[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road, Bear Mountain
Today I made my annual pilgimmage to Doodletown Road. By the time I had climbed up Gray’s hill I had most of my target birds, with singing ceruleans, yellow-throated vireos, indigo buntings, a yellow billed cuckoo, a singing Louisiana waterthrush, a blue winged warbler, a worm-eating warbler, and hooded in the background. But when I ran into a bunch of Queens and Long Island birding buddies leaving the First June cemetery things really kicked up a notch. After a stop at the other June cemetery, we headed up Doodletown road to see if the Kentucky warbler was in it’s usual spot. On the way Eric Miller found a female Cape may warbler in a thin, bittersweet-covered tree. Then we saw an olive-sided flycatcher in a bare tree a bit further up the road. I had to take a personal call and missed the pileated in the woods past the stream. When I headed up the hill to see if I could catch up with it, the I got the surprise of the day. Eric called out that he has found a golden winged warbler in a meadow south of the road. It was a first at Doodletown for pretty much everyone there. We missed the Kentucky, but got scattering of other birds including multiple worm-eatings, ceruleans, cuckoos, a few more warblers found by Eric including magnolia, BT green, and canada, another olive sided flycatcher, and even a timber rattlesnake along Pleasant Valley road. When we were all done I had seen or heard 16 species of warbler for a great day of birding. Wishing you good birding days as well, Peter -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road, Bear Mtn State Park - 9.4.16
Date: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016 Location: Doodletown Rd., Bear Mountain, NY Observers: Amy Simmons, Claire Borrelli and Kym Michaud Knowing that the beach was going to be a bit too windy for our taste, we decided to instead have a walk and picnic at Doodletown Road in Bear Mountain State Park on Sunday. While we didn't see all that many birds, the weather couldn't have been more gorgeous and what we DID see was a real treat: a three-foot long yellow-phase Timber Rattlesnake basking in the sun, and a mother Black Bear with two cubs on the trail! I've seen a number of harmless snakes at Bear Mountain over the years, but this was my first rattlesnake there. We were walking around one of the cemeteries and as we were exiting to go back to the main trail, one of us thought she'd have a seat on a log and rest for a moment. As she was about to sit down, her eye caught a rather large yellow and umber snake, loosely coiled, basking in the sun at the end of the log -- just below where she was about to sit! Needless to say, she (and all of us) slowly backed away. It started to lightly shake its rattle but stopped once we'd backed-up quite a bit. The snake was absolutely gorgeous and while we were all slightly unnerved at how we just hadn't noticed it until it was almost too late, seeing it was a real thrill. Thinking this was probably the highlight of our day, we headed back down the trail to make our way back to the car. On the way, we heard a loud tapping noise and were able to spot a Pileated Woodpecker foraging for bugs high-up in one of the trees. Once again, nature surprised us as Claire suddenly, calmly and quietly stated, "There are three bears coming up the trail in front of us." Sure enough, a large Black Bear and two cubs were ambling up the trail toward us. When we all turned to look, the mother and one of the cubs disappeared into the bushes, but the other cub was quite curious and stood and stared at us for quite a while. We waited and when he didn't seem to be going anywhere, we decided to start clapping and yelling loudly, since he was blocking our way back to the car. This did the trick and he scampered after his mother. Even so, we decided to make a LOT of noise for the next couple of hundred yards. So, even without lots of birds, it was a pretty great day. Below is a list of the birds we did manage to see: 4 Black Vulture 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 3 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 4 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Wren 1 Hermit Thrush 15 American Robin 4 Gray Catbird 1 Black-and-white Warbler 5 American Redstart 16 Chipping Sparrow 25 Common Grackle 3 American Goldfinch Amy Simmons -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road 5/12
I made my annual pilgrimage to Doodletown Road today in the pleasant company of Bob and Collen Veltri. We saw good numbers of ceruleans, including females on nest. Hoodeds were everywhere, often singing alternate songs, one of which was a spitting image of a yellow throated warbler. When we finally saw the bird who was singing, it was the first time in my life I was disappointed to see a hooded warbler. Our main target , however, was the Kentucky. We were encouraged when we ran into Tom Burke and Gail Benson at the intersection of Doodletown and Pleasant Valley road who had just seen the bird further up Doodletown. The bird had been seen just past the bridge as well as further up the hill, but we struck out at both sites. We returned after birding Pleasant Valley to reports that the bird was again singing just past the bridge. We hurried up the road only to run into a road block. There was a group of hikers that decided to do their business right where the bird was singing, and their mates asked us to wait to respect their privacy. It seemed like forever, but the bird was still singing when we were finally allowed entry. That’s when one of the hikers blew her whistle to alert all their members they were leaving. With my hearing aids turned all the way up, it almost pierced my ear drums. Needless to say, after that the bird was gone. We licked our wounds and headed further up the hill to the alternate location. But before long we were rewarded with ground level views, as the Kentucky was attracted by a termite hatch in a fallen log. Here’s a link to videos of the Kentucky, a male and female cerulean on nest, and a female cerulean building her nest. https://flic.kr/s/aHskA1GEim Just another reminder for those thinking of coming up on Sunday, that Rt 9 will be closed on May 15 until 1PM for to a bicycle race. Happy spring birding! Peter https://flic.kr/s/aHskA1GEim -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road
