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Updated on Thursday, February 9 at 01:03 PM EST
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Limpkin,©BirdQuest

09 Feb Greater White-fronted Goose - Fort Miller ["John" ]
09 Feb Namibia [Alan French ]
9 Feb Raptor sightings [Rico Birdo ]
9 Feb Ducks on the Tomhannock Reservoir? [Jim Macione ]
09 Feb HMBC Trip to Mohawk River- Cohoes to Crescent ["Don" ]
9 Feb Re: Ducks on the Tomhannock Reservoir? [Jim de Waal Malefyt ]
8 Feb Panama question [Steve ]
8 Feb Ducks on the Tomhannock Reservoir? ["Mona Bearor" ]
08 Feb oriole still here [Elayne Ryba ]
8 Feb Merlin in Cohoes [Alan Mapes ]
7 Feb Bluebird nest [Priscilla ]
07 Feb Bald Eagle-Peregrine Falcon Face-off ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
07 Feb Bald Eagle-Peregrine Falcon Face-off ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
07 Feb Falcon Eagle Face-off And More ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
06 Feb Snow Geese - Fort Miller Road ["avocet751" ]
6 Feb PIWO, BEKI and cavorting eagles [Steve ]
06 Feb Sawtooth Flight and Brown-eyed Bird ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
06 Feb Re: Lots of "zzzrrreeeees"- Saratoga County ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
5 Feb reminder - HMBC program Monday evening, on Namibia []
05 Feb Lots of "zzzrrreeeees"- Saratoga County ["Jeff Nadler" ]
5 Feb No Snowy Owl in Kingston []
05 Feb Re: RFI waterfowl in area ["rita" ]
5 Feb RFI waterfowl in area ["Mona Bearor" ]
5 Feb Re: Crow Games [Alan Schroeder ]
05 Feb Re: Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
05 Feb Re: Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River ["Jeff Nadler" ]
5 Feb RE: Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River ["Richard Guthrie" ]
05 Feb Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River ["Jeff Nadler" ]
05 Feb Re: ducks on the hudson ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
05 Feb Hudson- Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture ["Nancy Jane K" ]
4 Feb Merlin - Coxsackie + ["Richard Guthrie" ]
05 Feb Re: Vultures & Pileated Woodpeckers ["rita" ]
05 Feb Vultures & Pileated Wdpkers ["Liz Neill" ]
04 Feb ducks on the hudson ["jimmy_rivers_edge" ]
4 Feb Capital Region Audubon Annual Meeting Feb 12 at Pine Bush Discovery Center []
3 Feb Blackbirds and Vultures [Steve ]
03 Feb Crow Games ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
2 Feb RE: Short tailed hawk [Nancy Jane Kern ]
2 Feb Short tailed hawk [marlene vidibor ]
2 Feb Turkey Vulture, Coxsackie [Alan Mapes ]
02 Feb "Snow Cute"@ Ft. Miller ["Jeff Nadler" ]
01 Feb Ft. Edward, Rt 4 ,, No Golden Eagle but found these others ["Ken" ]
1 Feb Big Flock of Blackbirds - Mead's Lane [Alan Mapes ]
01 Feb Fort Miller- Female Barrow's Goldeneye below the Dam ["Nancy Jane K" ]
01 Feb Turkeys [Alan French ]
1 Feb Out of area report on Superbowl of Birding [Steve ]
30 Jan HMBC program Monday Feb 6 - Namibia []
30 Jan Ft edward grasslands yesterday ["scottjstoner AT aol.com"]
30 Jan Trip to Fort Edward ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
30 Jan Re: "Snow on Ice" ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
29 Jan A few Greene County sightings ["Richard Guthrie" ]
29 Jan Bald Eagle - Averill Park - Nassau NY - Burden Lake [Brian Smith ]
29 Jan Salem eagle [Priscilla ]
29 Jan "Snow on Ice" ["Jeff Nadler" ]
29 Jan Article on Snowy Owl invasion ["ann2bird" ]
29 Jan Journey to Fort Miller ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
28 Jan Golden Eagle still around ["Mona Bearor" ]
27 Jan Re: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller ["Ken" ]
27 Jan Re: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller ["Jeff Nadler" ]
26 Jan RE: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller ["Mona Bearor" ]
26 Jan Re: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller ["Stephen" ]
26 Jan RE: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller [Will Raup ]
26 Jan Golden Eagle - Fort Miller ["John" ]
25 Jan West side of the Hudson from Catskill to Coxsackie [Steve ]
25 Jan Re: Berries/seeds wanted ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
24 Jan Re: Berries/seeds wanted [Alan Mapes ]
25 Jan Berries/seeds wanted ["markclaydon.rm" ]
24 Jan Re: Great Blue in icy water ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
24 Jan Vantage Point ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
24 Jan Vantage Point ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
23 Jan Winter Surprises ["Mona Bearor" ]
23 Jan Great Blue in icy water ["Ken" ]
23 Jan Re: Snow Geese [Jim de Waal Malefyt ]
23 Jan Re: Snow Geese photos from last week ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ]
23 Jan Snow Geese photos from last week ["Ken" ]
23 Jan Rustys [Steve ]

Subject: Greater White-fronted Goose - Fort Miller
From: "John" <hersheyj AT nycap.rr.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:53:17 -0000
This morning I spotted what I believe was an adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 
in the River near the intersection of Green St. and Fort Miller Rd. It was 
generally close to the Snow Geese that continue in this same area (I counted 
almost 100 of the Snows). It appeared to be the same length as Snow Geese that 
were along side. I took several close-up shots of the Greater White-fronted 
Goose before I lost track of it. Unfortunately, later I accidentally erased all 
of the images. Anyway, add this one to the recent list of elusive Fort Miller 
species including a female Barrow's Goldeneye and a Golden Eagle. Maybe they 
will all turn up again soon. 


John Hershey   



------------------------------------


Subject: Namibia
From: Alan French <adfrench AT nycap.rr.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:35:54 -0500
I enjoyed Gregg Recer's "On Safari in Namibia" at the Monday HMBC 
meeting.  It was a very nice look at birds and wildlife in Namibia, and 
gave a good preview of travel in Namibia.  I hope to visit Namibia 
someday, but not just for the birds.  As Gregg mentioned, Namibia has 
the second lowest population density of any country.  The low population 
density, combined with the extremely dry climate, makes the night skies 
of Namibia among the darkest on Earth.  As illustrated by Gregg's photo 
that captured the Southern Cross, Namibia is also far enough south to 
show many celestial sights invisible from our northern latitudes.

If you plan a birding trip to Namibia, consider spending some time 
enjoying its marvelously dark and beautiful skies.  To insure the best 
conditions, avoid times around full Moon, if possible.  You'll need some 
dark moonless time to see the night sky it all its glory.  Since you're 
birding, you'll have binoculars along - and binoculars are marvelous 
instruments for star gazing, especially under exceptionally dark skies.  
You can see far more stars with binoculars than you can by eye.  The 
Milky Way is a lovely sight, and you can see many star clusters, 
nebulae, and even some galaxies.  Any spotting scope opens up even more 
possibilities.

Here are a few things you could see, some depending on the timing of 
your trip...
Stars going right down to the horizon, with more stars visible than from 
almost any other location on Earth.
Southern constellations that are below the horizon and invisible from here.
The Milky Way arcing across the entire sky.
The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds:  Satellite galaxies of our Milky 
Way not visible from here (too far south and always below our horizon).
The Zodiacal Light:  A roughly triangular glow extending upward from the 
western horizon after sunset or from the eastern horizon before 
sunrise.  Best seen about one half hour after the end of evening 
twilight or one half hour before the beginning of morning twilight.  It 
is sunlight reflecting off interplanetary dust.  A lovely sight under 
dark skies.
The Gegenschein:  A faint brightening of the night sky at the point 
opposite to the Sun.  Best seen around midnight.  Also sunlight 
reflecting off interplanetary dust, which is more strongly concentrated 
in the orbital plane of the planets (along the ecliptic).

For anyone inclined to do some research on the night sky there (or 
anywhere else) on particular dates, Stellarium is an excellent, user 
friendly planetarium program that can be downloaded at 
http://www.stellarium.org/.

Even without any preparation, the Namibian skies are worth some time.  
Not many people have seen the Zodiacal Light or the Gegenschein, so they 
are worth seeking.  Think of them as two life birds.

Clear skies, Alan













------------------------------------


Subject: Raptor sightings
From: Rico Birdo <ricobirdo AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 06:55:05 -0800 (PST)

Day before yesterday - mature bald eagle soaring over BJ's Wholesale Club in 
Rotterdam. 



Three days ago - Northern Harrier hunting over a field near the intersection of 
routes 30 and 20 in Esperance. This bird seems to be a regular there this 
winter. 



Four days ago - Juvenile Cooper's Hawk walking on the ground for several 
minutes near our back yard bird feeders. It was looking around as if it had 
lost a contact lens. Any thoughts on this behavior? Do they scavenge if they're 
hungry enough? 


From out in the western boonies,

Gabrielle Isenbrand
Esperance


------------------------------------


Subject: Ducks on the Tomhannock Reservoir?
From: Jim Macione <james.macione AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 09:33:06 -0500
was there sunday
there is about 10 acreas of open water near route 7, thats it.
there was a ring bill(necked) duck there sunday, that was it.
people are still ice fishing in some areas but the ice is a little
thin for my liking.
with current temps dropping, it will refreeze within a few days.


------------------------------------


Subject: HMBC Trip to Mohawk River- Cohoes to Crescent
From: "Don" <dgresens AT nycap.rr.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:56:49 -0000
Saturday, February 11, 2012 - 8:30am
 
This area, including Cohoes Falls and Simmons Island, offers a great 
opportunity to study gulls and waterfowl that winter along the Mohawk River. We 
will look for Glaucous, Iceland and Lesser Black-backed Gulls often present in 
small numbers in the winter. This trip will be a good introduction to the many 
fine vantage points along the Mohawk. 

 
Meet at the NY State Dam Recreation area behind the U-Haul Rental in Cohoes at 
8:30 a.m. From I-787 going north, turn right onto Route 470 (Ontario Street) in 
Cohoes. Then turn left onto Clark Ave. and proceed to the end. 


Bill Lee is the trip leader has led this trip a number of years. There will be 
minimum walking, but a lot of "out of car" exposure. Please dress for the 
weather. Predictions for Saturday are cold (20's) and breezy.. 


Don Gresens
Field Trip Chairperson
dgresens AT nycap.rr.com
(518)370-3923





------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Ducks on the Tomhannock Reservoir?
From: Jim de Waal Malefyt <dewaalmalefyt AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 07:53:28 -0500
I was up there a few weeks ago and it was frozen with ice fisherman on it.
Otter Creek was flowing open. The only open water where I saw waterfowl was
at the north end outlet with a Bald Eagle, several C. Mergansers, and some
Canada Geese.
Jim de Waal Malefyt
Poestenkill


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Panama question
From: Steve <yugruguru AT aol.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 21:52:14 -0500 (EST)
Hey has anyone been birding in Panama before - if so can you contact me off 
list? 


Thanks, 

Steve M in Slingerlands


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Ducks on the Tomhannock Reservoir?
From: "Mona Bearor" <conservebirds AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 20:02:32 -0500
Anyone know if there are any ducks on the Tommanhock?
Mona Bearor
So. Glens Falls


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: oriole still here
From: Elayne Ryba <eryba AT nycap.rr.com>
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:23:50 -0500
the female Baltimore Oriole is still
coming to my feeders for fruit, jelly
& muffins
-- 

Elayne
Niskayuna


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Merlin in Cohoes
From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:32:24 -0500
I stopped at Kings Pool behind the U-Haul in cohoes this afternoon. Two
adult Bald Eagles and a few gulls. Across the road from the U-Haul was a
Merlin in a tree top. It was chased off by a crow. Could it be the same
bird we had nearby on the Christmas count?

Alan Mapes
New Scotland


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Bluebird nest
From: Priscilla <greenmtbluebird AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:35:17 -0800 (PST)
Yesterday I spotted some pine needles sticking out of one of my bluebird 
nesting boxes that was cleaned last fall.  Today when I opened the box, there 
was a perfectly formed bluebird nest.  I hope the bluebirds are using the nest 
to keep warm at night and aren't getting any ideas about an early brood. 


Priscilla Leonard
Jonesville


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Bald Eagle-Peregrine Falcon Face-off
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:37:38 -0000
Thanks to Steve Messick I went down to one of my favorite places to watch 
eagles 

too. I took this photo of the male Bald Eagle (BE:) leaving his mates side and
flying to this tree. It wasn't until I processed the photo that I realized the
reason--he went to challenge the Peregrine Falcon (PF).


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1901132157/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


Dusk Togetherness (before the PF challenge)


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1481787842/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


Cumin 4 U


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1269922399/view\ 

?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc

Post Birding Full Moon


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/879289720/view?picmode=original&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


All together I saw 6 BEs and the PF.



------------------------------------


Subject: Bald Eagle-Peregrine Falcon Face-off
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:34:02 -0000
Thanks to Steve Messick I went down to one of my favorite places to watch 
eagles 

too. I took this photo of the male Bald Eagle (BE:) leaving his mates side and
flying to this tree. It wasn't until I processed the photo that I realized the
reason--he went to challenge the Peregrine Falcon (PF).


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1901132157/view\?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


Dusk Togetherness (before the PF challenge)


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1481787842/view\?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


Cumin 4 U


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1269922399/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


Post Birding Full Moon


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/879289720/view?\picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


All together I saw 6 BEs and the PF.




------------------------------------


Subject: Falcon Eagle Face-off And More
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:30:44 -0000
Thanks to Steve Messick I went down to one of my favorite places to watch 
eagles too. I took this photo of the male Bald Eagle (BE:) leaving his mates 
side and flying to this tree. It wasn't until I processed the photo that I 
realized the reason--he went to challenge the Peregrine Falcon (PF). 



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1901132157/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


Dusk Togetherness (before the PF challenge)


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1481787842/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


Cumin 4 U


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1269922399/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&count=20&dir=asc 


Post Birding Full Moon


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/879289720/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


All together I saw 6 BEs and the PF.



------------------------------------


Subject: Snow Geese - Fort Miller Road
From: "avocet751" <blu.e75.jay AT gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:26:05 -0000
We came upon a good size flock of snow geese yesterday on the Hudson River 
along Fort Miller Road. 


Photos at: http://blog.catbirdnotes.com/2012/02/06/snow-geese/

--
Clint and Naomi



------------------------------------


Subject: PIWO, BEKI and cavorting eagles
From: Steve <yugruguru AT aol.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 09:30:00 -0500 (EST)
Stopped at my favorite eagle watching spot today on the way home from work on 
9J (just north of Schodack Landing opposite the cemetery). I often see 2 or 3 
eagles here but today there were six. Five youngsters cavorting around chasing 
each other and one adult sedately watching from a tree branch. At one point 
four of the juveniles were on the ice within a few feet of each other - 
unfortunately it was at a place where there were a lot of branches to shoot 
through so I did not get a good picture. After watching a while a Belted 
Kingfisher flew into the field of view and within a minute later a Pileated 
Woodpecker flew by. It was a nice stop. 


Steve Mesick, Slingerlands


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Sawtooth Flight and Brown-eyed Bird
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:31:35 -0000
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/485865169/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1622617661/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 




------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Lots of "zzzrrreeeees"- Saratoga County
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:43:37 -0000
Nice capture, Jeff.  Thanks for sharing it!

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Nadler"  wrote:
>
> Just got back from a hike on a mixed woods trail off the higher-elevation 
Lake Desolation Road in Saratoga County. To my suprise, perhaps 4-8 inches of 
hard packed snow covered the trail. I wore Microspikes. For the entire hour of 
the walk, the vocals and views of pine siskins were overwhelming. I don't 
remember seeing so many during the previous invasion winter. Of course, this 
winter, they don't seem to have come as far south-at least none at my feeders. 

> 
> In fact, wherever there were conifers vs. hardwoods all along Lake 
Desolation-Fox Hill Road, there were pine siskins. There were numerous siskens 
all along the road as well eating grit. I know this finch is not as exciting as 
either crossbill or evening grosbeak, so I've posted this observation due to 
the volume of birds vs. just the species. The usual abundance of ravens and one 
Coopers hawk were also present. With a 500mm F4 and 1.4x with fill flash, one 
of the hundreds of pine siskins was captured here: 

> 
> http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3831/0902012175.jpg
> 
> Jeff Nadler
>




------------------------------------


Subject: reminder - HMBC program Monday evening, on Namibia
From: ScottJStoner AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 19:59:01 -0500 (EST)
On Safari in Namibia


Programs


Leader or Speaker: 

Gregg Recer


Location of Event: 

Colonie Public Library


Date: 

February 6, 2012 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm

On Safari in Namibia
In this travelogue program, Gregg Recer will share photos from self-guided 
travels he, along with his wife Cathy and son Bryce, took through northern 
Namibia in 2010. Namibia, in southwestern Africa, is predominantly an arid 
country, famous for the skeleton coast and the huge sand dunes of the namib 
desert. However, the northern part of the country includes extensive savanna 
and riparian corridors that abound with not only "charismatic megafauna" 
similar to east Africa, but a tremendous variety of birds, including many 
southern-Africa endemics and old-world families such as ostrich, rollers, 
hornbills, bee-eaters, guineafowl, babblers, weavers and waxbills. The program 
will explore several of Namibia's excellent national parks, including the 
Namib-Naukluft, Etosha, Mahango and Mudumu. 

Gregg Recer is a former HMBC president. He and his wife Cathy have been birding 
for nearly 25 years. They have travelled and birded over much of North America 
and have recently focused on exploring tropical birding locations. 




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Lots of "zzzrrreeeees"- Saratoga County
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:28:09 -0000
Just got back from a hike on a mixed woods trail off the higher-elevation Lake 
Desolation Road in Saratoga County. To my suprise, perhaps 4-8 inches of hard 
packed snow covered the trail. I wore Microspikes. For the entire hour of the 
walk, the vocals and views of pine siskins were overwhelming. I don't remember 
seeing so many during the previous invasion winter. Of course, this winter, 
they don't seem to have come as far south-at least none at my feeders. 


In fact, wherever there were conifers vs. hardwoods all along Lake 
Desolation-Fox Hill Road, there were pine siskins. There were numerous siskens 
all along the road as well eating grit. I know this finch is not as exciting as 
either crossbill or evening grosbeak, so I've posted this observation due to 
the volume of birds vs. just the species. The usual abundance of ravens and one 
Coopers hawk were also present. With a 500mm F4 and 1.4x with fill flash, one 
of the hundreds of pine siskins was captured here: 


http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3831/0902012175.jpg

Jeff Nadler



------------------------------------


Subject: No Snowy Owl in Kingston
From: birderlarry AT verizon.net
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 18:23:09 +0000
Many birders have been looking but as of 1:30 it's a no show. 
Good luck if you go, and please post with your results. 
Larry

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry


------------------------------------


Subject: Re: RFI waterfowl in area
From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:18:37 -0000
There's probably waterfowl all along the Hudson - but Stillwater, around 
Blockhouse Park, is the spot we've found most reliable this time of year. As 
for shrikes, there was one seen yesterday on Blackhouse Rd. in Ft. Edward - not 
sure if anyone's been there since. 

Steve & Brett Abrahamsen



------------------------------------


Subject: RFI waterfowl in area
From: "Mona Bearor" <conservebirds AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 10:56:44 -0500
I have a birding friend arriving tomorrow from North Carolina who would like
to see a diversity of waterfowl.  We know this is early for migrants, but is
there anywhere in the HM area other than the Hudson at Fort Miller that we
should visit this week?  Also, any "reliable" shrikes north of Albany? 
Mona Bearor
So Glens Falls
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Crow Games
From: Alan Schroeder <earthday49 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 10:41:02 -0500
Very funny.  Nice video Curt.  

Sent from my iPad


------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:10:05 -0000
Very nice capture of the BE juvi, Jeff. It is hard to get good photo 
definition, especially eye clarity, under those conditions, but you did well. 


--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Nadler"  wrote:
>
> Yesterday morning, I counted 15 bald eagles, where Stockport Creek meets the 
Hudson to a couple miles north at Nutten Hook. All but 2 were sub-adults. While 
most were perched fairly distant from shore, several flybys offered at least 
this posted image. A few were right along 9J along a creek area nut no safe 
spot to pull over. A resident there said an osprey had been around at Stockport 
boat launching area on the creek, which seems pretty early yet to me. 

