Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Genesee Birding > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Saturday, February 4 at 03:01 AM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Black Vulture,©Julie Zickefoose

3 Feb ~5 Fish Crows, Black Scoter - Thursday [Barbarah Henderson ] 3 Feb West Lakeshore to downtown surprise - Merlin [ROBERT SPAHN ] 3 Feb Orleans Co. Snowy Owl, Niagara Co. Northern Shrike ["Jim Landau" ] 3 Feb Niagara River & more [Greg Lawrence ] 3 Feb Oatka Creek Park - February 3 [Jim Adams ] 3 Feb Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - February 3 [Jim Adams ] 3 Feb eagle concentration [jim miller ] 3 Feb Egyptian Goose [Leona Lauster ] 3 Feb Sodus & Geneva highlights - Thurs. 2/2/12 [] 3 Feb snow goose more info [abeebe ] 3 Feb snow goose [abeebe ] 2 Feb Erie and Niagara County 2/2/12 [] 3 Feb Snowy Owl - Yates ["Jerry Lazarczyk" ] 2 Feb Red-headed Woodpecker-Byron NY ["Jerry Lazarczyk" ] 2 Feb Grand Island Shrike ["Jerry Lazarczyk" ] 2 Feb Snowy owl ?! [Stephanie Kramer ] 1 Feb Oatka Creek Park - February 1 [Jim Adams ] 1 Feb Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - February 1 [Jim Adams ] 1 Feb Bohemian Waxwings - Wilson ["Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter" ] 31 Jan Snowy Owl diet [Greg Lawrence ] 31 Jan Quaker Pond Trail, Mendon [Pat Martin ] 31 Jan Oatka Creek Park - January 31 [Jim Adams ] 31 Jan Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - January 31 [Jim Adams ] 31 Jan South Texas Last Call [Brett Ewald ] 30 Jan Re: Snowy Owl Recovered from Defunct Furnace [Tom & Celeste Morien ] 30 Jan Rich Marina, Buffalo NY 1/30/12 [] 30 Jan Snowy Owl Recovered from Defunct Furnace ["Chuck Rosenburg" ] 30 Jan Yard bird: SE Owl in Farmington [Jim Ochterski ] 30 Jan Marshall Road Snowy Owl [Gerry Teal ] 30 Jan Oatka Creek Park - January 30 [Jim Adams ] 30 Jan Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - January 30 [Jim Adams ] 30 Jan Syracuse RBA [Joseph Brin ] 30 Jan Fwd: E-mail-A-Friend: First Golden Eagle Released into the Wild in 35 Years [Lewis Crowell ] 30 Jan Red-tails Hawks encounter with a Merlin [kimmarie ] 30 Jan late post, re: Goat Island [Tom Kerr ] 30 Jan Back to Braddock & BBRR Spring Birding Workshops [] 29 Jan Fish Crows, 15 Siskin, 2 Redpoll - Sunday [Barbarah Henderson ] 29 Jan Short-eared owls in Shelby... ["Hollister, Christopher" ] 29 Jan Tonawandas-Iceland Gull, 9 Great Blue Herons, 27 Tundra Swans & 66 Hooded Merg. [] 29 Jan Snowy Owl, Marshall Rd [David Muller ] 29 Jan Bohemian Waxwing - Town of Newfane ["Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter" ] 29 Jan Oatka Creek Park - January 29 [Jim Adams ] 29 Jan Fort Erie fish crows [Marcia Jacklin ] 28 Jan Oatka Creek Park - January 28 [Jim Adams ] 28 Jan Re: GPS Navigation Units (long) ["Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter" ] 28 Jan Fort Erie - Fish Crows [Marcia Jacklin ] 27 Jan Please post all Buffalo Crow roosts & possible hint to finding the Orange Crown. [Barbarah Henderson ] 27 Jan Leucistic Redhead at Conesus Lake ["Mike Wasilco" ] 27 Jan Erroneous posting [pat parslow ] 27 Jan Oatka Creek Park - January 27 [Jim Adams ] 27 Jan Fw: Dancing [pat parslow ] 27 Jan Posting [Jay Powell ] 26 Jan Rough-legged Hawks, Bald Eagles, etc. ["Jim Landau" ] 26 Jan Orleans Co. Snowy Owl ["Doug & Sharon Beattie" ] 26 Jan Orange-crowned Warbler search ["Jerry Lazarczyk" ] 26 Jan Lake Ontario highlights [Brad Carlson ] 26 Jan Harrier, Shrike, and Little Gull 1-25-12 [Tom Kerr ] 25 Jan Snowy - Wednesday [Barbarah Henderson ] 25 Jan MERLIN, Posson Road, Shelby ["thomas&celeste morien" ] 25 Jan Mucks & Sodus - Tuesday [] 25 Jan Oatka Creek Park - January 25 [Jim Adams ] 25 Jan Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - January 25 [Jim Adams ] 25 Jan Olean No Fish Crow, Yes Merlin, Raven, Glaucous Gull [] 25 Jan Swowy Owl Gets Lunch! ["jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com" ] 25 Jan snow geese ontario county [Tad ] 25 Jan Black Headed, 4 Little Gulls - Tues. [Barbarah Henderson ] 24 Jan crow roost in jeopardy? [Laura Kammermeier ] 24 Jan Oatka Creek Park - January 24 [Jim Adams ] 24 Jan GPS Navigation Units ["Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter" ] 24 Jan Cooper's Hawk de toi'lette - Greece ["Bob Beal" ] 24 Jan Sodus Bay ["Doug Daniels" ] 24 Jan King Eider - Sodus [Brad Carlson ] 24 Jan NO Orange-crowned Warbler ["Jerry Lazarczyk" ] 23 Jan Oatka Creek Park - January 23 [Jim Adams ] 23 Jan Short-eared Owl [Carolyn Jacobs ] 23 Jan Syracuse RBA [Joseph Brin ] Subject: ~5 Fish Crows, Black Scoter - Thursday From: Barbarah Henderson <henyoe131 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 23:51:17 -0800 (PST) 2-2-12 Bowen & Jessie (Ft. Erie) - ~5 Fish Crows - they're providing a great study. Lots of calling - most or all the vocalizations on the Stokes CD & then some... 1 bird showed 1 small white feather in center of upper breast & a missing L. wing secondary. Also a pretty good hook to upper bill.  Another showed missing P8(?) in L. wing. At least 1 (Fish?) Crow showed quite a bit of white in wings. Kevin McGowan has a lot of information -  www.birds.cornell.edu/crows.    Jaeger Rocks - 1 b. Black Scoter 1 Snowy - on one of the usual short breakwalls. Was mantling & eating late in day. 100+ Oldsquaw 10+ WW Scoter...   Peter_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: West Lakeshore to downtown surprise - Merlin From: ROBERT SPAHN <rspahn AT prodigy.net> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:55:28 -0800 (PST)     Just time for a quick ride out west to a bit beyond Braddock Bay. Lots of open water for this time of year! Not much of note. On Buck Pond across from the Crescent Beach restaurant - many Mute Swans and hundreds of Common Mergansers, mostly males.     Heading home, we decided to pick up some lunch things at the Swan Meat Market on Parcells - a bit NE of Rochester center. Getting out of the car there was an adult Merlin screaming from a big lone spruce about a block east of the market. This is only a short way from the area near Culver and Merchants where a pair nested two years ago. Maybe they will nest again this year or maybe even they nested last year, just in a place where no birders found them. It is not a surprise for them to shift the nest site a mile or so year to year and remain in a general area. [By the way, good German meats and lunch items!] Bob Spahn_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Orleans Co. Snowy Owl, Niagara Co. Northern Shrike From: "Jim Landau" <landaujr AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:50:23 -0500 Fran Rew & I enjoyed outstanding looks at the previously reported Snowy Owl on the west side of Marshall Rd., in the Town of Yates. The location is a dairy barn .7 mi north of Rt. 18. A Northern Shrike was in small trees at the lake end of Hartland Rd where it takes a turn and becomes Lower Lake Rd. - this is just north of Rt. and 18 just east of the Somerset power plant. Happy trails, Jim Landau Colden, NY (somewhere in southern Erie County) _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Niagara River & more From: Greg Lawrence <glawrence21 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:00:05 -0800 (PST) Hi all, Having no classes on Fridays means that I can end the week with a fun day of birding.  I headed out to the Niagara River to check out all the Gulls and also take a look at the Vulture roost in Lewiston.  We started out at Rich Marine to look for the Black-headed Gull. There were a few thousand BONAPARTE'S GULLS and it was not easy finding it but after a lot of time scanning, we were able to pick out the adult BLACK-HEADED GULL.  We then headed up to Three Sisters Islands.  Here we had a total of 8 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS.  We also had 2 ICELAND GULLS including an adult KUMLIEN'S which I got photos of (it was fairly close to the road sitting on a log) and a 1st cycle bird.  We also had a nice adult THAYER'S GULL as well as a 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL.  We then proceeded to Devil's Hole State Park to check out the roosting rocks.  We had another adult KUMLIEN'S GULL as well as a 3rd cycle ICELAND.  There were also two adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS.  Next we went to the Lewiston Docks.  Within 2 minutes of scanning, we had close looks at two adult LITTLE GULLS flying around together.  Lastly, we went to the Vulture Roost on N 5th & Mohawk St. in Lewiston and got 9 TURKEY VULTURES and only 1 BLACK VULTURE.  However, as we were walking down Center St. on our way to dinner in Lewiston, we happened to see 5 more BLACK VULTURES sitting on the historic inn in Lewiston!!!  Great way to end the day!  Greg Lawrence Rochester, NY_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - February 3 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 19:59:09 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Feb 3, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 4.3 mile(s) Comments: It was an overcast 38F hike in Oatka today. It was a quiet walk with a few birdy episodes. The first came along a profoundly quiet Brown Creeper Trail. I was musing on the fact that the only sound whatsoever was from my footsteps when bird pandemonium suddenly broke out! White-tailed Sparrows and House Finches came pouring out of the shrubbery, darted across the trail, and dove back into cover. One House Finch and one White-throated Sparrow stood guard as their respective species made their mad dash. The activity stirred up some cardinals and woodpeckers. A few minutes later, however, all was dead-of-winter silent again. Along Bluebird Trail where I had seen a Downy Woodpecker back on the thirty-first climb into a freshly excavated tree cavity, I stopped walking and observed the cavity for activity. As I stood still, I saw a small figure come darting toward me from across the woods. It was a Downy that landed on top of the snag and then inched its way down towards the hole, calling the whole time. I began taking continuous pictures, but the woodpecker was too quick. All I got was one picture of it just about to dive into the hole and then it was gone before the next shot. Interestingly, it kept calling from deep in the cavity. On the dirt road back to the parking lot, a small darting silhouette caught my eye. Closer inspection revealed it to be a Carolina Wren that was satisfying its curiosity about me. I got a few pictures and called it a successful outing. 15 species Canada Goose 25 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 3 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 5 Black-capped Chickadee 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 1 American Robin 2 White-throated Sparrow 7 Northern Cardinal 5 House Finch 5 House Sparrow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - February 3 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 19:27:02 -0500 Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier, Monroe, US-NY Feb 3, 2012 Protocol: Incidental Comments: It was a cloudy 36F noontime stop at Charlotte Pier. The sounds of calling Long-tailed Ducks greeted me as I stepped onto the pier. I had to walk a bit before I was able to spot the Snowy Owl. Today she was sitting on the roof of one of the apartment complex buildings east of the Coast Guard station. However, rather than one of the usual closer buildings, she was on one of the farther ones, next to one of the roof vents. Summerville Pier is, apparently, now snow and ice free, so at least one birder was over there trying for a closer look. However, it almost always seems the case that when the owl is next to one of the roof vents, the edge of the building greatly blocks the view from Summerville Pier. Too bad the Coast Guard doesn't sell tickets to its observation deck -- the view of the owl would be magnificent! 1 species Snowy Owl 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: eagle concentration From: jim miller <marthajim809 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 14:24:47 -0800 (PST) A little outside our area but 20 eagles were feeding on a couple deer carcasses in an open field in Osceola, NY -Tug Hill Plateau. Route 39 (Redfield Road) past Fox Rd. and B&T repair shop heading east. Jim Miller_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Egyptian Goose From: Leona Lauster <leona AT lauster.me> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 14:37:30 -0500 I just saw the Egyptian Goose in Seneca Lake State Park near the stream. Leona Lauster Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Sodus & Geneva highlights - Thurs. 2/2/12 From: tigger64 AT aol.com Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:39:47 -0500 (EST) The ice edge at Sodus has receded so far into the bay that much of the action is beyond scope range. Female King Eider continues and an adult male Surf Scoter finally showed up. Over at the Geneva waterfront, not much change. By far the most unexpected bird was an Egyptian Goose grazing in the grass all alone at Seneca Lake SP. This is an incredibly beautiful bird and highly recommended even though presumed an escapee from captivity. Photo on my (not used nearly enough) Flickr page at the link below. A good sunset fly-in of Canada Geese also took place with 2000-3000 birds. I wasn't in position early enough to properly monitor it and didn't come up with anything unusual. Dave Wheeler N Syracuse, NY Egyptian Goose: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22183060 AT N08/6811937059/in/photostream _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: snow goose more info From: abeebe <abeebe AT windstream.net> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 5:10:22 -0600 The snow goose was seen on the Mayville pond on route 430, about 4:30 p.m. in a small flock of Canadas. -- Ann North Clymer Chautauqua County _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: snow goose From: abeebe <abeebe AT windstream.net> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 4:34:54 -0600 I'm sorry that I forgot to report this snow goose yesterday. I saw it across from the cemetary by a pond next to the New York State Department of Transportation in Mayville. -- Ann North Clymer Chautauqua County _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Erie and Niagara County 2/2/12 From: Joetf1973 AT aol.com Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 21:20:50 -0500 (EST) While I on the road today I made a few quick stops. Many ducks on the upper Niagara River, the vast majority being Canvasbacks. Squaw Island 10:30 am 1 Canada Goose 4 Mallards 11 Common Mergansers 1 Peregrine Falcon - eating what appeared to be a small gull. No Boneparte's or other small gulls were in the vicinity 221 Ring-billed Gulls 2 Herring Gulls 1 American Crow - I am assuming it was an American Crow, however you can't be too sure these days Beaver Island State Park 1:15 pm 100+ Canada Geese (possibly 2 of which were Cackling Geese) 4 Mallard 300+ Canvasback 100+ Greater Scaup 50+ Common Mergansers (including a drake terribly wound up in fishing line) 20+ Red-breasted Mergansers 20+ Common Goldeneye 20+ Bufflehead 20+ Redhead 1 Great Blue Heron 8 Ring-billed Gulls 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Downy Woodpecker 7 Black-capped Chickadees 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 200+ European Starlings 1 Northern Cardinal 1 American Goldfinch Buckhorn Island State 2:00 pm 8 Tundra Swans (seen from Buffalo Ave in Niagara Falls) Upper Niagara River (near Grand Island Bridges) 2:00 pm Probably 2500 ducks in view - a mix of the species mentioned above with the vast majority being Canvasbacks Goat Island State Park 4:15 pm (I probably could have come up with a few more birds - but I got side-tracked feeding the Chickadees and was pretty focused on the gulls) 40+ Canada Geese 3 Mallards 2 Common Goldeneye 3 Common Mergansers 1 Red-breasted Mergansers 500+ Ring-billed Gulls 50 Herring Gulls 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 4 Great Black-backed Gulls 9 Black-capped Chickadees 2 White-breasted Nuthatches Joe Fell Buffalo, NY _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Snowy Owl - Yates From: "Jerry Lazarczyk" <lazarcg1 AT netzero.net> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 00:04:08 GMT Doug Beattie gave me directions to the Snowy Owl that likes to perch atop a roadside telephone pole near 1120 Marshall Road in Yates NY. The heifer farm is north of NY18 and perhaps the owl enjoys viewing it. Jerry LazarczykGrand Island NY _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Red-headed Woodpecker-Byron NY From: "Jerry Lazarczyk" <lazarcg1 AT netzero.net> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 23:58:56 GMT David Tetlow gave me directions to an immature Red-headed Woodpecker at the corner of Ivison and NY 262 in Byron NY. Doug Beattie and Paula met me there and Paula found the woodpecker atop a telephone very near the intersection. It oftentimes flew off for short time but cetainly returned to the pole as Dave described it. Jerry LazarczykGrand Island NY _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Grand Island Shrike From: "Jerry Lazarczyk" <lazarcg1 AT netzero.net> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 18:08:13 GMT About 12:45pm Thursday I saw the N. Shrike for the 1st time this season. It was atop the highest tree across from the Grand Island Metropolitan Airport on Alt Blvd. It stayed long enough for me to get a window scope on it then retired to a tree twice as far from the road. Then shortly afterwards flew even further and down to where I could not see it. This is at least the 3rd year that I have seen it in this spot. Jerry LazarczykGrand Island NY _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Snowy owl ?! From: Stephanie Kramer <stephaniemkramer AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:16:55 -0500 How is the snowy owl doing ? Was he released ?! Have there been any other sightings in the area ?!?!_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - February 1 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 20:16:38 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Feb 1, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 4.0 mile(s) Comments: It was an overcast and windy 44F hike in Oatka today. It was a generally quiet walk with a flurry of bird activity near the beginning. As I set out onto Brown Creeper Trail a commotion in the shrubs erupted. First, a Northern Flicker flushed from the ground, flashing bright yellow in its attempt to gain a high perch as quickly as possible. A bluebird then popped up from the same undergrowth to check out the situation. Chickadees called and then I heard but did not see a number of House Finches. A minute or so further along the trail the House Finches caught up with me. One male assumed a guard perch to keep an eye on me while several other House Finches made their way across the trail in front of me and into deep cover. After all were safely concealed, the guard finch slowly made its way into cover as well, frequently checking over its shoulder at me as it went. For the remainder of the hike it was mostly cardinals, White-throated Sparrows, and the occasional woodpecker. 16 species Canada Goose 14 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 3 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 2 Eastern Bluebird 1 American Robin 1 White-throated Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Northern Cardinal 8 House Finch 4 American Goldfinch 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - February 1 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 19:42:54 -0500 Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier, Monroe, US-NY Feb 1, 2012 Protocol: Incidental Comments: It was a cloudy 48F noontime stop at Charlotte Pier. Waves crashed over the outer length of the pier. A few scattered Red-breasted Mergansers were in the water relatively close at hand as well as further downstream in the channel. A small raft of Long-tailed Ducks was by the base of Summerville Pier. Ring-billed Gulls and Mallards in moderate numbers completed the general scene. I found the Snowy Owl on the apartment complex roof east of the Coast Guard station by her usual roof vent. The owl generally faces east when at that location and I have never taken the time to see what that view might provide from a hunting perspective. As I took pictures, the Snowy perked up at one point and looked upstream in the Genesee River channel. She seemed to settle down moments later, though was still alert. I looked down at my camera to review the pictures I had taken and when I looked back up, she was gone. I had thought the aforementioned mergansers were too widely spaced in the channel for their safety and expected an owl strike, but none came. I never figured out where the Snowy went. 1 species Snowy Owl 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Bohemian Waxwings - Wilson From: "Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter" <dannapotter AT roadrunner.com> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 15:18:16 -0500 Hi All, Took a walk at Wilson Tuscarora State Park this afternoon and came upon a flock of about 63 waxwings, 20 of which were Bohemians! They were singing a lot and eating grapes and Highbush cranberries. Betsy ------------------ Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Snowy Owl diet From: Greg Lawrence <glawrence21 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:09:04 -0800 (PST) Hi all, Late in the afternoon, I walked the Summerville Pier.  A Snowy Owl had apparently just flown off to the east before I got there but I headed out onto the pier anyways.  There was almost nothing and the water was devoid of ducks except for 4 Long-tailed Ducks in the river and a female Common Merganser at the end of the pier.  A flock of ~200 Long-tails way out in the lake was impressive, but there was nothing else.  My main reason for going out onto the pier was to look at all of the remains of birds that the Snowy Owls have eaten.  It is quite interesting what the Owls have consumed.  Based on remains (which aren't the most pleasant thing at all to be looking at!!), American Coots seem to be the favorite! Findings:  4+ American Coot (2 heads, 4 right wings, 4 left wings, 4 pairs of feet) 2+ Long-tailed Ducks (1 head, 2 pairs of feet, 1 R wing, 1 L wing)-one right where Jim Adams watched a LTDU get eaten by a Snowy last week 1 2nd cycle Ring-billed Gull (1 head, 1 R wing, 1 L wing) 1 Bufflehead (1 R wing, 1 L wing, 1 pair of feet) This is only what I could find out on the pier as of now.  I'm sure there has been much more consumed other places as well (like on the apartment buildings etc.).  As Snowies stay throughout the rest of the winter, it will be interesting to note what else people find out on the pier regarding their diet.  If anyone else has anything regarding remains of Snowy Owl food from very early on in the winter/late fall when the Snowies were first reported please let me know. Also, if anyone finds any new/fresh remains on the pier or anywhere else at Charlotte, please let me know!  Thanks! Hope most of you had more exciting days out birding, filled with live birds and not so much dead ones! Greg Lawrence_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Quaker Pond Trail, Mendon From: Pat Martin <emartin139 AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:15:30 -0500 (GMT-05:00) While cross-country skiing today (on slush, water, grass, dirt, occasionally even snow!) I found a single male Red-winged Blackbird on the ground with the usual assortment of Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice and Tree Sparrows. First Spring? There was also a singing Carolina Wren in the vicinity. Pat Martin _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - January 31 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:55:10 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Jan 31, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 4.5 mile(s) Comments: It was a cloudy 56F hike in Oatka today. The unseasonably warm weather seemed to have a number of birds in a springtime mode. Most notable to me was finding a pair of Brown Creepers in the woods along Black Billed Cuckoo Trail. The birds were together, so I wonder if this was some kind of warm weather area movement, as I've only seen lone Creepers of late. I also found a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches, though pairs of nuthatches have not been unusual in the park this winter. The White-throated Sparrows were active and constantly moving around, making counts difficult. Finally, along Bluebird Trail in a patch of woods, a previously undetected Downy Woodpecker called right next to my left ear and I turned in time to see it squeeze itself into a cavity in a slender tree by my side. I waited for a few minutes to see if the woodpecker would reemerge from that or another cavity in the tree, but there was no encore. Either it was waiting for me to be good and gone or that was where it was going to roost for the night. Either way, it was a pleasant encounter! 10 species Canada Goose 50 Ring-billed Gull 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 American Crow 4 Black-capped Chickadee 7 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown Creeper 2 White-throated Sparrow 9 Northern Cardinal 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - January 31 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:50:52 -0500 Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier, Monroe, US-NY Jan 31, 2012 12:10 PM Protocol: Incidental Comments: It was a mostly cloudy 52F noontime stop at Charlotte Pier. The remarkable change in weather from yesterday had the majority of the snow and ice on the pier completely melted and gone. The Snowy Owl was on the roof of one of the apartment buildings to the east of the Coast Guard station, huddled next to one of the roof vents. She seemed relatively inactive. Perhaps she was digesting a recent meal? To my surprise there were people on Summerville Pier. Apparently there was enough ice and snow melted for a few brave souls. 1 species Snowy Owl 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: South Texas Last Call From: Brett Ewald <bmewald AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:48:08 -0500 With the Wonders of South Texas tour approaching at the end of March, I am sharing again some of the amazing highlights of last spring's tour. I would like two more people to commit to make this tour a go this spring - please express your interest in the next three days if you'd like to join us, as I have to secure the accommodations, boat trip, etc. It is often voted one of the most memorable birding locations in North America, for good reason. I have enclosed the details for this year's tour below the summary. Please contact me directly for specific questions. Hope you'll join us!!!! Brett Lakeshore Nature Tours 716-628-8226 bmewald AT lakeshorenaturetours.com www.LakeshoreNatureTours.com 2011 South Texas Summary I just returned from our wonderful tour of South Texas - from Fulton to Mustang Island on the coast and near Laredo to South Padre Island in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. We had a great group and an incredible 219 species with many South Texas specialties and Mexican strays. Here are just some of the highlights: Least Grebe - 50+ Eared Grebe - 4 Skimmer Boat Trip 4/1 American White Pelican - 100+ Brown Pelican - 100+ Neotropic Cormorant - 10+ Anhinga - 100+ Least Bittern - 3 Little Blue Heron - 10+ Tricolored Heron - 50+ Reddish Egret - 7 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - 10+ White Ibis - 50+ White-faced Ibis - 5 Roseate Spoonbill - 50+ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 100+ Fulvous Whistling-Duck - 2 Estero Llano Grande 4/6 Muscovy Duck - 2 (juvenile, adult) Salineno 4/3 Mottled Duck - 10+ Cinnamon Teal - 4 Canvasback - 1 male Rt. 361 Port Aransas 4/1 Hook-billed Kite - 1 male doing courtship flight Bentsen Acacia Loop 4/5 White-tailed Kite - 7 Mississippi Kite - 10+ Harris's Hawk - 10+ Gray Hawk - 3 (1 adult La Laja Ranch 4/2, adult and juvenile Bentsen 4/5 White-tailed Hawk - 7 Crested Caracara - 25+ Aplomado Falcon - 1 Laguna Atascosa Bayside Loop 4/6 Plain Chachalaca - 100+ Clapper Rail - 4 Sora - 6 Whooping Crane - 16 Skimmer Boat Trip 4/1 Piping Plover - 1 American Oystercatcher - 10+ Black-necked Stilt - 50+ American Avocet - 25+ Long-billed Curlew - 10+ Marbled Godwit - 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 adult Skimmer Boat Trip 4/1 Gull-billed Tern - 25+ Sandwich Tern - 6 Least Tern - 11 Black Skimmer - 500+ Red-billed Pigeon - 4 Salineno 4/3 White-winged Dove - 100+ Inca Dove - 25+ Common Ground-Dove - 7 White-tipped Dove - 25+ Monk Parakeet - 10+ Green Parakeet - 5 Red-crowned Parrot - 2 Greater Roadrunner - 6 Groove-billed Ani - 3 Bentsen Hawk Tower 4/5 Barn Owl - 1 Inn at Chachalaca Bend, Los Fresnos 4/6 Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl - 1 San Miguelito Ranch 4/8 Common Paraque - 9 Buff-bellied Hummingbird - 6 Golden-fronted Woodpecker - 50+ Ringed Kingfisher - 3 (2 Salineno 4/3, Estero Llano Grande 4/3 Green Kingfisher - 1 Sabal Palm 4/7 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet - 2 (Santa Ana 4/4, Bentsen 4/5) Black Phoebe - 4 Vermillion Flycatcher - 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher - 1 Brown-crested Flycatcher - 5 Great Kiskadee - 50+ Tropical Kingbird - 2 Rockport HEB 4/1 Couch's Kingbird - 75+ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 150+ Loggerhead Shrike - 10+ White-eyed Vireo - 9 Green Jay - 25+ Chihuahuan Raven - 25+ Cave Swallow - 500+ Verdin - 1 Cactus Wren - 4 Sedge Wren - 1 Clay-colored Thrush - 4 (2 Santa Ana 4/4, Bentsen 4/5, Estero Llano Grande 4/6) Long-billed Thrasher - 10+ Curve-billed Thrasher - 10+ Yellow-throated Warbler - 3 Kentucky Warbler - 1 male South Padre Valley Fund Lots 4/7 Mourning Warbler - 1 South Padre Valley Fund Lots 4/7 Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 White-collared Seedeater - 2 males La Laja Ranch 4/2 Olive Sparrow - 10+ Black-throated Sparrow - 1 Seaside Sparrow - 5 Cassin's Sparrow - 1 Salineno (road in) 4/3 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow - 1 Port Aransas Birding Center 4/1 Crimson-collared Grosbeak - 1 female Allen Williams Pharr 4/4 Pyrrhuloxia - 10+ Blue Grosbeak - 1 Dickcissel - 1 Bronzed Cowbird - 8 Brewer's Blackbird - 10+ Audubon's Oriole - 1 Salineno 4/3 The Gulf Coast & the Rio Grande Valley March 22-31, 2012 Experience an amazing blend of Mexican specialties, spring migration, and coastal treasures at one of the continent’s most popular birding destinations. We’ll be there at the peak time for diversity, when an overwhelming abundance of migrants mix with the many tropical species found nowhere else in the United States. Over 200 species are likely on this trip through diverse habitats like barrier beaches, tall-grass savannahs, and native palm trees. And to top it off, one or more incredible Mexican rarities show up almost every year. We’ll start off along the Gulf Coast, an area that hosts the rare Whooping Crane and the largest raptor migration in the United States, involving hundreds of thousands of birds. A wide selection of waterfowl, shorebirds, and waders will also add to the excitement, with incredible views of Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, and much more. Migrant traps along the coast may also turn up songbirds whose movements are already underway. Our passage inland on the way south to the Valley will provide an opportunity for a variety of different species and for the study of unique raptors like Crested Caracara. We will keep our eyes open for the breathtaking beauty of a Vermillion Flycathcer or a hard-to-find Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, the unbelievable sight of hundreds of American White Pelicans wheeling through the sky, and common migrants like the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Entering the Lower Rio Grande Valley is like stepping into another birding world, with tropical species at many locations. We will be greeted by Plain Chachalacas, Green Jays, Chihuahuan Ravens, and Great Kiskadees while searching for gems like Hook-billed Kite, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Ringed Kingfisher, Least Grebe, Aplomado Falcon, Brown Jay, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Tropical Parula, White-collared Seedeater, Olive Sparrow, and so many more!! And the number of Mexican rarities to grace this region is phenomenal, with unbelievable sightings such as Crane Hawk, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, and White-throated Robin, and the likes of Blue Mockingbird, Green-breasted Mango, Slate-throated Redstart, and Golden-crowned Warbler recorded in recent years. This is a trip that a birder will treasure for a lifetime! Day One: Arrive at the Corpus Christi airport by mid-afternoon and take a shuttle to our nearby accommodations. We’ll meet and get acquainted at 5:00 p.m., and then we’re off to experience an introduction to the birdlife and habitats of the Gulf Coast and a relaxing dinner. Overnight in Corpus Christi. Day Two: We will start the morning traveling to Fulton and proceeding by boat into the Aransas Bay area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This is the wintering grounds of the endangered Whooping Crane, whose world population only numbers around 500. We’ll also be afforded excellent views of the many wading birds, including the stunning Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, and White Ibis, as well as Gull-billed Tern, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, and other herons, egrets, ibises, terns, and shorebirds. Mid-day will be spent searching for passerines, shorebirds, waterfowl, and seabirds in the varied coastal habitats of the Rockport and Port Aransas areas. The rest of the afternoon will find us birding the barrier beaches of Mustang Island, where we hope to see Snowy Plover, Piping Plover, Least Tern, Sandwich Tern, and others. Overnight in Corpus Christi. Day Three: Today we will start working our way south and begin exploring the oak mottes and mesquite grasslands of ranch country. We’ll be greeted by species associated with this change in habitat, and our first taste of specialties like Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Couch’s Kingbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, and Olive Sparrow. We expect to encounter the noisy Black-crested Titmouse, recently given full-species status in a split from Tufted Titmouse. Raptors will be very much in evidence, especially as we traverse an area known as Hawk Alley, and we should encounter Harris’s Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, and Crested Caracara - the “Mexican Eagle”. The afternoon will find us in the borderlands, where we’ll search for White-collared Seedeater, before settling into our accommodations in Zapata. Day Four: We will concentrate our efforts in the Falcon Dam area today. Away from the river, this region is characterized by rolling hills and mesas covered with mesquite, cacti, and other brushland plants. Some of the expected bird species include Northern Bobwhite, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Lark Sparrow, while the uncommon Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is also possible. A Zone-tailed Hawk may be found amongst the many Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures patrolling the area. We will make several stops along the river around Salineno and Chapeno. Target birds include rarities like Muscovy Duck, Red-billed Pigeon, Brown Jay, and Audubon’s Oriole. Hook-billed Kite and Gray Hawk have also been known to occur in this area. We will finish the day searching for Green Parakeets and Red-crowned Parrots coming to their nighttime roosts in McAllen. Overnight near Alamo. Day Five: A birding gem along the river will be our starting point this day - Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. We will explore several trails, resacas (ox-bow lakes), and the famous trailer loop in our continued search for the Valley’s specialties. Amidst the calls of the common Plain Chachalacas, Green Jays, White-tipped Doves and others, we will try for the secretive Green Kingfisher and the brightly colored Altamira Oriole. Remarkably, Clay-colored Robin and Blue Bunting have been seen here almost annually in recent years, while Ruddy Ground-Dove, Roadside Hawk, and Masked Tytira (first U.S. record) are just three of the exceptional vagrants that have turned up in the park. Afternoon will find us in nearby Anzalduas County Park. The park grounds may have an assortment of regularly occurring species like Inca Dove, but is also another site to look for Hook-billed Kite, Gray Hawk, Clay-colored Robin, and other sought-after birds. After dinner, a return to the Bentsen area for night birds should turn up Common Pauraque and Eastern Screech-Owl, while Lesser Nighthawk, Common Poorwill, Elf Owl, and Barn Owl are uncommon possibilities. Overnight near Alamo. Day Six: The first part of the day will be spent at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, a paradise for birders and a highlight of any trip to the Rio Grande Valley. This lush area of undisturbed riparian forest and small lakes has nearly 400 species on its checklist, including specialties we will be seeking, such as Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Anhinga, Hook-billed Kite, White-tailed Kite, Gray Hawk, Cinnamon Teal, Mottled Duck, Common Ground-Dove, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Tropical Parula. We may encounter a “push” of migrating raptors, with thousands of Broad-winged Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, and Mississippi Kites a possibility, among others. There is also an amazing list of Mexican rarities recorded in the refuge, and we can hope for the likes of a Northern Jacana, Short-tailed Hawk, Tropical Kingbird, White-crowned Robin, or Gray-crowned Yellowthroat. We’ll spend the afternoon visiting several hotspots around Weslaco for a wide range of valley specialties. Overnight near Alamo. Day Seven: Our birding will start at National Audubon’s Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary. This unique treasure contains the largest remaining stand of old growth Sabal Palm, and hosts many of the region’s specialties, such as Least Grebe, White-tipped Dove, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Groove-billed Ani, and Hooded Oriole. We will explore areas around Brownsville in hopes of locating the rare Tamaulipas Crow, Botteri’s Sparrow, and Tropical Kingbird, before settling into our relaxing accommodations in Los Fresnos. Day Eight: The barrier island of South Padre will greet us in the morning, with stops for marsh birds, migrant passerines, and seabirds of the Gulf of Mexico. We may be rewarded with the likes of Clapper Rail, Least Bittern, American Bittern, Yellow-throated Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Magnificent Frigatebird, and more! We will bird our way back to the mainland and head for Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, with a chance at Aplomado Falcon along the way. This refuge has hosted more species than any other single area, with a checklist exceeding 400 species. We will hike several trails and explore the auto loop in our search for its bounty, such as White-tipped Dove, Groove-billed Ani, Long-billed Thrasher, Cassin’s Sparrow, and Bronzed Cowbird. Overnight in Los Fresnos. Day Nine: We will spend our final morning in the Valley in search of species which may have eluded us so far, including a special effort for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. By late morning we will be heading north to Corpus Christi. A visit to the North Padre National Seashore will round out our enjoyment of this spectacular area, with a mix of waterfowl, wading birds, and passerines. Overnight in Corpus Christi. Day Ten: Participants can depart at any point during the morning, with shuttle service available for the airport. Checkout of the rooms is before 11:00 a.m. Have a safe trip home! Tour Details Tour Pricing: $2395.00 per person based on double occupancy. Single occupancy supplement is $495.00 Tour Services: This tour includes nine nights of comfortable accommodations at hotels or guesthouses. All meals, from dinner on Day One to breakfast on Day Ten, are included, excluding any alcoholic beverages. Ground transportation throughout the tour, starting at and returning to the accommodations in Corpus Christi, will be provided, as well as any charter or entrance fees. This tour does not include airfare to/from Corpus Christi, special gratuities, or items of a personal nature. Also included are professional guide services for the duration of the tour. Brett M. Ewald will be the tour leader on this exciting excursion. As well as being an accomplished birder, naturalist, and biologist, Brett has traveled and birded extensively in North America, including time spent birding and leading tours in South Texas. He looks forward to sharing the wonders of South Texas with you! Terms and Conditions A $600.00 deposit is required at time of booking. Any balance due is required January 15, 2012. Confirmation and an informational packet, including details and directions, will be sent upon receipt of deposit. Make your check or money order payable to Lakeshore Nature Tours. If the tour is full, a waiting list will be taken, and filled according to the date of registration. A $75 service fee will apply to cancellations before January 15, 2012. Cancellations between January 15, 2012 and February 28, 2012 will forfeit the entire $600.00 deposit. After February 28, 2012, no refund will be available. _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Re: Snowy Owl Recovered from Defunct Furnace From: Tom & Celeste Morien <tcmorien AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:20:18 -0500 The furnace chimney location mentioned is quite close to the outer harbor leading to thoughts that this could be the Snowy seen so often at Erie Basin Marina. Maybe those who have photos could confirm that with you Chuck. I wonder if the Erie Basin Marina owl has been spotted in the last few days. Celeste On Jan 30, 2012, at 10:35 PM, "Chuck Rosenburg" wrote: > This morning, Mike Koch fielded a call at the DEC Buffalo office reporting a snowy owl trapped in a defunct furnace at an industrial building along Seneca Street (near Smith/Filmore) in the City of Buffalo. The owl had apparently entered the furnace through a ~50-foot tall chimney some time over the weekend (possibly pursuing prey, such as pigeons???). Mike and I recovered the owl, alive but with some wing damage (apparently from trying unsuccessfully to fly back up the chimney). Connie Adams took the owl to Erie Co. SPCA where it was determined that the owl was badly dehydrated but had no broken bones. The owl is currently in their care. One of us will provide an update on its condition later this week. > > Has anyone experienced or heard of snowy owls getting into trouble like this before? I documented a couple dozen similar cases with barn owls in Virginia in the 1980s, and have witnessed a couple similar cases with eastern screech owls here in WNY. But those species are cavity nesters, prone to investigate natural and artificial tunnels and recesses. One would think that behavior would be pretty foreign to a snowy owl. > > Chuck Rosenburg, NYSDEC > _______________________________________________ > GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu > http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Rich Marina, Buffalo NY 1/30/12 From: Joetf1973 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:50:40 -0500 (EST) I stopped by Rich Marina after work but before heading to class (5:10 p,m), still hoping for the Black-headed Gull. No luck on that front, however the following were present: 4 Canada Geese 11 Mallards 4 Common Mergansers 500+ Boneparte's Gulls 2 Little Gulls (1 adult, 1 juvenile) 17 Ring-billed Gulls 11 Herring Gulls Many more gulls and ducks out in the river - I am only including the birds in the canal/ marina area. Joe Fell Buffalo, NY_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Snowy Owl Recovered from Defunct Furnace From: "Chuck Rosenburg" <cprosenb AT roadrunner.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:35:51 -0500 This morning, Mike Koch fielded a call at the DEC Buffalo office reporting a snowy owl trapped in a defunct furnace at an industrial building along Seneca Street (near Smith/Filmore) in the City of Buffalo. The owl had apparently entered the furnace through a ~50-foot tall chimney some time over the weekend (possibly pursuing prey, such as pigeons???). Mike and I recovered the owl, alive but with some wing damage (apparently from trying unsuccessfully to fly back up the chimney). Connie Adams took the owl to Erie Co. SPCA where it was determined that the owl was badly dehydrated but had no broken bones. The owl is currently in their care. One of us will provide an update on its condition later this week. Has anyone experienced or heard of snowy owls getting into trouble like this before? I documented a couple dozen similar cases with barn owls in Virginia in the 1980s, and have witnessed a couple similar cases with eastern screech owls here in WNY. But those species are cavity nesters, prone to investigate natural and artificial tunnels and recesses. One would think that behavior would be pretty foreign to a snowy owl. Chuck Rosenburg, NYSDEC_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Yard bird: SE Owl in Farmington From: Jim Ochterski <ochterski AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:47:25 -0500 Farmington, NY: Most unexpected, but at 5:20 PM Monday 1-30-12, a female SE Owl flew low across our backyard, and continued to soar over an adjacent horse pasture for 5 minutes for good looks. SE Owls are occasionally seen in this area of scattered agriculture fields and pastures on Townline Road, about 3 miles north of Canandaigua, near the KOA Campground. Also has a SS Hawk this morning perched and hunting near our feeders, while an American crow pecked at a corn cob 5 feet away, seemingly disinterested in the accipiter. Jim Ochterski Farmington, NY _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Marshall Road Snowy Owl From: Gerry Teal <gerihatric AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:35:33 -0800 (PST) The Owl was at the Heifer farm this afternoon around 4:00 perched on the light pole over the cattle yard. The usual Kestral was working the fields from the wires along the road and there was a flock of about 30 Snow Buntings as well as a smaller flock of Horned Larks.  _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - January 30 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:09:42 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Jan 30, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 4.0 mile(s) Comments: It was an overcast 34F hike in Oatka today. It was a very gloomy walk that seemed to embolden the birds to come out of hiding a bit more than recently. Walking along Brown Creeper Trail, I encountered Cedar Waxwings and robins, both species being relatively scarce in the park of late. A Pileated Woodpecker gave me a fleeting photo op in the woods of Black Billed Cuckoo Trail. As I made the final turn minutes before sunset on White Tail Trail to head back to the parking lot, cardinals and White-throated Sparrows started going into high alert and pouring out of the shrubs and flew back and forth across the trail in front of me. So as not to let all this effort go to waste, most of the sparrows landed on the locally prevalent Staghorn Sumacs and had quick meals of berries. As I returned to my car, a lone Canada Goose flew overhead, calling as if it was leading a flock of fifty. 13 species Canada Goose 1 Northern Flicker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 3 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 1 American Robin 3 Cedar Waxwing 4 White-throated Sparrow 7 Northern Cardinal 5 House Finch 1 American Goldfinch 1 House Sparrow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - January 30 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:51:26 -0500 Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier, Monroe, US-NY Jan 30, 2012 Protocol: Incidental Comments: It was a mostly cloudy 29F noontime stop at Charlotte Pier. Long-tailed Duck numbers were way down with only a small, loose raft of about thirty ducks by the base of Summerville Pier. The rest of the water on either side of both piers was devoid of birds. Even gulls were sparse and far upstream of the piers. Thinking this lack of hunting opportunities boded ill for finding the Snowy Owl, I headed down Charlotte Pier, scanning all the usual perching locations. The new layer of snow plus ice cleats strapped to my shoes made the footing perfectly stable and comfortable. After about the sixth time scanning Summerville Pier from end to end, I finally found the Snowy tucked against the first post past the steps separating the two parts of the pier. From the base of the pier the owl was perfectly hidden and it was only after I had walked out some way that she was revealed. I was able to walk down far enough to be directly across from the Snowy, where I took my pictures and a video. She only looked at me once and clearly dismissed me in favor of searching for whatever meal may be floating nearby. 1 species Snowy Owl 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Syracuse RBA From: Joseph Brin <brinjoseph AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:59:04 -0800 (PST) RBA   *  New York *  Syracuse *  January 30, 2012 *  NYSY 01.30.12 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): January 23, 2012 - January 30, 2012 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison & Cortland compiled:January 30 AT 4:30 p.m. (EST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org     #290 -Monday January 23, 2012     Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of January 16 , 2012   Highlights: ----------- TURKEY VULTURE SANDHILL CRANE ICELAND GULL GLAUCOUS GULL LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL GLAUCOUS GULL SNOWY OWL NORTHERN SHRIKE BOHEMIAN WAXWING WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) ------------      1/29: Although not in the complex proper, 4 SANDHILL CRANES were seen on Gravel Road just east of Rt. 89. Madison County ------------      1/24: At the Madison County Landfill 4 ICELAND GULLS, 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS, and 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen. The next day 6 ICELAND GULLS, 1 GLAUCOUS GULL, and 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were found. Onondaga County ------------      1/26: 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were found with a flock of Cedar Waxwings at Three Rivers WMA north of Baldwinsville. The next day one of the BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was relocated. They were found in an open area along a service road east of 60 Road near the Bald Eagle nest.      1/27: An overwintering TURKEY VULTURE was spotted in Elbridge.      1/29: A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found at the inner harbor near Carousel Mall.      Despite some unsuccesful reports SNOWY OWLS are still being seen at Syracuse’s Hancock Airport. Two birds were reported today. Oswego County ------------      1/28: 25+ BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen on the east side of County Rout 3 just north of Selkirk Shores State Park.      1/29: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found on Fort Leazier Road north of Mexico. Cayuga County ------------      1/28:  A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen with American Tree Sparrows at the Sterling Nature Center.     End Transcript -- Joseph Brin Region 5 Baldwinsville, N.Y.  13027  U.S.A._______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Fwd: E-mail-A-Friend: First Golden Eagle Released into the Wild in 35 Years From: Lewis Crowell <ltcjac AT roadrunner.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:19:03 -0500 -------- Original Message -------- Subject: E-mail-A-Friend: First Golden Eagle Released into the Wild in 35 Years Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:01:07 -0600 From: bunny_precious AT yahoo.com To: ltcjac AT roadrunner.com Comment: Story about the release of local Golden Eagle --- Story: First Golden Eagle Released into the Wild in 35 Years The young female golden eagle hatched last spring at Hawk Creek Wildlife Center was successfully released into the wild on Jan. 15 after attending "eagle college" at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Mo. This momentous event was the first golden eagle release in the renowned sanctuary's 35-year existence. The appropriately named Legacy was returned to the same Midwest skies in which her permanently injured mother soared decades before. The eagle's much-anticipated release in St. Louis was captured through TV coverage and can be viewed at facebook.com/hawkcreekwildlife. For more of this story, click on or type the URL below: http://eastaurorany.com/articles/2012/01/30/news/doc4f2615dc687a3744294083.txt -------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail contains information for the purpose of tracking abuse. If you believe this email is offensive or may be considered spam, please visit the website http://abuse.townnews.com and create an incident report. From this site you can also block messages like this from sending to your email address. Please retain this Mail-ID [4b50d39bf7a6c9b004bab8ec4170057d], it's needed to view information associated with this message. Click the link below to view the incident. http://abuse.townnews.com/?MailID=4b50d39bf7a6c9b004bab8ec4170057d Read the acceptable use policy: http://support.townnews.com/docs/aup -------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Red-tails Hawks encounter with a Merlin From: kimmarie <auroramn61 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:11:07 -0800 (PST) Location: Buffalo State College, Buffalo NY   We just had a Merlin attacking the area's resident pair of Red-tail Hawks.  The encounter took place over the the Elmwood Ave/Rockwell Rd (southeast) section of the campus and last about 3 minutes.  Very interesting to see the smaller falcon dive bombing and harrassing the larger hawks.   kimmarie :) Buffalo/Orangeville, Western NY_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: late post, re: Goat Island From: Tom Kerr <tyrannustyrannus AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:12:12 -0500 Hi Everyone, I'm sorry this is so late, I thought I posted it from my phone on Friday but it did not go through. I spent Friday afternoon searching for the Orange-crowned Warbler on Goat Island with Jerry Lazarczyk but did not find it. Our consolation prize was a Winter Wren upstream from 3 Sister's Islands near the concrete drainage pipe. We also had a few Golden-crowned Kinglets. If anyone finds that OCWA again, please let us know. The Buffalo Audubon Gull walk on Saturday consisted of me and 2 brave birders from Boston, MA. We didn't see much in ArtPark, but we stopped by Lewiston Landing and saw at least one Little Gull. The wind and the freezing rain made it difficult to see anything. Good Birding, Tom Kerr Buffalo Audubon For The Birds! Niagara_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Back to Braddock & BBRR Spring Birding Workshops From: streatham2003 AT aol.com Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:40:00 -0500 (EST) Hi All, Just wanted to drop the list serve a line and say that although I am currently sitting in London, England I am really looking forward to getting back to Braddock Bay for a second spring of hawkwatching at North America's best hawkwatch site - it's official ;) As well as the usual great hawkwatching events that BBRR will be running this season such as Bird of Prey Days and the Raptorthon I will also be running a series of birding workshops aimed at intermediate level birders that will focus on looking at everything from gulls to warblers. The workshops will focus on a family of birds and involve a talk as well as a field workshop element with handouts etc. You can find out dates, times and booking details on the Braddock Bay Raptor Research website: http://www.bbrr.org/events/event/bird-identification-workshop-gulls-part-1/ The events are free to BBRR volunteers and have a nominal fee for BBRR members and non-members. I'm hoping a few of you will join me for them. I am really looking forward to getting back up to Braddock this year and seeing everyone again, hard to believe this season can top the last one but one can only hope. Look forward to seeing everyone at the end of February. Luke Tiller, London England and Hilton NY _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Fish Crows, 15 Siskin, 2 Redpoll - Sunday From: Barbarah Henderson <henyoe131 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:25:37 -0800 (PST) Adding to Marcy's Ft. Erie post -   15 Siskin - at Bowen & Jessie. They may've been going to a feeder there (lots of E. Sparrows) or raiding the white birch catkins. Flew S.E. - might still be around. 2 Redpoll - at W. end of Bowen. They were flying E. from the golf course into the residential area. 1 Cooper's 1 Sharpy - this seems to be a nice little enclave... After hearing many single Fish Crow calls on Bowen (later in the day they were feeding & roosting out on the golf course at the W. end of Bowen) I followed their flight line to the corner of Lewis & the Parkway (just S. of the RR tracks). There were several individuals calling here (along w/many Americans) including 1 that circled low overhead. Finally got a size comparison between a calling Fish & a nearby single American Crow. Big difference.  Eventually they all headed S.E. Only the single note call was heard the couple hrs. I was there.   Peter   _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Short-eared owls in Shelby... From: "Hollister, Christopher" <cvh2 AT buffalo.edu> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:23:03 -0500 Hi all... The twilight birding was productive along Posson Road in Shelby this evening. Within the span of twenty minutes, Brian Morse, Brooke Genter, and I tallied four (and possibly five) short-eared owls, two northern harriers, one rough-legged hawk, two eastern bluebirds, and a modest handful of otherwise unremarkable species. The owls were quite active, soaring high and low, on both sides of the road, and barking continuously. A word of caution: There is very little in terms of room to pull a vehicle off to the side of Posson Road, and other vehicles seem to travel at a rapid pace there. Particularly because this is a twilight birding exercise, I recommend for those who wish to observe these owls to wear reflective clothing, and also to leave your vehicle's flashing lights on. Cheers! Chris -- Christopher Hollister Associate Librarian 524 Lockwood Memorial Library University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY 14260 Phone: (716) 645-1323 Fax: (716) 645-3859 E-Mail: cvh2 AT buffalo.edu -------------------- For the sake of our songbirds, please choose coffee that comes from shade grown coffee plantations. _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Tonawandas-Iceland Gull, 9 Great Blue Herons, 27 Tundra Swans & 66 Hooded Merg. From: WilliamWatsonSr AT aol.com Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:34:20 -0500 (EST) January 29 - This afternoon there was a first cycle Iceland Gull at the Sheridan Boat Launch in Tonawanda. Seven Great Blue Herons at the Tonawanda Osprey nest. Two adult Bald Eagles, two Great Blue Herons, 27 Tundra Swans, and 910 Common Mergansers at Strawberry Island. In North Tonawanda there were 66 Hooded Mergansers in the Little River. Bill Watson_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Snowy Owl, Marshall Rd From: David Muller <dm5957 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:39:51 -0500 Found the snowy today exactly where noted before on 1/26. Perched on the lamp post next to the barn, he just turned his head occasionally. This was at 3:15 PM. Also enjoyed seeing a flock of several hundred robins at Golden Hill flying through the trees along the park road to the lighthouse. David _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Bohemian Waxwing - Town of Newfane From: "Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter" <dannapotter AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:46:42 -0500 Alerted by Andy Guthrie that there were lots of CEDAR WAXWINGS at the waxwing orchards in the Town of Newfane, I headed over there this morning. Andy had them yesterday in miserable snowy conditions but conditions were fine this morning and I was able to find one BOHEMIAN WAXWING among about 300 CEDAR WAXWINGS. Also had an immature COOPER'S HAWK here that put a scare in the waxwings, though I think it had eyes for something else. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was at one of the many feeders in the yard, a species that seems relatively scarce this winter. The location is on the south side of Rt. 18, about 1.5 miles east of Olcott. The favored waxwings trees and house with many feeders are opposite the mailbox for 4375 Lake Road. The waxwings like to sit in the tall deciduous trees that are in the area. Groups will come down to feed in the berry trees, which are scattered throughout the orchards. There are a few berries left on the Mountain Ash trees that are in front of the house with all the feeders and the Bohemian was in there briefly, as well as sitting in the tall trees. My sighting was between 9:00 and 10:00 but when I checked briefly again around noon, I saw no waxwings at all. Good birding! Willie ------------------ Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - January 29 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:06:11 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Jan 29, 2012 7:46 AM - 10:14 AM Protocol: Traveling 5.7 mile(s) Comments: It was an intermittently sunny, cloudy, and snowy 28F hike in Oatka today. Chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches were singing at one point or another, and quite persistently at that. Woodpeckers were in relatively large numbers with the most interesting sighting being a Pileated Woodpecker eating Staghorn Sumac berries. A small group of bluebirds briefly passed in front of me along the dirt road from the parking lot to the woods. As I approached the creek from Warbler Loop, cardinals suddenly went into an alarm status and started pouring out of the shrubbery and tearing off for some supposedly safer location. I never discovered a cause. The creek water continues to rise and be fully opaque due to the fierce current. It may flood Trout Run Trail soon rather than wait for the spring thaw (though, perhaps, there will not be much to thaw this spring). In any event, there were no birds along creek, their needs being, perhaps, better met by more serene bodies of water. Other species were generally fleeting observations. 17 species Canada Goose 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 5 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 7 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Eastern Bluebird 3 American Robin 3 European Starling 21 White-throated Sparrow 5 Northern Cardinal 11 American Goldfinch 2 House Sparrow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Fort Erie fish crows From: Marcia Jacklin <mjacklin AT brocku.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:35:28 +0000 Hi Five fish crows were observed between approximately 2 pm and 2:30 in the vicinity of 333 Bowen in Fort Erie yesterday (Saturday) by several groups. Also several groups observed the Black-headed Gull and Kittiwake from the parkway close to the end of Bowen. Marcie Jacklin Fort Erie: from the source of the Niagara river travel north on the Niagara River Parkway past the railway bridge that crosses the river. Watch for Bowen on your left hand side. From here you can scan the American side and see the swarms of gulls by the marina (this is actually Squaw Island which doesn't look like an island, but rather a concrete pier). Patience should yield the Black-headed, Kittiwake and Little Gulls. Travel about 0.5 kms further north and watch for a sandy beach on the river side of the road and the parkette on the landward side. This is where the crows came in starting about 3:30 p.m. We left about 4:15. _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - January 28 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:56:06 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Jan 28, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 5.6 mile(s) Comments: It was a cloudy with intermittent rain and snow 39F hike in Oatka today. It was another quiet midwinter walk, though there were some interesting finds. Actually, things started optimistically with the loud singing of a Carolina Wren as I exited my car in the parking lot. Things would quiet down afterwards. The drumming of a Pileated Woodpecker shattered the silence as I walked along Warbler Loop. Bushwhacking into the deep woods, I found the Pileated, hammering away in a manner that suggested more excavation for food rather than territorial defense. After taking some pictures, I continued my bushwhack towards the creek and discovered some very old trail blazes on the trees. The associated trail seemed long gone. The creek was very high, strong, and turbid. Along the fields of Black Billed Cuckoo Trail I came across a trio of bluebirds feeding on a large bunch of grapes. It may be another indication of the type of winter we've had that there are still copious amounts of fruit in the park. It would be quiet for the remainder of the hike. 10 species Canada Goose 300 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Carolina Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 3 White-throated Sparrow 2 American Goldfinch 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Re: GPS Navigation Units (long) From: "Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter" <dannapotter AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:09:10 -0500 The response to my request for information about GPS portable navigation devices (PND's) has been overwhelming! Below, I have compiled the information that I have received, which I hope others will find helpful. Several people answered my specific question that the units can be used in rental cars with no problems. In addition to all of the email feedback that I received, I found the following link helpful for getting informed on the subject on C/NET'S GPS Buying Guide: http://reviews.cnet.com/gps-buying-guide/?tag=buyingGuide I want to thank Bob Beal, Lynn Bergmeyer, Brad Carlson, Greg Coniglio, Steve Daniel, Brooke Genter, Andy Guthrie, Jerry Lazarczyk, Bob Mauceli, Mike Morgante, Marilyn O'Connell, Gerry Rising, Susan Robertson, Gail Seamans, John and Priscilla Sedgwick, Dominic Sherony, Gerry Teal, and Rick Thomas for their very informative and helpful responses. Below, my comments in brackets [] follow the suggestions or comments of others. Suggestions and comments: - that it speaks the name of the roads when giving directions (mine doesn't - just says, e.g., turn right in 100 yards, etc. and sometimes this can be confusing). [Most units now speak the directions but the ones that speak the names of upcoming roads are said to have text-to-speech functionality.] - that it automatically recalculates your route if you deviate (I expect most do this). [After researching it, I expect most do also.] - that you can enter destinations *without* an exact address. In mine you first choose a state, then a town, then a road - then you can enter an address or pick an intersection with another road. My Dad, on the other hand, has one where you can't pick an intersection - you must enter an actual existing address - which can be a problem if you don't know an appropriate address (sometimes you can just enter 1 or 100 or something like that but that doesn't always work). [Despite all of my research, I have been unable to find out what each unit allows for inputting destinations (but see the comments on the Garmin 1390LMT near the bottom).] - also that you can manually select a point on the map and create a route to it. [Again, it is hard to tell which units allow this.] - that you can easily save POIs (Points of interest) from current location or by selecting a spot on the map. On mine it is frustratingly difficult to create a personal POI. - you may want to check whether the unit includes maps of Canada, and if there are map updates included (some have free updates apparently). [Many do have free updates but not all.] - My wife has a Magellan RoadMate 1412, and we do not like it at all. It takes a very long time to find the satellites to even start the process of navigation. As far as I understand, with this unit you cannot enter GPS numerical units at all. You can only enter street addresses. This does not work in many instances when you are chasing birds to remote locations. - I would upgrade to a smart phone and get the nice perks of all the phone features, such as GPS, camera, etc. for probably a similar price that you would pay for a GPS unit by itself. [An interesting suggestion but there is that recurring monthly fee for internet service..] - I have a great free GPS built directly into my Droid X smartphone I use with Verizon. I can use it anywhere in the United States and Canada. Possibly internationally, but I have never tried. The iPhone also has a very good free GPS built into it. - Make sure you purchase a unit that comes with free map updates. We just purchased the Garmin Nuvi 1400 series and we like it. We use it a lot, especially to find gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and our way to a destination. The one drawback I see with it, is that it gives street names instead of state route or county route numbers. I asked my wife what we paid for it and she said she found the lowest price on the internet and paid $150 for it. - We also purchased a weighted base for it from Target for $30. This allows easy movement about the car and it allows placing the unit on the floor when the car is locked and not in use. - I travel with one all the time. Try to buy one that has free updates. We bought one about 3-4 years ago and need to pay $70 for an update which we haven't done. I've missed new roads and highway exits in other cities because roads were out of date. Newer ones often have free upgrades. You won't need it right away though. We have a Garmin, fairly basic model. All that you need. Don't need all the bells and whistles. They work well. Biggest thing we needed was to purchase a platform for the GPS to sit on top of our dash. Otherwise it falls all over the place. It was maybe $30 on Amazon. - I have limited experience but have found my wife's Garmin is better than my Magellan, and when I've looked in stores I've preferred both over alternatives. I don't think the "extras" are necessary for most of us. Ours are both old, and coordinates can't be entered. I have sometimes thought that would be useful. Also a Zip code entry might be nice. - We use Garmin and there's a really good deal on amazon.com on the Garmin 1490 (there's a newer model but you don't need the new features) - $149 with free lifetime map and traffic updates (particularly useful in the LA metro area-we should know, we lived there for almost 20 years). No problem using them in rental cars - we do it all the time, but in California you cannot use a gps that is stuck on the front window, so you'll need a dashboard mount for the unit. - A few years ago I bought a used TomTom for something like $80. It is totally adequate when we travel. Quite accurate after several years. Hasn't been tested much in cities, except a bit in Boston. Mounts easily to the windshield. And when I don't need it, most of the time, it lives in the glove compartment. I think you can find a good one, much updated from what I have, for around $100. I find the reviews on Amazon and similar sites helpful. [I agree.] - I've got the TomTom XL 330S....it was cheap, about $129. I actually got a refurbished one from their website 3 years ago.....plug it into your electric socket, turn it on, and it is ready to use.....easy and incredibly accurate. Get a case for it if you are traveling or use a sock....I use low-cut socks for cases for small electronics all the time...cameras, etc. You'll love it when you get home too. They are great for monitoring your travel time, for example running late....increase your highway speed a tad and the unit will update your ETA as you go and you'll see yourself closing the gap on the time you lost...great tool! - I have a Garmin Nuvi 1390LMT and I like it very much (about $150 on Amazon). Yes, you can use it in a rental car. I've done that several times with my own GPS units. I take my GPS and power cable, and a mount that clips onto the air vents like this one: http://www.amazon.com/IG-A03-i-Trek-Mount-Garmin-265WT/dp/B001CZCYBU/ref=sr_ 1_4?ie=UTF8 &qid=1327521792&sr=8-4 The vent mount is very lightweight and compact and easy to pack into my carry on along with the GPS and cable. It's important because I believe the windshield mounts that come with the GPS units are illegal in California, not to mention they make it obvious that you have a GPS in the car; the vent mount is more discreet. I always lock up the GPS in the trunk or put it in the glove box when not in the car, too. - I have found a GPS to be extremely handy in driving around places I'm not familiar with, finding restaurants, etc. The Garmin Nuvi 1390LMT provides lane guidance which is very nice for driving on unfamiliar freeways. It also comes with free lifetime map updates and free traffic info although the traffic I have found less useful than the map updates. It's surprising how quickly the GPS can become out of date when there are changes to roads. - With this particular GPS I have added an inexpensive microSD card (I think mine cost about $6) for more map storage, since the map updates can be larger than the space on the unit. - I use a Garmin Nuvi 1305, I think, which does a great job on trips, and I think that or similar units are available in the mid 100s dollar range. Look and see if you can get one with "lifetime maps" so you can get updates if you keep the unit a long time. One thing I like is you can find landmarks, restaurants, addresses, of course, but you can also enter map coordinates as a "favorite" to drive to. What I just did in Arkansas and have done before, is use Google Earth to locate bird sightings or hotspots exactly, and then put them in my Garmin! - You can input your destination on the Garmin 1390LMT using address, intersection, browsing a map, coordinates, picking a point of interest (and there are absolutely tons of POIs that come with the device), or, one thing I use all the time, which is building your own database of points of interest on your computer and loading it onto your GPS via the Garmin POI Loader application (which is free). I use EasyGPS for this, which is a free program but you can do something as simple as a CSV file using Microsoft Excel with Lat/Lon points. - Another thing you can do with the Garmin 1390LMT which is really cool, is plug your GPS into your computer and there is a way to automatically send a location from Google Maps to your Garmin favorites on the device. I use that frequently. I guess I'm a GPS nerd. Actually, I frequently go places I've never been to before or rarely go to for my job, which is one of the things a GPS is very handy for. It's even nice going to places I'm familiar with, if they are some distance away, because it tells you how far until the next turn, and your anticipated arrival time. - We got a GPS before our trip to Alaska and were very satisfied with it. It is a TomTom XL (larger display) and it worked fine even in remotest Yukon. It seems to have the location very close as determined by where GPS shows you as you pass cross streets. - Our recommendation would be to get it soon and use it a lot before you go on your trip. You need to get familiar with what it means when it says certain things like "keep left, then turn right." Otherwise you need to keep looking at the little map to figure out where exactly to go. In remote areas directions are straightforward but in big cities, like in Calif, there are lots of streets very nearby. There is an option you can buy online that is interactive road condition input where, if an expressway is slow or stopped, it will route you around the problem. We never saw a need for that where we go but may be useful in California. Good birding! Willie From: geneseebirds-l-bounces AT geneseo.edu [mailto:geneseebirds-l-bounces AT geneseo.edu] On Behalf Of Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 6:09 PM To: geneseebirds-l AT geneseo.edu Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] GPS Navigation Units Hi everyone, I am considering the purchase of a GPS unit and I figured I would get the opinions of other birders. The impetus for this decision is an upcoming trip to California (flying to LA, renting a car from there). I know that I could rent one from the car rental place but renting is kind of pricey and I have been thinking of getting one anyway. There won't be any problems using it in a rental car, will there? Are there any units you think are particularly good? Or, a particularly good value? Any units we should avoid? Are the cheapest units about the same as the expensive ones but minus a few features I would never use anyway or do the expensive ones have features I gotta have? I don't want to spend a lot of money if I can help it but will spend more if it is good value. I don't know much about them so any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks and good birding! Willie ------------------ Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Fort Erie - Fish Crows From: Marcia Jacklin <mjacklin AT brocku.ca> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:28:43 +0000 Hi folks Several Fish Crows have been reported today in the Fort Erie area. They are on Bowen Road close to the parkway. Later in the afternoon after 3 pm seems to be a good time to look for them. all the best Marcie _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Please post all Buffalo Crow roosts & possible hint to finding the Orange Crown. From: Barbarah Henderson <henyoe131 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:31:27 -0800 (PST) Given Andrew Keaveney's Ontbird post(s) of a few days ago it would seem prudent to keep an eye & ear out for Fish Crows in any Crow roost or gathering. By all means post any roost found so at least some of us can check it.    I neglected to say in Sunday/Monday's OC/Black Vulture post that it seemed to be working the brown clusters of dead Cedar leaves caught in the Cedar trees. Before it flew to that lone "Juniper" it went up high to an adjacent Oak by the Cedars where it briefly seemed to scrutinize a leaf or a small cluster of dead Oak leaves. So maybe it has learned one place insects are "holed up" for the winter.   Peter Yoerg 834-6316 Buffalo _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Leucistic Redhead at Conesus Lake From: "Mike Wasilco" <mrwasilc AT gw.dec.state.ny.us> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:12:52 -0500 This morning I observed what appeared to be a leucistic hen Redhead in the massive raft of feeding redheads near the Conesus Lake Inn on the SE portion of the lake. This bird looked like a normal hen redhead with a white head and neck similar to the pattern of white seen on blue phase snow geese. The rest of the body appeared to be normal color. The birds were fairly close in to shore, but unfortunately, I did not have a camera. Michael R. Wasilco Regional Wildlife Manager NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Region 8 Bureau of Wildlife 6274 East Avon-Lima Road Avon, NY 14414 (585)226-5460 _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Erroneous posting From: pat parslow <patparslow AT frontier.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:59:04 -0500 I do apologize for the non-bird posting... I apparently hit the wrong address without realizing it. Pat Parslow _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - January 27 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:34:26 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Jan 27, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 4.7 mile(s) Comments: It was an overcast with intermittent rain and snow 36F hike in Oatka today. A White-breasted Nuthatch greeted me at the entrance to the woods and a Pileated Woodpecker was already making its territorial calls before turning in for the evening. The walk was mostly devoid of birds except for a few isolated pockets: cardinals in Warblers Loop, chickadees in two or three places and the occasional squeal of a Northern Flicker. The creek was very high and current very strong. All the swampy areas I came across appeared to be near maximum water capacity, and the base of Maple Hill was under water in places. The tiny waterfall along Brown Thrasher Trail was at full volume and strength. These are all in stark contrast to last year when most of the water was bound up in the snowpack. 9 species Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-throated Sparrow 3 Northern Cardinal 3 House Sparrow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Fw: Dancing From: pat parslow <patparslow AT frontier.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:35:04 -0500 >X-IronPort-Anti-Spam-Filtered: true >X-IronPort-Anti-Spam-Result: >AksHAC4nI09BJSY7/2dsb2JhbABEDoI/iAuTK5BSgnIFAQEBDAEBPw8sAQEIAgQOAwMBAQEKHhsBBAgSEgEHAg4BEggCAQIDAYdzuBCJNQsnIgGCZUkDcIMAYwSIP4UEklmHFFU >X-IronPort-AV: E=Sophos;i="4.71,582,1320624000"; > d="scan'208,217";a="218117716" >X-Originating-IP: [65.37.38.59] >X-Previous-IP: 65.37.38.59 >From: "Patricia Kelly" >To: "Hollie Snyder" , > "Karen Fern Ryder" , > "David Christopher Ryder" , > "pat parslow" , > "Margie Parkinson" , > "Amy/Ed Pak" , > "Patty Jo Molner" , > "Pat Maurer" , > "Nikki Little" , > "Deborah M. Little" , > , > , > "Jill Koch" , > "Megan Kelly" , > "Kevin William Kelly" , > "Kerry Patrick Kelly" , > "Deborah Lynn Curry Kelly" , > "Dean Kelly" , > "Katie Jones" , > "Erina Fernon" , > "Elaine Dewey" , > "Tom Binnert" , > "Karen Geer" , > "Kathy Little Hoffman" , > "kate jones" >Subject: Fw: Dancing >Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:42:52 -0500 >X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5931 > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: MARY ann HOLLAND >To: anne turnley ; >BILL& mary nichlos ; >bill hafer ; >cece ; >charlieb11 ; >tmeehan AT buckeye-express.com >; vennEisa heig ; >howard& donna >deitrich ; jane >deitz ; john >parkinson ; karen ryder >; kathy demitrus ; >laura miller ; >LEXI KILE ; >lori poelakker ; >mara225 AT snip.net >heston ; margie >parkinson ; patrica >molnar ; >Patricia Kelly ; >rachel beancamp ; >tardevil64 AT aol.com ; >vicki nice >Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 4:43 PM >Subject: FW: Dancing > > > > >---------- >From: tbharski AT gmail.com >To: jhhmah AT msn.com; >maebatch AT comcast.net; >nancy.loosmann AT verizon.net; >annjim91 AT gmail.com; >wandlmohnacs AT comcast.net; >ralubo AT verizon.net; >val789 AT verizon.net; >chbald777 AT aol.com >Subject: FW: Dancing >Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:46:24 -0500 > > > > > >From: Babewald AT aol.com [mailto:Babewald AT aol.com] >Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 9:43 AM > >This is a nice one………mah > > > >To all my HARD working friends and also the >slackards. YOU know which category you are in. hahahaha > > >To those I keep > >in touch with regularly - enjoy. T o those who I send to > >occasionally - I think of you much more often than you know. Be sure to > >click on the blue D . The older I get and, especially when > >you've lost someone for one reason or another >who is dear to you, the more this > >is true. So, 'dance' while you can.. > > > >Click on the D in dancing below. . . . (I hope you > >can open it 'coz it's really cute). > >Dancing > > > > > > > > > > >No virus found in this message. >Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4119 - Release Date: 01/02/12 > > > > > >=_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Posting From: Jay Powell <jayghost66 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:22:23 -0500 I have been posting my bird outings, but they have been getting held up. File size to big. I haven't never had a problem. Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Rough-legged Hawks, Bald Eagles, etc. From: "Jim Landau" <landaujr AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:47:13 -0500 Fran Rew & I took a ride down to Dunkirk Harbor today before the drizzle and fog came in. An immature Bald Eagle was spotted from the Thruway, sitting on a gravel bar in Cattaraugus Creek in Irving. At Dunkirk Harbor, noteworthy among the usual suspects were: a very cooperative adult Glaucous Gull was along the beach, with a few dozen Great Black-backed Gulls. 2 immature Bald Eagles on the far break wall. 21 Great Blue Herons on the inner break wall 3 White-winged Scoters 1 Black Scoter 12 Canvasbacks 3 Mute Swans 1 kestrel on a house roof We then covered South Dayton (DeLorme page 40) looking for Rough-legged Hawks and finally found 2 light phase birds on Strip Rd. 2 adult Bald Eagles were sharing a branch in the rain on route 322. Countryside Gravel ponds were all iced over. Nice to have a 5 Bald Eagle day. Jim Landau Colden, NY (somewhere in southern Erie County) _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Orleans Co. Snowy Owl From: "Doug & Sharon Beattie" <sbeattie AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:41:02 -0500 1/26/12, early afternoon, Elaine Dart and I found the Snowy Owl on west side of Marshall Rd., Tn of Yates. It was sitting on a barnyard fence post at the heifer farm at 1121 Marshall Rd. Later it flew to the top of a tall barnyard light pole and went to sleep. Through the rain, it appears to be a 1st winter female. The location is .7 mi north of Rt 18. Doug Beattie_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Orange-crowned Warbler search From: "Jerry Lazarczyk" <lazarcg1 AT netzero.net> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:33:30 GMT Hi Tom, Let me know when yiou wouyld like to make another OC Warbler search (wwekdays). More eyes are better to some point. I think it is mostly seen in the afternoon. Weekend afternoons might be good for me too. Jerry Lazarczyk716-548-0798 cell Hi everyone,� I stopped by Goat Island to look for the Orange-crowned Warbler but did not find it. �There was little songbird activity. �There were a couple Lesser Black-backed Gulls hanging out on the rocks by 3 Sisters Islands. Next I went to Lewiston Landing where I saw at least 1 Little Gull. �Long-tailed Duck numbers are up now that hunting on the river is over for the season. I stopped by Krull Park in Olcott again to look for Short-eared Owls, and it looked promising when I spotted a Northern Harrier and a Shrike almost immediately. �The Shrike was in the exact same tree I saw it in 2 weeks ago, and the Harrier was actively hunting mice in the tall grass. �I hung around until dusk but could not find any owls. �I brought my scope and tripod this time in case I ran into anymore dogs, but it was a pretty quiet evening. �� Good Birding,� Tom Kerr _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Lake Ontario highlights From: Brad Carlson <bradcarlson1 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:05:58 -0500 Today my 4-year old daughter Natalia did not have nursery school so we had a free day. She elected to stay home all day and watch movies, and I elected to take a walk in a park and have a picnic. We compromised. She watched a movie in the car as I drove to and from Lake Ontario. Then we explored various playgrounds from Braddock Bay to Hamlin Beach SP. I ended up with a few birds of interest. At the Braddock Bay SP playground, I scanned the waterfowl and gulls in the bay and on the ice. Most interesting here were three (3) adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on the ice in a mixed flock of ~550 gulls. There were also two (2) TUNDRA SWANS standing on the ice. At Hamlin Beach SP, we took a winter walk on the beach between parking lot # 1 and lot #4. I scanned the lake as Natalia made sand castles. I had one (1) close RED-NECKED GREBE and (1) very close adult male BLACK SCOTER. On our way back, we drove Church Road east. I had three (3) EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES perched together in a tree in front of the red barns at Greenwell Farm. The only other bird I detected in this stretch of road was an AMERICAN KESTREL. Closer to home I had a light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in the field in Henrietta that is bordered by Rt. 390 / Rt. 90 and Middle Road. Regards, Brad Carlson Honeoye Falls, NY BradCarlson1 AT hotmail.com _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Harrier, Shrike, and Little Gull 1-25-12 From: Tom Kerr <tyrannustyrannus AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:11:02 -0500 Hi everyone, I stopped by Goat Island to look for the Orange-crowned Warbler but did not find it. There was little songbird activity. There were a couple Lesser Black-backed Gulls hanging out on the rocks by 3 Sisters Islands. Next I went to Lewiston Landing where I saw at least 1 Little Gull. Long-tailed Duck numbers are up now that hunting on the river is over for the season. I stopped by Krull Park in Olcott again to look for Short-eared Owls, and it looked promising when I spotted a Northern Harrier and a Shrike almost immediately. The Shrike was in the exact same tree I saw it in 2 weeks ago, and the Harrier was actively hunting mice in the tall grass. I hung around until dusk but could not find any owls. I brought my scope and tripod this time in case I ran into anymore dogs, but it was a pretty quiet evening. Good Birding, Tom Kerr_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Snowy - Wednesday From: Barbarah Henderson <henyoe131 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:16:28 -0800 (PST) LaSalle Park (Buffalo) - 1 Snowy - still on a short breakwall in mid afternoon. Later flew to Donnelly's Pier (the gavel pile) where w/wings spread & open bill it made several ~1-2' jump-ups at a harassing gull. Towards sunset it continued N. flying low over the water passing near or over the unimpressed Scaup line & landed at the S. end of the cabled portion of Bird Island Pier. Seemed small - maybe an im. male?   As for the Black Headed Gull staying near the edge of the Bony flotilla - 2-1/2 wks. ago Dave Friedrich also had the same experience along w/it being the closest gull.   Forgot to mention a fm. Hooded Merg yesterday at Rich Marine.   Has everyone taken note of Andrew's amazing Wednesday Fish Crow count across the river at Bowen Rd.??!! See Ontbirds...   Peter_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: MERLIN, Posson Road, Shelby From: "thomas&celeste morien" <tcmorien AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:49:51 -0500 This morning at 8:20 I saw a MERLIN sitting on the top of the fourth telephone pole on Posson Rd., south of Fletcher Chapel Road. A few minutes later, there was also a male American Kestrel on a telephone line over on East Shelby Road, near the south end of Posson Road. In the afternoon close to 4 PM, same spot, two Northern Harriers. Celeste Morien_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Mucks & Sodus - Tuesday From: tigger64 AT aol.com Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:20:17 -0500 (EST) I was hoping the Savannah mucklands might have birds after a couple days of thawing temps. Jim Tarolli and I were surprised to find decent numbers of Canada Geese, Mallards, Black Ducks, gulls, and raptors. Good movement of birds flying around and into the mucks from other places. We couldn't find anything unusual. Stopping back at dusk, the roost flight was not into the mucks but to Cayuga Lake. Thursday through Saturday will have temps to 40F and possibly more will come in. On to Sodus Bay where the female King Eider gave good looks. We didn't see the Barrow's or hybrid Goldeneye but there is constant exchange with birds on the lake. Good numbers of everything and a modest evening flight of gulls to the ice edge (much more water open). David Wheeler N Syracuse, NY Savannah Mucklands (Seneca Co), Seneca, US-NY Jan 24, 2012 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM Protocol: Stationary Comments: With Jim Tarolli; recent thaw had much of the Mucks open and attracting birds; we checked back later but it appeared the evening roost flight was away from the Mucks rather into the Mucks (presumably birds going to Cayuga Lake) 15 species Snow Goose 64 Canada Goose 400 Tundra Swan 9 American Black Duck 20 or more, estimated Mallard 100 or more, estimated Northern Pintail 2 Bald Eagle 2 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Rough-legged Hawk 3 Ring-billed Gull 150 estimate Herring Gull 10 guesstimate American Crow 5 Horned Lark 10 American Tree Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 1 Sodus Bay--Sodus Point, Wayne, US-NY Jan 24, 2012 2:15 PM - 4:15 PM Protocol: Stationary Comments: With Jim Tarolli; 15 kt WSW winds 24 species (+1 other taxa) Canada Goose 75 Mute Swan X Mallard 10 Canvasback 10 Redhead 1000 estimated Ring-necked Duck 6 Greater Scaup X Greater/Lesser Scaup X many King Eider 1 female Surf Scoter 2 females White-winged Scoter 200 estimated Black Scoter 1 female Long-tailed Duck X Bufflehead 10 Common Goldeneye 350 or more Red-breasted Merganser X Common Loon 1 Horned Grebe 3 Bald Eagle 1 American Coot 25 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull 200 Iceland Gull 1 second-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Great Black-backed Gull 8 _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - January 25 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:09:59 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Jan 25, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 4.6 mile(s) Comments: It was an overcast 32F hike in Oatka today. Despite the relatively warm temperature and lack of wind, it was a penetratingly cold afternoon. It appeared to affect the birds, too, as they were virtually nonexistent. The quiet was broken only once along Warbler Loop when a small flock of cardinals boiled up from the shrubbery to look at me before disappearing again. White-throated Sparrows 'seeped' from the shrubs throughout the park, though rarely showed themselves. Even the crows seemed somewhat subdued. The only woodpecker I found was on a feeder in the private property adjacent to the parking lot. 7 species Canada Goose 100 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 American Crow 4 Black-capped Chickadee 1 White-throated Sparrow 12 Northern Cardinal 7 American Goldfinch 4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier - January 25 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:58:41 -0500 Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier, Monroe, US-NY Jan 25, 2012 12:13 PM Protocol: Incidental Comments: It was an overcast 31F noontime stop at Charlotte Pier. Long-tailed Duck numbers continue to grow with the collected sum near the base of the pier in the 100+ range. Apart from Mallards, no other duck species were spotted. Scanning the area, I finally found the Snowy Owl at the end of Charlotte Pier. The pier's surface was a mixture of dry and icy areas. A crouching approach would have been impossible with the ice, so I settled for diagnostic shots from about a third of the way along the pier. As I slowly moved along, I glanced down the channel towards the lake and noticed an isolated female Long-tailed Duck. Almost immediately forgetting the duck, I resumed taking pictures of the Snowy when the owl suddenly crouched down and took a laser focus in my direction. A bit concerned by the gaze, it all became clear when the owl launched and glided to the channel and snatched the Long-tail cleanly with its talons and took off for Summerville Pier with the duck's body swaying like a grotesque pendulum. I recovered from my startle to get pictures of the owl's approach to Summerville Pier and landing behind the one shrub near the end of the pier. It was there she started to have lunch. Though at range, the pictures turned out not half bad. 1 species Snowy Owl 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Olean No Fish Crow, Yes Merlin, Raven, Glaucous Gull From: WilliamWatsonSr AT aol.com Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:47:15 -0500 (EST) January 25 - Jim Pawlicki, Joe Mitchell, and I traveled to Olean today in an unsuccessful search for the reported Fish Crow. We did find a MERLIN on top of a telephone pole about 40 yards from the corner of Front Street and Gilmore Avenue. On the way to Olean we passed through Franklinville and watched two American Crows harass a Common Raven. On the way back to Buffalo we saw two Common Raven (again in the Town of Franklinville) along Route 16. Near the landfill along Route 16 in Sardina we found a lot of gulls including first winter and second winter Glaucous Gulls, six Great Black-backed Gulls, and a first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. Best Wishes for Great Birding, Bill Watson _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Swowy Owl Gets Lunch! From: "jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com" <jeadams1@rochester.rr.com> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:30:00 -0800 (PST) I just watched and photographed a Snowy Owl bag a Long-tailed Duck from Charlotte Pier! She's now eating it on the end of Summerville Pier. Jim Adams Sent with Verizon Mobile Email _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: snow geese ontario county From: Tad <ontario83s AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:16:52 -0800 (PST) 10's of thousands of snow geese with a few blue mixed in right now in corn stubble fields.  lake to lake road near county road 6 geneva and west on lake to lake.  canada geese and crows also in the mix. thx jim. _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Black Headed, 4 Little Gulls - Tues. From: Barbarah Henderson <henyoe131 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:10:09 -0800 (PST) Rich Marine 1-24-12 - Black Headed Gull - on water between docked Miss Buffalo & pier in mid-late afternoon. It repositioned several times but always landed on the edge of the Bony flotilla. It kept to the outskirts when I had it in December also. This should make it easier to find in the future. Have others had this same experience? The late Gordon Bellerby indicated they would stay at the edge of the fly-by Bony flocks he monitored for years at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Also may've heard it call in flight while I was scoping the orange boom area to the south. 4 Little - 3 ad. & 1 1st winter...   Forgot to mention the Kittiwake gave a single low call as it passed by closely on the 11th.   Also forgot to mention an Eagle sitting on the water intake (at source of Niagara River) on 1-21-12    Peter_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: crow roost in jeopardy? From: Laura Kammermeier <lmk88 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:22:31 -0500 Hi, I would love to know what western NYers think of Rochester's plans to hire the USDA to scare off the famous Rochester crow roost, or at least break them up into smaller roosts? Has any local "bird authority" been working with the city on this? RBA? Thanks, Laura http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/rochester-crow-problem/noIzpGPzbUeTXNK-SikgJw.cspx Rochester, N.Y. --- Experts and City Leaders estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 crows regularly come to roost along a stretch of the Genesee River, extending from Mt. Hope Cemetery and Genesee Valley Park through Downtown Rochester and specifically over Washington Square Park. The result is an unmanageable amount of what crows always seem to "leave behind" after they roost. For years residents, business owners, and even leaders of St. Mary's Church have all struggled with the inevitable "evidence" of the crows' presence and while solutions have been pondered for years it appears a new one with proven results is now slated to be pursued. It involves a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would deploy specifically trained personnel to use non-lethal scare tactics over the course of a week in an effort to permanently scare these crows off to other roosts. The techniques include noise-makers, pyrotechnics, and even spotlights. Results have already been documented in Upstate NY cities such as Auburn, Watertown, Troy, Utica, and Albany. "The goal is, is that when you have 15,000-20,000 crows in one place we want to move them and continue to move them so that they break up into smaller roosts because we don't want 15,000 crows or 20,000 crows going anywhere," Rochester City Spokesman Gary Walker said. If City Council approves this $21,000 contract at its meeting later this month the USDA could be in Rochester as early as next month to begin the "crow-scaring" process. _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - January 24 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:17:19 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Jan 24, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 4.1 mile(s) Comments: It was a snowy and windy 33F hike in Oatka today. The weather was raw which seemed to discourage all manner of bird activity. Northern Flickers won the Tough Bird of the Day award, with a pair high in the trees engaging in call and answer when everyone else was in hiding. Most of the other sightings were quick encounters that were usually the briefest of inspections of me before returning to cover. 10 species Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 European Starling 40 White-throated Sparrow 6 Northern Cardinal 2 American Goldfinch 1 House Sparrow 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: GPS Navigation Units From: "Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter" <dannapotter AT roadrunner.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:09:02 -0500 Hi everyone, I am considering the purchase of a GPS unit and I figured I would get the opinions of other birders. The impetus for this decision is an upcoming trip to California (flying to LA, renting a car from there). I know that I could rent one from the car rental place but renting is kind of pricey and I have been thinking of getting one anyway. There won't be any problems using it in a rental car, will there? Are there any units you think are particularly good? Or, a particularly good value? Any units we should avoid? Are the cheapest units about the same as the expensive ones but minus a few features I would never use anyway or do the expensive ones have features I gotta have? I don't want to spend a lot of money if I can help it but will spend more if it is good value. I don't know much about them so any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks and good birding! Willie ------------------ Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Cooper's Hawk de toi'lette - Greece From: "Bob Beal" <rbeal001 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:16:08 -0500 Since others are posting their experiences while "taking care of their business" while birding for Orange-crowned Warbler on Goat Island, I was just standing at the....er, ...commode in my bathroom, when I looked out the window and saw an immature Cooper's Hawk standing on the edge of my above ground pool 20 feet away. As I...."continued the task at hand",...it jumped down to the ground and began walking towards the house. I...."closed up shop" and watched until it got right next to the house and walked under the deck. I flew downstairs to my office and grabbed camera and began checking all the windows (raised ranch), and could not locate it. Ran upstairs to bathroom again...nothing. Ran out to dining room and saw it sitting on a metal feeder hanger off the deck....it had walked all the way under the deck to the other side and hopped up on that perch. Popped off a couple of quick not-so-great shots, then moved to a better closer kitchen window....I have a great shot of it's fanned tail as it flew off down the neighborhood. Just the fanned tail, nothing else. Bob Beal Greece, Monroe County_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Sodus Bay From: "Doug Daniels" <dougdan AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:51:45 -0500 I birded Sodus Bay two weeks ago and was amazed at the lack of birds. Today was much different. In the channel, 9 AM - 9:30 1 King Eider - exact location was art the SE end of the channel opposite the Coast Guard Sta. 1 Surf Scoter - female 150 WW Scoter 250 LT Duck 2 Mallard 6 RB Merg 40 Gr Scaup 3 L Scaup15 Coot 8 C Goldeye 300 Redhead - in a flock in the lake east of the breakwall I drove Greig St and was able to park in an area I had permission from the landowner when I lived in Wayne County (being a 315er had its perks): A huge mixed flock in the bay between Greig St and the channel, 9:30 to 10:30: 1 Barrow's Goldeneye 1 Snow Bunting 200+ Common Goldeneye - about 75% adult males, the rest females and immature birds. Idid not see a hybrid but there were two "in between" immatures 7 Canvasback 150 Redhead 8 Ring-necked 8 Long-tailed 35 Mallard 8 Bufflehead 20 WW Scoter 150 Gr Scaup 15 C Merg 60 RB Merg 20 Coot 2 Bald Eagle - 1 adult, 1 imm. Doug Daniels _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: King Eider - Sodus From: Brad Carlson <bradcarlson1 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:14:59 -0500 Doug Daniels just called, and asked me to post that he is looking at the continuing female KING EIDER in the SE section of the channel at Sodus Bay outlet. Regards, Brad Carlson Honeoye Falls, NY BradCarlson1 AT hotmail.com _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: NO Orange-crowned Warbler From: "Jerry Lazarczyk" <lazarcg1 AT netzero.net> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:01:13 GMT I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon searching for the Orange-crowned Warbler at the Niagara Falls State Park, specifically the upriver portion of Goat Island. I really appreciated the mild day but there was no joy although the upriver parking lot had a Lesser Black-backed Gull amongst the resting Ring-billed Gulls. Jerry LazarczykGrand Island NY _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Oatka Creek Park - January 23 From: Jim Adams <jeadams1 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:15:30 -0500 Oatka Creek Park, Monroe, US-NY Jan 23, 2012 Protocol: Traveling 4.0 mile(s) Comments: It was a mostly cloudy 48F hike in Oatka today. The sun would break through the clouds a few times, though the sunset would be obscured. It was a quiet evening with mostly the woodpeckers holding down the fort, though in low numbers. Chickadees and White-throated Sparrows would announce their presence from time to time. The best encounter was at the end as I walked back down the dirt road towards the parking lot. Across the lower soccer field I heard the distinctive mewing of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. As there was no intervening cover available, I walked across the length of the field to the edge of the park property and scanned the trees in the adjacent private lot. I couldn't find the woodpecker due to the fading light of day, but I was able to match its continuing call perfectly with my iPod recording. Due to a number of recent sightings, I'm beginning to wonder how long this bird is going to hang around. I hope it's for some time yet! 13 species Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 American Crow 12 Black-capped Chickadee 7 American Robin 2 White-throated Sparrow 8 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Northern Cardinal 6 American Goldfinch 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) Jim Adams Chili, NY http://ayearinoatka.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Short-eared Owl From: Carolyn Jacobs <jaclyn AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:08:58 -0500 I did NOT find the SEOW on Lincoln Hill Rd today--4:50pm. Lyn Jacobs .....from my Droid Bionic._______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Syracuse RBA From: Joseph Brin <brinjoseph AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:42:57 -0800 (PST) RBA   *  New York *  Syracuse *  January 23, 2012 *  NYSY 01.23.12 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): January 16, 2012 - January 23, 2012 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison & Cortland compiled:January 23 AT 4:30 p.m. (EST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org     #289 -Monday January 23, 2012     Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of January 16 , 2012   Highlights: ----------- ICELAND GULL GLAUCOUS GULL LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK PEREGRINE FALCON GYRFALCON GLAUCOUS GULL LONG-EARED OWL SNOWY OWL Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) ------------      No reports this week. Onondaga County -------------      1/18: A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in downtown Syracuse near the nesting site.      1/20:  2 ICELAND and 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen at the Inner Harbor.      1/21: A LONG-EARED OWL was seen at Beaver Lake Nature Center west of Baldwinsville. Efforts to relocate it have been unsuccessful.      One and sometimes two SNOWY OWLS were seen daily at Hancock Airport in Syracuse. Two were seen as recently as yesterday. Oswego County ------------      1/18: A gray phase GYRFALCON was seen hunting at Oswego Harbor. Efforts to relocate were unsuccessful. Also seen was a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a GLAUCOUS GULL.      1/20: An ICELAND GULL was seen at the Fulton Locks south of Bridge Street in Oswego. Oneida County ------------      1/19: A dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen in the Town of Paris south of Utica.                    End Transcript -- Joseph Brin Region 5 Baldwinsville, N.Y.  13027  U.S.A._______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l