Despite my abysmal record of success at finding target birds this year, I visited Doodletown Road today hoping to get the Cerulean and Kentucky warblers that had eluded me thus far. I arrived early, only to be swarmed with mosquitos and flies. There was plenty of birdsong, but I had to keep moving, not the ideal strategy for finding treetop ceruleans, or ventriloquistic hoodeds. I spend a miserable hour or two without seeing anything notable, save a yellow throated vireo. Hearing a Kentucky singing on Pleasant Valley Road was a highlight, but the bird seemed to be deep in the woods, and I was unable to locate it. I pondered cutting my losses and leaving, but as the morning wore on and birders and hikers filled the park, the insects surprisingly abated. (Perhaps they'd found targets other than me). And while there was less birdsong, I was finally able to spot some birds. First it was a singing blue-winged warbler on Doodletown road. Then I headed back for a second try at the Kentucky, and this time I scored. As I sat on a rock watching it sing on a bare twig, I excitedly announced my finding to passing group. "I know, I can hear him", said the first birder as he walked by without slowing, obviously less thrilled than me. After getting a few people on the bird, it flew, and I continued up the road finding a nice clearing where I sat down and had a snack. I heard scarlet tanager, RB grosbeak, hooded warbler and indigo bunting singing, and was able to spot the first three. As I munched, I got a quick glance at a grayish warbler-type bird with a wing bars that was flitting around. I thought/hoped female cerulean, and then it appeared again, giving me a better look. It was indeed a female cerulean, busy collecting nesting material. I watched her bring it back to the nest, and then go out for several more forays. Well satisfied, I started heading out, but ran into Karlo and Allison Mirth, and I brought them back to see see the nest, giving me the additional pleasure of sharing. I headed out again, and just before leaving the park I heard a buzzy call up the steps at the very first historic house site near the beginning of the trail. Low and behold, I was greeted by a singing male cerulean, not very high, and in good light. Boy was I glad I didn't leave early. I uploaded a couple of short, slightly shaky, imperfectly exposed videos of the Kentucky and the Cerulean nest onto my Flicker site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/50403904@N03/ Happy late spring birding! Peter -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road
This great birding spot is in northern Rockland County. 41.301533, -73.986193 For those who are new to the area: I just noticed that Google maps no longer shows the correct path for birding Doodletown. If you go there and zoom in, DO NOT take the path labeled Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail (at least, no more than a quick look at the pool there). Instead, go to Bing maps, where you find correctly labeled and placed Doodletown Road. That's the trail you want to take from 9W. Google maps does, however, correctly label Lemon Road. Bob Lewis Sleepy Hollow NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road
I birded Doodletown Road yesterday from approximately 8:30 to 1:30. It was a delightful day and the birds did not disappoint. My highlights included 10 warblers: Canada (2), Cerulean (4), Blue-winged, Hooded, Redstarts, Magnolias, Yellow, Black-throated Blue, and the best look I've ever had at a Tennessee, down low, bathing in a little stream. I also encountered the elusive (for me) Bay-breasted, which was a delight. Conversations with other birders revealed there were Kentucky, Worm-eating, Cape May, and Black and white warblers, as well. A Yellow-throated Vireo, Scarlet Tanager and a bunch of Baltimore Orioles rounded out the scoring. What a wonderful hobby we have! Happy Birding Martin Carney -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road, May 13
Two friends and I had a great day at Doodletown today. We saw 60+ species. Many birds are on territory, including Hooded and Cerulean Warblers, Louisiana Waterthushes and Indigo Buntings. We observed both Cerulean Warblers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers on nests. There were lots of migrants as well, including at least a dozen Tennessee Warblers, Canadas, Chestnut-sided and more. Another highlight was watching 4 male Indigo Buntings chasing each other endlessly. I definitely recommend a visit! Dawn Hannay Sent from my iPhone -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road, Rockland County: excellent birding
All, I had an extremely good, rather brief, late afternoon trip to Doodletown Road, part of Bear Mountain State Park. Excellent migration, many birds, almost constant activity. 4:30 - 6:00 pm. The highlight was probably the adult male Cerulean that stayed below my eye level ten feet away in perfect light for about thirty seconds. Amazing. >Black Vulture (2) >Red-bellied Woodpecker >Downy Woodpecker >Blue Jay >White-breasted Nuthatch >House Wren >American Robin Wood Thrush > E. Kingbird E. Wood-pewee > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher > Red-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo >Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler >American Redstart, many >Northern Parula >Magnolia Warbler, many >Chestnut-sided Warbler >Black-throated Blue Warbler, pair >Yellow-rumped Warbler >Black-throated Green Warbler Wilson's Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Cerulean, 3 Hooded Warbler >Eastern Towhee >Swamp Sparrow Chipping Sparrow >Scarlet Tanager >Northern Cardinal >Indigo Bunting >Red-winged Blackbird >Baltimore Oriole, many > Bob Lewis Sleepy Hollow NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --