot at the front of the eye!!
There was also a TRUMPETER SWAN for comparison. Additionally, the lingering
2 SNOW GEESE
continue and I also had a male REDHEAD molting toward its eclipse plumage
at Puddler's marsh
from Towpath road. Photos are below.

Wildlife drive was fairly quiet, lots of MARSH WRENS, the SOLITARY
SANDPIPER is back in his spot
in that little stream before Larue's and Eaton Marsh has mainly LESSER
YELLOWLEGS.

For my ebird lists see http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30543854


http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30544721

For my photos of the day see...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157670005509232

Best,
Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Wood and Hermit Thrushes Southern Tier of NY

[David Nicosia]

All,

I have an evening walk that I try to do every day and one of the joys of
this walk
is the presence of thrushes and their songs. For many years, HERMIT THRUSHES
were by far the more common thrush. The trail goes through a ravine with
hemlock
in the ravine and mainly a northern red oak, beech, and sugar maple forest
outside the
ravine. About a 1/2 mile up the hill you run into a fairly mature oak
forest, again mainly northern red oak, with some white oak, many sugar and
red maples, beech, some cherry and a few white pine. There is plenty of
undergrowth.  Conifers are scarce in this upland wood. The upland wood is
on one side of the trail and an abandoned Christmas tree plantation is on
the other side with balsam and fraser firs, silver fir, and white spruce,
all between about 30 and 40 feet tall.

Earlier this June I was surprised and happy to hear so many WOOD THRUSH
along this walk with as many as 5 singing males from the ravine to the
upland woods and 1 even in the abandoned Christmas tree plantation. The
HERMIT THRUSHES were scarce with only 1 singing male found in the ravine at
the beginning and none in the uplands which was unlike other years.

However, last night I walked this same trail and HERMIT THRUSHES  were
found in the upland trail with 2 counter singing males (very beautiful I
may add) and NO WOOD THRUSHES singing I could barely make out the call
of 1 wood thrush farther down in the Christmas tree plantation. But wood
thrushes were not in song at all.

The lesson here is that if censusing singing males you have to be careful.
One would assume the wood thrush was very common on the trail a week ago
with very few hermits and but if you went last evening you would say wood
thrush are scarce and hermits are more common! They seem to be sharing
similar habitat along this trail but maybe are at different life cycles
related to nesting, second broods etc??


Anyway thought I would share this and see if others have noticed this with
thrushes especially. I find it interesting on the habitat selection of the
thrushes, especially hermit and wood which share our woods in the southern
tier. Veeries are present in Broome Co as expected  but not in these drier
upland habitats on this trail.

Cheers,
Dave Nicosia

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Re: [nysbirds-l] New Michigan State Forest NW Chenango County, NY: Swainson's Thrush and Lots of Warblers.

[David Nicosia]

One thing I have noticed in the southern tier of NY, is that BLACK-THROATED
GREENS tend to be the most
common warbler of "northern" affinities, with just a few BLACKBURNIANS
around here and there. The forests
in the southern tier on the north slopes tend to be northern hardwoods,
including sugar maple, beech, northern red oak
eastern hemlock and white pine. The eastern hemlock seems to be the most
common conifer on the northern slopes. The
southern slopes tend to be more oak(both white and northern red), with
white pine, the most common conifer. It is harder to find
Black-throated Greens or any warbler of northern affinities here (although
not impossible). We have only a
few isolated forests where there may be a balsam fir or red spruce tree
here or there and they are just isolated. We do have norway spruce
plantations, but to my knowledge around the Broome county area at least,
not as extensive as NW Chenango County. I also
see more extensive norway spruce plantations in Cortland County, southern
Cayuga County, southern Madison Co and southern Onondaga Co
especially over the high terrain.   One wonders if swainson's thrush is
found in these areas too??? I would imagine blackburnians
are probably everywhere in these areas too. I know at Long Pond State Park
there is a fairly large norway spruce plantation and I found
blackburnians to be most common along with Magnolia warblers a few years
back. Black throated greens seemed to be more common
in the native woodlands which were maple, beech and hemlock.

So, I wonder if BLACKBURNIANS prefer spruce, fir and red pine to white pine
and hemlock, which is far more common
in the southern tier?  Maybe Black-throated Greens prefer hemlock and white
pine at least in central NY??

Dave



On Mon, Jun 20, 2016 at 4:10 PM, Shaibal Mitra 
wrote:

> Hi Dave and all,
>
> I also find the breeding distribution of Black-throated Green Warbler
> perplexing.
>
> It is common and widespread over what strikes me as an unusually broad
> array of forest types, giving absolutely no indication to my eye of any
> kind of specialized preference. Yet it is absent from many places that look
> superficially as good (or better, in terms of the density of conifers) as
> places where they are numerous. For example, in southern Rhode Island both
> this species and also Hermit Thrush breed quite commonly in extremely
> unimpressive-looking* oak woods with just a few pitch or white pines. And
> in this same area, BT Green Warbler also breeds in Atlantic White Cedar
> bogs, another southern-style forest type. But on nearby Long Island, these
> very same habitats (along the very same moraines) are completely shunned by
> Black-throated Green Warblers (and support just a very few Hermit Thrushes,
> which here are restricted to the very "best" Pitch Pine forests).
>
> Even more striking is the scarcity of both of these species in
> near-upstate New York (e.g., Westchester and Orange Counties, and
> elsewhere) in nice-looking Transition Zone woods. This disparity takes a
> lot of getting used to for anyone who has seen the kind of sterile and
> depauperate woods* they like in RI, but now that I get it, David's
> observations from Chenango County seem just a more extreme example of a
> pattern I see in a lot of places.
>
> I've always wondered if the limiting factor was not so much the vegetation
> type but some combination of temperature and humidity; southern RI probably
> has lower maximum temps at this time of year, owing to the ocean influence,
> than do many low-mid elevation places in upstate NY. In addition to these
> two species, Northern Waterthrush, Canada Warbler, Purple Finch, and other
> boreal-associated species also co-occur as breeders surprisingly close to
> the coast in RI, in utterly non-boreal forest types:
>
>
> http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L732767?yr=all&m=6&rank=mrec&hs_sortBy=taxon_order&hs_o=asc
> http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L335600/all/6
>
> If this temp/humidity explanation is true, the absence/scarcity of these
> species on similarly ocean-cooled eastern Long Island is more difficult to
> explain but might be attributable to the very small and highly fragmented
> nature of its woodlands, in addition to their already emphasized low
> quality.*
>
> Anyway, these were my thoughts when I read this very interesting and
> inspiring report. I think I'll count some Ovenbirds somewhere tomorrow
> morning!
>
> Shai Mitra
> Bay Shore
>
> *It took me a while to come up with these euphemisms to replace the
> phrases I would use naturally when speaking .
>
>
>
> 
> From: bounce-120574834-3714...@list.cornell.edu [
> bounce-120574834-3714...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of David Nicosia [
> daven102...@gmail.c

[nysbirds-l] New Michigan State Forest NW Chenango County, NY: Swainson's Thrush and Lots of Warblers.

[David Nicosia]

Had a chance to bird New Michigan State Forest from mid to late morning
Today, 6/20/16.
This forest is a high elevation boreal-type forest which is quite rare in
upstate NY
outside the Adirondacks and Catskills. There are areas of dense NORWAY
SPRUCES
planted by the CCC groups back in the 1930s so much of this forest is dense
and fairly
mature. There are also areas of RED PINE within a more typical northern
hardwoods type
forest of SUGAR MAPLE, AMERICAN BEECH, CHERRY  and other deciduous trees and
scattered native BALSAM FIR and to a lesser extent EASTERN HEMLOCK.

The deep spruce woods are homes to a large population (locally) of
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS.  In addition, you can find SWAINSON'S THRUSH here
too along with
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS which again are quite rare outside our bigger
mountains.
Once thing that puzzled me was the lack of BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS and
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. The most common warbler was the OVENBIRD but a close
second was the BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. Do BLACKBURNIANS
out-compete BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS? Or was the lack of hemlock
ravines more a factor here?
I also was able to record the beautiful song of the SWAINSON'S THRUSH and
append to my e-bird list which can be linked below.

In any event, I drove for over 9 miles in this beautiful area and carefully
counted as many birds as I could hear. My e-bird list is my best effort at
an "exact" count. I was conservative and very careful not to double count.
I was amazed that I totaled 69 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS in 9 miles and a
whopping 86 OVENBIRDS with a total of 50 species. I took just under 3
hours.

see e-bird list here  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30317959

Dave Nicosia
Johnson City, NY

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Garganey present now

[David Nicosia]

Thanks to all who gave updates on the GARGANEY. My friend George Chiu and I
arrived at 542 pm 3 minutes after a text that the bird was
being seen. We joined about 20-30 people in seeing this bird. I have never
seen so many birders on East Rd!

Also present among many other birds, 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 3
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 12 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS,
possible WHITE-RUMPED (too distant to be certain) and BLACK TERN, SNOW
GOOSE, SANDHILL CRANES among many waterfowl. A great evening.

Dave Nicosia

On Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 8:22 PM, David Nicosia  wrote:

> Any updates on the GARGANEY  Tuesday would be appreciated either via
> Cayuga or NYbirds listserve or CayugaRBA.
> I am planning on heading up after work Tuesday. Thanks so much.
>
> On Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 6:24 PM, Jay McGowan  wrote:
>
>> Andy Guthrie just texted that the GARGANEY just reappeared in the
>> southwest corner of Knox-Marsellus Marsh at Montezuma NWR, Seneca County.
>> He is presumably viewing from East Road, where the light should now be
>> favorable.
>>
>> --
>> Jay McGowan
>> Macaulay Library
>> Cornell Lab of Ornithology
>> jw...@cornell.edu
>> --
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>>
>
>

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Radar

[David Nicosia]

I like COD meteorology radar page.  It has all the new dual polar products
for our nexrad sites.

On Sun, May 15, 2016, 4:21 PM Ben Mirin  wrote:

> Hi all, what's your favorite/the best resource for monitoring radar
> online?
>
> Many thanks,
> Ben
>
>
> On Sunday, May 15, 2016, Jim Osterlund  wrote:
>
>> Then I’ll add;
>>
>> Sagtikos / Sunken Meadow Parkway, LIE Exit 53.
>> --
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>>
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>>
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>>
>> --
>>
>>
>
> --
> Sent from my iPhone. I wish it could spell.
>
> Benjamin Mirin
>
> Ben on National Geographic
> Ben on National Public Radio
> Ben's TED talk
> Ben's YouTube Channel
>
> Mobile (USA): (978) 509-5404
> Twitter: @benmirin
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[cayugabirds-l] Shorebirds Montezuma: Hudsonian Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover 5/10/16

[David Nicosia]

Although its still warbler-time and early for the main spring influx of
shorebirds I broke away from the big warbler waves of yesterday (19 species
in Broome county!!) to go for the HUDSONIAN GODWIT, A great bird for spring
with its gorgeous breeding plumage. Thanks to Chuck Gibson from Montezuma
who found this bird and to Gary Kohlenberg, Jay McGowan and Ann Mitchell
for
posting updates. I got the bird immediately at the Visitor's center
Montezuma in the
upper right corner when looking from the observing deck. The bird was a bit
far for
great photos but I managed two which at least ID the bird in spring plumage

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/26873285161/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/26336694833/in/dateposted-public/

Then Ann Mitchell texted me that Dave Nutter found a Stilt Sandpiper at
Tschache Pool so
I went over and found it. I come to find out that Jay saw it earlier and
IDed in flight! The bird
was among many yellowlegs which can make it hard to find and ID. I managed
to get
on it as it was in the close mudflat by some logs. Here are some distant
photos that ID
the bird

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/26335121903/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/26335123403/in/dateposted-public/


Then on wildlife drive I had 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS   Here's a photo of
one...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/26871622661/in/dateposted-public/

There were also LEAST SANDPIPERS, SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, KILLDEER and both
species of YELLOWLEGS.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Heavy Nocturnal Flight Binghamton Airport Last Night

[David Nicosia]

I got finished by with work at 11 pm last evening and
in the parking lot before I got into my car I heard a
"stream" of chips, zips, zeets and zeeps! I listened for about
5 minutes and it was constant. There were at least 3 SOLITARY
SANDPIPERS that flew by. Additionally, I was surprised to hear
a BARN SWALLOW and right before I left
an early SWAINSON'S THRUSH!! The birds were very low
as cloud ceilings has dropped to a few hundred feet
and there was a heavy drizzle falling.

When I arrived at home which is at 1300 feet a few hundred
feet lower than the airport I still could hear the chips, zips
and zeeps etc but they were higher up. I listened for
several more minutes and heard one more SOLITARY
SANDPIPER but nothing else than I could ID. The radar
shows modest echoes at this time.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Incredible day of birding in Broome County: Marbled Godwit and "Western" Willet

[David Nicosia]

Woke up with the idea that I would take a break from birding todayreal
busy!  Anyway, first thing
I see on our BroomeRBA is a MARBLED GODWIT found by the birding guru Tim
Lenz at Upper Lisle
County Park in Whitney Point on a gravel bar upper end of the reservoir. So
I forgo my coffee and
breakfast  (and plans!!)and literally fly up to the  end of Kiebal Road
Whitney Point for the best vantage
point and meet up with George Chiu, Victor Lamoreux and Glenn Wilson.
Everyone got on the bird,
but then it flew!! So I eventually left as I had other things to do.

Then I came back in the afternoon to see if I could re-find it. First thing
that hits me is that in Upper Lisle County Park
over the reservoir there were all these white specks flying around,
terns!!! It was like being at the ocean!!
All three species of white tern that we get were present. CASPIAN,
FORSTER'S and COMMON. I got great looks at these
guys as they flew around the marsh at the upper end of the reservoir past
the gate. I saw many more
terns out flying around the gravel bar where the godwit was earlier. But
the birds on the gravel bar were too
shimmery and distant to ID.  So I hiked down the edge of the reservoir from
the north to a nice spot where
I got great looks at the terns, gulls and what I thought was the MARBLED
GODWIT on the gravel bar
but the bird was smaller and when it flashed its wings, I saw black and
white. The bill was straight and dark,
a western subspecie of the WILLET!!! This was an amazing day for "WESTERN"
WILLETS in upstate NY,
they were seen at Myer's Point Lansing, NY and Montezuma NWR and now our
Dorchester Park/Upper Lisle.
Also present in large numbers were swallows, TREE, BANK, BARN and CLIFF
flying around the lake too.

All in all, I totaled 72 species today with 2 very rare species for Broome
Co.

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Incredible day of birding in Broome County: Marbled Godwit and "Western" Willet

[david nicosia]

Woke up with the idea that I would take a break from birding todayreal 
busy!  Anyway, first thingI see on our BroomeRBA is a MARBLED GODWIT found by 
the birding guru Tim Lenz at Upper Lisle County Park in Whitney Point on a 
gravel bar upper end of the reservoir. So I forgo my coffee and breakfast  (and 
plans!!)and literally fly up to the  end of Kiebal Road Whitney Point for the 
best vantage point and meet up with George Chiu, Victor Lamoreux and Glenn 
Wilson. Everyone got on the bird, but then it flew!! So I eventually left as I 
had other things to do. 
Then I came back in the afternoon to see if I could re-find it. First thing 
that hits me is that in Upper Lisle County Parkover the reservoir there were 
all these white specks flying around, terns!!! It was like being at the ocean!! 
All three species of white tern that we get were present. CASPIAN, FORSTER'S 
and COMMON. I got great looks at theseguys as they flew around the marsh at the 
upper end of the reservoir past the gate. I saw many moreterns out flying 
around the gravel bar where the godwit was earlier. But the birds on the gravel 
bar were too shimmeryand distant to ID.  So I hiked down the edge of the 
reservoir from the north to a nice spot where I got great looks at theterns, 
gulls and what I thought was the MARBLED GODWIT on the gravel bar but the bird 
was smaller and when it flashed its wings, I sawblack and white. The bill was 
straight and dark, a western subspecie of the WILLET!!! This was an amazing day 
for "WESTERN"WILLETS in upstate NY, they were seen at Myer's Point Lansing, NY 
and Montezuma NWR and now our Dorchester Park/Upper Lisle. Also present in 
large numbers were swallows, TREE, BANK, BARN and CLIFF flying around the lake 
too. 
All in all, I totaled 72 species today with 2 very rare species for Broome Co.  
Dave Nicosia
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[nysbirds-l] Broome Co. Yellow-Headed Blackbird spot

[David Nicosia]

see
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/25908702603/in/dateposted-public/

for the location in Boland Pond where the Yellow-Headed Blackbird is being
seen in Broome Co
regularly for anyone taking a trip this way

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Early Blackburnian Warbler Broome Co.

[David Nicosia]

Had 1 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER sing a couple times on King Street Town of
Barker in Broome Co this morning.
This is the earliest I have had this specie in spring. This is also a place
where several pairs nest so it is probably
a nester returning. In addition, we had 1 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER
calling with its sharp chip note
and then we saw the bird. This specie also nests on King Street but was not
singing for some reason. An early
nester returning or a migrant? Additionally we had 2 NASHVILLE WARBLERS
here (this is a little early)
and of course several YELLOW-RUMPED and PINE WARBLERS which are typical now
in this area.

Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Yellow-Headed Blackbird Boland Pond Chenango Forks, NY

[David Nicosia]

The Yellow-headed Blackbird that was found a few weeks ago continues to be
seen on and off at Boland in Chenango Forks, NY which is an ebird hotspot
in Broome County. The bird put a show on for us today foraging in the marsh
grasses about 20 feet away!! The bird is not as vocal as the one we had a
few years ago in Endicott, NY and only calls and sings sporadically.
Therefore he can be hard to find at times and many trips I have taken over
to see him have been fruitless. Fortunately today was different...

Here are some photosI will upload a video later that I took. I think
this is a first year male but I am not completely sure.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157664833652413

Thanks and good birding,
Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Robert Moses State Park 4/4/16 Northern Gannets

[David Nicosia]

Yesterday I had a rare chance to come to Long Island for work.
I didn't have much time but for an hour before sunset I walked the
very windy, rainy and chilly beach from Parking lot 3 at Robert
Moses.

Immediately one can see many NORTHERN GANNETS flying
around high and low and many were dive bombing the rough surf.
Some were close and some far, most birds were adults.
For an upstater, like me this was really cool. I estimated at least
60 Gannets from my view but there were undoubtedly more.

Since it was so windy, and the seas were very rough, with large
waves, and rain visibility wasn't that great. I was able to ID one
flock of BLACK SCOTERS which flew by pretty close. I saw
a few others distant but could not distinguish between black or surf.

There were also several COMMON LOONS riding the waves.

In the parking lot there was a nice adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/26176182941/in/dateposted-public/

Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Western Tanager continues Cornell University photos and video

[David Nicosia]

I know many people have posted on this but here is what
I got today.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157665857584865

Thanks to all for continuing to report this
awesome bird. It is a lifer for me.

Dave Nicosia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] [nysbirds-l] Interesting Bird?? Take Off on Radar this morning

[David Nicosia]

Looks like some confirmation that the bird "ring" on radar this morning is
indeed starlings and late icterids. Thanks Nancy.

On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 11:23 AM, Nancy Jane Kern 
wrote:

> I have been too busy this week to get my bird reports in, but the
> Valatie/Stuyvesant area had a dense murmuration of thousands of black birds
> with many European Starlings, Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and a
> few Red-winged Blackbirds in the past few days. These birds have been
> feeding on cornfields and soybean fields and perching in woods along these
> fields.
>
> There have been some flocks of a few hundred Canada Geese, but I doubt
> these have been significant on radar.
>
> Nancy Kern
> Austerlitz, Columbia Co., NY
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 10:58:59 -0500
> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] [nysbirds-l] Interesting Bird?? Take Off on
> Radar this morning
> From: daven102...@gmail.com
> To: bmvando...@gmail.com
> CC: jwk...@fastmail.fm; cayugabird...@cornell.edu; nysbirds-l@cornell.edu
>
>
> That's a good point Ben. Plus why right at sunrise for geese??  We see
> this with swallows a lot which roost in marshes and take off in the morning
> to feed. Geese roost in the fields? I thought they fed in the fields.
> Interesting stuff nevertheless.
>
> On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 10:24 AM, Benjamin Van Doren  > wrote:
>
> Interesting. I could well be wrong, but I wouldn't typically think of
> geese departing farm fields as doing so relatively uniformly on a broad
> circular front. Some groundtruthing might be worthwhile...
>
> Benjamin
> On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 10:20 AM David Nicosia 
> wrote:
>
> thanks. I didn't think of geese. we often see swallows do this but it
> makes sense.
>
> On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 8:25 AM, John Kent  wrote:
>
> That is geese you're seeing. Large numbers of them roost in farm fields
> there at this time of year, and I have seen the same thing on radar in
> December before. It's probably mostly Canadas, but sometimes there are also
> lots of Snow Geese there.
>
> John Kent
> Selkirk, NY
>
> On Dec 25, 2015, at 8:12 AM, David Nicosia  wrote:
>
> All,
>
> I noticed on the Albany National Weather Service radar between 617 am and
> 654 am Christmas morning a circular pattern on radar like swallow morning
> take off patterns we see in the late summer. This pattern was seen
> originating from Valtie, NY... 42.41N and 73.68W (roughly). Below are 5
> radar images that I grabbed which show this.
>
>  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157662199366610
>
> The question is...are these radar echoes even birds or maybe insects??
> And, if so, what specie of bird (if they are birds)? I would say probably
> starlings???  They couldn't be tree swallows since they should be long
> gone.  Anyway, I have never seen this in the winter before.  Any thoughts
> on this please share.
>
> Merry Christmas to all
>
> David Nicosia
> --
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] [nysbirds-l] Interesting Bird?? Take Off on Radar this morning

[David Nicosia]

That's a good point Ben. Plus why right at sunrise for geese??  We see this
with swallows a lot which roost in marshes and take off in the morning to
feed. Geese roost in the fields? I thought they fed in the fields.
Interesting stuff nevertheless.

On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 10:24 AM, Benjamin Van Doren 
wrote:

> Interesting. I could well be wrong, but I wouldn't typically think of
> geese departing farm fields as doing so relatively uniformly on a broad
> circular front. Some groundtruthing might be worthwhile...
>
> Benjamin
> On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 10:20 AM David Nicosia 
> wrote:
>
>> thanks. I didn't think of geese. we often see swallows do this but it
>> makes sense.
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 8:25 AM, John Kent  wrote:
>>
>>> That is geese you're seeing. Large numbers of them roost in farm fields
>>> there at this time of year, and I have seen the same thing on radar in
>>> December before. It's probably mostly Canadas, but sometimes there are also
>>> lots of Snow Geese there.
>>>
>>> John Kent
>>> Selkirk, NY
>>>
>>> On Dec 25, 2015, at 8:12 AM, David Nicosia 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> All,
>>>
>>> I noticed on the Albany National Weather Service radar between 617 am
>>> and 654 am Christmas morning a circular pattern on radar like swallow
>>> morning take off patterns we see in the late summer. This pattern was seen
>>> originating from Valtie, NY... 42.41N and 73.68W (roughly). Below are 5
>>> radar images that I grabbed which show this.
>>>
>>>  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157662199366610
>>>
>>> The question is...are these radar echoes even birds or maybe insects??
>>> And, if so, what specie of bird (if they are birds)? I would say probably
>>> starlings???  They couldn't be tree swallows since they should be long
>>> gone.  Anyway, I have never seen this in the winter before.  Any thoughts
>>> on this please share.
>>>
>>> Merry Christmas to all
>>>
>>> David Nicosia
>>> --
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>>>
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Interesting Bird?? Take Off on Radar this morning

[David Nicosia]

thanks. I didn't think of geese. we often see swallows do this but it makes
sense.

On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 8:25 AM, John Kent  wrote:

> That is geese you're seeing. Large numbers of them roost in farm fields
> there at this time of year, and I have seen the same thing on radar in
> December before. It's probably mostly Canadas, but sometimes there are also
> lots of Snow Geese there.
>
> John Kent
> Selkirk, NY
>
> On Dec 25, 2015, at 8:12 AM, David Nicosia  wrote:
>
> All,
>
> I noticed on the Albany National Weather Service radar between 617 am and
> 654 am Christmas morning a circular pattern on radar like swallow morning
> take off patterns we see in the late summer. This pattern was seen
> originating from Valtie, NY... 42.41N and 73.68W (roughly). Below are 5
> radar images that I grabbed which show this.
>
>  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157662199366610
>
> The question is...are these radar echoes even birds or maybe insects??
> And, if so, what specie of bird (if they are birds)? I would say probably
> starlings???  They couldn't be tree swallows since they should be long
> gone.  Anyway, I have never seen this in the winter before.  Any thoughts
> on this please share.
>
> Merry Christmas to all
>
> David Nicosia
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[cayugabirds-l] Interesting Bird?? Take Off on Radar this morning

[David Nicosia]

All,

I noticed on the Albany National Weather Service radar between 617 am and
654 am Christmas morning a circular pattern on radar like swallow morning
take off patterns we see in the late summer. This pattern was seen
originating from Valtie, NY... 42.41N and 73.68W (roughly). Below are 5
radar images that I grabbed which show this.

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157662199366610

The question is...are these radar echoes even birds or maybe insects?? And,
if so, what specie of bird (if they are birds)? I would say probably
starlings???  They couldn't be tree swallows since they should be long
gone.  Anyway, I have never seen this in the winter before.  Any thoughts
on this please share.

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

David Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Fwd: Cave Swallow Wind Trajectories.

[David Nicosia]

I just ran two trajectories forward in time beginning Thursday evening the
12th
from the range of the Cave Swallow and look where they end upexactly
where the reports are coming in.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/23001624482/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/22989062346/in/dateposted-public/

Best,
Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Cave Swallow Wind Trajectories.

[David Nicosia]

I just ran two trajectories forward in time beginning Thursday evening the
12th
from the range of the Cave Swallow and look where they end upexactly
where the reports are coming in.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/23001624482/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/22989062346/in/dateposted-public/

Best,
Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Franklin's Gull "Flight" Wind Trajectory Analysis

[David Nicosia]

The birding world is a abuzz with the "epic" Franklin's Gull
flight we have seen in the northeast U.S. I ran some wind trajectories
backward in time using our global forecast system model.
I begin one trajectory in NJ and another in upstate NY and one can see
that the wind patterns from 1000 meters and up strongly favor western
species
pushing due east, such as Franklin's Gulls. These trajectories actually
originate
in their breeding range!!

see
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/23000235295/in/dateposted-public/

see
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/23000235265/in/dateposted-public/


I hope to see one tomorrow!!

Good birding to all!!

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Prolonged mild southwest flow across the eastern U.S. next week: Cave Swallows in the northeast U.S???

[David Nicosia]

Below is a trajectory analysis I did for Monday Nov 2-6. It shows air from
Texas will wind up in the northeast U.S aloft between 3000 and 8500 feet.
This could be a good set up for vagrants from Texas and surrounding areas
showing up in the northeast.

Cave Swallows??? This could be especially true along the coast. Maybe other
vagrants too. This will be an impressive weather patternand mild!!

Trajectory analysis is here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/22586221435/
Best,
Dave Nicosia
Johnson City, NY

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Hurricane Joaquin

[David Nicosia]

Chris,

You beat me to it. I have been so busy at work to send anything to the
group. But early next week could be a great time for oceanic birds as you
state. Some of our latest model guidance though suggests a landfall farther
south now in NC or VA and then the storm comes up the eastern seaboard in a
much weakened state through our area or just to the east. Sandy came in on
the NJ coast to southern PA and we saw pelagic birds. If the storm trends
south to NC on landfall but eventually works north I wonder if we would
have a pelagic fallout? In any event, I think the potential will be there
for a lot of grounded migrants so even if we don't see many pelagic birds
there could be good fallouts of other species...like more Hudsonian
Godwits, maybe an American avocet, or some othersso early next week
could be awesome. Bad weather = good birds!!   Of course we do have a few
models that veer the storm out to sea and we would see nice weather next
week!!!

Stay tuned...

Dave Nicosia

On Tue, Sep 29, 2015 at 9:45 PM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <
c...@cornell.edu> wrote:

> Just a heads-up…
>
> I happened to check some of my weather references for the coming week and
> noticed that Tropical Storm Joaquin, currently just East of the Bahamas, is
> forecast to make landfall around the Delmarva Peninsula or Cape May, NJ
> areas as a Category 2 Hurricane (976mb) around 8am Sunday morning (10/4).
> This system will then weaken to a Category 1 Hurricane (992mb) as it moves
> North through central New York, just East of the Finger Lakes Region, on
> Monday morning (10/5) through midnight Monday night and gradually drifting
> Northeast through Tuesday and departing by Wednesday morning (10/7).
>
> Be prepared and have a watchful eye for unexpected and typically pelagic
> seabirds on sizable lakes anytime Monday through Wednesday (10/5-10/7) and
> on the days following the departure of this system from our area, as birds
> filter from Lake Ontario back toward the ocean (10/7-10/9).
>
> The only caveat with this alert is that this is a forecast, and forecasts
> change – especially forecasts greater than a few days out. So, everything
> mentioned above is purely meant as a heads-up to check your favorite
> weather forecast site for more information as Tropical Storm Joaquin
> develops into a Hurricane and heads our way.
>
> Good luck and good birding!!
>
> Sincerely
> Chris T-H
>
> PS - one of my favorite sites to evaluate large scale storm systems is
> Magic Seaweed:
> http://magicseaweed.com/US-Northeastern-Seaboard-Surf-Chart/20/?chartType=PRATE
>
>
> --
> Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes
> Field Applications Engineer
> Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
> 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850
> W: 607-254-2418   M: 607-351-5740   F: 607-254-1132
> http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp
>
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>

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[cayugabirds-l] Photos from Today's (August 9th) Shorebird Walk Montezuma NWR, NY

[David Nicosia]

see

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/sets/72157656611174249

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Today's (August 9th) Shorebird Walk Montezuma NWR Knox-Marcellus and Puddler's Marshes

[David Nicosia]

First I wanted to thank again Wildlife Biologist Linda Ziemba and Visitor
Services Manager Andrea VanBeusichem at Montezuma NWR for allowing access
to Knox-Marcellus and Puddler's marshes for Today's shorebird walk. We had
a total of 54 people turn out for this walk It was a great day to be
out, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the 60s and 70s with light
winds.  There were virtually no bugs, and the paths were in excellent
condition for walking.

We saw 15 species of shorebirds and at least 55 total species of birds.
Below is the ebird list I put together. If you want me to share this list
with you in e-bird, please
send me your email address. Also, if you saw something that I don't have on
the list below please email me because I want to have a comprehensive list
of all species seen.

Highlights: The RED-NECKED PHALAROPE continues. The bird was first seen in
Puddler's Marsh and then re-found at K-M marsh which was much closer for
observers. The bird was in basic plumage. We also had a surprise UPLAND
SANDPIPER flyover K-M marsh with its bubbly call. The bird landed briefly a
few times in the grassy areas of K-M marsh and then disappeared. There were
also at least 2 STILT SANDPIPERS, 3 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and quite a few
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. There were decent numbers of LEAST and SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS and quite a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS as well. There were at
least 3 KILLDEER.  The LESSER YELLOWLEGS continues to be the most common
shorebird with only a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS seen. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was
seen by one observer with a SPOTTED SANDPIPER see by a few. Then we get to
the dowitchers. There was considerable debate between SHORT-BILLED and
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER among observers for this one bird which was in
juvenile plumage. There was another dowitcher that we concluded was
SHORT-BILLED.

Other birds of note...a juvenile BONAPARTE'S GULL, 10 SANDHILL CRANES, 10
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, 3 GREEN HERONS, and 78 CASPIAN TERNS

We also had a dark PEREGRINE FALCON fly by and stir up the shorebirds and a
close look at a low-flying NORTHERN HARRIER.

See e-bird list below. I am going to post some photos later if they came
out decent.

I would also like to thank other folks who helped lead this trip by sharing
their knowledge and expertise with the large group that showed up. This
includes Dave Nutter, Bob McGuire, Ann Mitchell and Gary Kohlenberg. If I
left someone out I apologize as I am sure there were others helping too.

Below is what I have for the entire group so far entered into e-bird.
Again, please let me know if you had any additional species so I can add
them.

Montezuma NWR--Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes, Seneca, New York, US
Aug 9, 2015 8:10 AM - 12:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:Montezuma Knox-Marcellus and Puddler's Marsh Shorebird Walk,
54 observers.
55 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  35estimated numbers
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  25estimated numbers
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  35estimated numbers
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  11 flyover bird
fairly high up
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  25estimated numbers
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  33 birds flew out of woods on north
end of K-M marsh
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  10seen by Puddler's
Marsh
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  3
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)  10seen flying into Puddler's Marsh
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  35estimated numbers
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  3
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)  1seen by at least one observer
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  3
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  350estimated numbers
Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)  11 bird flew in over K-M
marsh, landed briefly was calling with a soft bubbly quality when flying.
long neck, roundish head. Seen by many.
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)  2
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  300estimated numbers
White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)  3
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  15estimated numbers
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  150estimated numbers
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)  1
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)  1positively identified
by one observer at least
Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus/scolopaceus)  1
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)  1first seen actively
swimming in Puddler's Marsh, later in K-M Marsh. Great views. Bird was in
basic plumage, possibly a juvenile as it showed some rust in its streaked
back.
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  1juvenile
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  40estimated numbers
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  3
Caspian Ter

[nysbirds-l] More on Possible Shorebird Migration new few days

[David Nicosia]

I received an email from Doug Gochfield who made a great comment
that shorebirds often will overfly the region on favorable winds. So the
northwest
winds of the next couple days likely will send many birds overhead. However,
there is an unusual storm (for August) projected to move into North
Carolina
by Thursday night which will spread rain east and northeast to NJ and LI.
This occurs as the northwest winds aloft weaken, but maybe this will
prevent overflight and ground migrants for the upcoming weekend
especially for LI. It will be interesting to see if this pans out and I
look forward to seeing the LI contingent of birder's reports this weekend!

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Winds Aloft next couple days - more shorebirds to arrive???

[david nicosia]

Looking at the wind forecasts Today through Thursday, winds will be  from 
northwest up through 15000 feet. The wind trajectories are coming from around 
Hudson Bay. Hopefully this will lure some staging shorebirds south to NY state! 
The next couple days could see increased numbers and new specie arrivals. After 
Thursday the winds are not as favorable so whatever comes down could stick 
around. 
Possible species (some of which have been seen in the state already)- more BB 
Plovers, american golden-plovers, am avocets? marbled godwit? Am White 
Pelican?? Baird's sandpipers, more phalaropes?? more sanderlings, RUTUs. These 
are just some possibilities off the top of my head. 
Good birding to all! 
Dave Nicosia
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[cayugabirds-l] Winds Aloft next couple days - more shorebirds to arrive???

[David Nicosia]

Looking at the wind forecasts Today through Thursday, winds will be  from
northwest up through 15000 feet. The wind trajectories are coming from
around Hudson Bay. Hopefully this will lure some staging shorebirds south
to NY state! The next couple days could see increased numbers and new
specie arrivals. After Thursday the winds are not as favorable so whatever
comes down could stick around.


Possible species (some of which have been seen in the state already)- more
BB Plovers, american golden-plovers, am avocets? marbled godwit? Am White
Pelican?? Baird's sandpipers, more phalaropes?? more sanderlings, RUTUs.
These are just some possibilities off the top of my head.


Good birding to all!

Dave Nicosia

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[nysbirds-l] Beginnings of Fall Migration evident on radar last night

[david nicosia]

Worked the overnight shift last night and noticed classic radar blossoms 
develop after sunset. Of course they were much smaller than peak migration but 
the doppler winds did show a northwesterly to north component. The radar echoes 
were biological in nature so I imagine they were birds already heading south. 
The echoes were prevalent on other radars where the winds were north too. First 
shorebirds at Knox-Marcellus marsh tomorrow??? '

Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Beginnings of Fall Migration evident on radar last night

[David Nicosia]

Worked the overnight shift last night and noticed classic radar blossoms
develop after sunset. Of course they were much smaller than peak migration
but the doppler winds did show a northwesterly to north component. The
radar echoes were biological in nature so I imagine they were birds already
heading south. The echoes were prevalent on other radars where the winds
were north too. First shorebirds at Knox-Marcellus marsh tomorrow???

Dave Nicosia

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[cayugabirds-l] Red Headed Woodpecker Hamlin Beach State Park June 22 2015

[David Nicosia]

Red headed woodpecker was calling by snackbar between area 1 and 2. Also
had an almost adult COMMON LOON. There were plenty of CASPIAN TERNS. There
were many COMMON TERNS too, one that had almost an entirely red bill. There
was a small touch of gray at the very tip but only from the right side of
bird. When the bird looked left it was all red!!! I got great looks at this
bird as it was on a buoy. Its legs were the same size as the other commons,
wing pattern similar when it flew, plus body was gray like wings so I am
going with COTE. I could see how this can be a difficult id and confused
with ARCTIC TERN. I presume the amount of black on the end of the bill of
the COTE varies

Dave Nicosia
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