> 
> http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6288/020412007.jpg
> 
> 
> Jeff Nadler
>




------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:19:18 -0000
Rich/all,

Since I do not personally know the people at the Stockport overlook/boat 
launch, I would have no ability to judge their sighting reliability. They do 
live near the river but were probably not birders. However, since there were so 
many immature bald eagles in the area flying around, I suspect they would have 
said numerous osprey vs. just one if they thought they were all ospreys. 



Jeff Nadler

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Richard Guthrie"  wrote:
>
> Hi, Jeff;
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks for the post.
> 
>  
> 
> How confident were you with the report of Osprey? Sometimes the 3rd year
> BAEA can be taken for an Osprey because of the eye line that shows. I've
> seen experienced birders, apparently unfamiliar with this plumage, call
> Osprey on a Christmas Bird Count when it was in fact an immature Bald Eagle.
> 
>  
> 
> I agree with you that an Osprey would be very early. But, some have been
> seen well into this unusual winter just to our south, in Westchester County.
> So with so much open water, an early returning Osprey would be remote, but
> possible, I guess.
> 
>  
> 
> Rich Guthrie
> 
> New Baltimore,
> 
> The Greene County
> 
> gaeltic AT ...
> 
>  
> 
> From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> Jeff Nadler
> Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 7:17 AM
> To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [HMBirds] Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River
> 
>  
> 
>   
> 
> Yesterday morning, I counted 15 bald eagles, where Stockport Creek meets the
> Hudson to a couple miles north at Nutten Hook. All but 2 were sub-adults.
> While most were perched fairly distant from shore, several flybys offered at
> least this posted image. A few were right along 9J along a creek area nut no
> safe spot to pull over. A resident there said an osprey had been around at
> Stockport boat launching area on the creek, which seems pretty early yet to
> me.
> 
> http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6288/020412007.jpg
> 
> Jeff Nadler
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>




------------------------------------


Subject: RE: Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River
From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net>
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 07:33:49 -0500
Hi, Jeff;

 

Thanks for the post.

 

How confident were you with the report of Osprey? Sometimes the 3rd year
BAEA can be taken for an Osprey because of the eye line that shows. I've
seen experienced birders, apparently unfamiliar with this plumage, call
Osprey on a Christmas Bird Count when it was in fact an immature Bald Eagle.

 

I agree with you that an Osprey would be very early. But, some have been
seen well into this unusual winter just to our south, in Westchester County.
So with so much open water, an early returning Osprey would be remote, but
possible, I guess.

 

Rich Guthrie

New Baltimore,

The Greene County

gaeltic AT capital.net

 

From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Jeff Nadler
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 7:17 AM
To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [HMBirds] Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River

 

  

Yesterday morning, I counted 15 bald eagles, where Stockport Creek meets the
Hudson to a couple miles north at Nutten Hook. All but 2 were sub-adults.
While most were perched fairly distant from shore, several flybys offered at
least this posted image. A few were right along 9J along a creek area nut no
safe spot to pull over. A resident there said an osprey had been around at
Stockport boat launching area on the creek, which seems pretty early yet to
me.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6288/020412007.jpg

Jeff Nadler





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Eagles-Columbia County, Hudson River
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:17:02 -0000
Yesterday morning, I counted 15 bald eagles, where Stockport Creek meets the 
Hudson to a couple miles north at Nutten Hook. All but 2 were sub-adults. While 
most were perched fairly distant from shore, several flybys offered at least 
this posted image. A few were right along 9J along a creek area nut no safe 
spot to pull over. A resident there said an osprey had been around at Stockport 
boat launching area on the creek, which seems pretty early yet to me. 


http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6288/020412007.jpg


Jeff Nadler



------------------------------------


Subject: Re: ducks on the hudson
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:14:30 -0000
Jim,

Nice variety of birds in your photos. Thanks for sharing them. Your Ring-billed 
Duck is actually a Ring-necked Duck (named for a chestnut colored ring around 
its neck that is often hard to see), and your Snow bunting is a Northern 
Mockingbird. I agree that you may have a black duck hybrid or perhaps just a 
young male mallard. The Bald Eagles are very nice--both a mature and an 
immature. The falcons are still present in your neighborhood, so that sight you 
saw on Wednesday was probably one of them--keep your eyes pealed. 


Curt Morgan

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "jimmy_rivers_edge"  wrote:
>
> 
> 
> 
> heard some splashing from my apartment today, went out onto the green island 
bridge on the green island side/channel of the starbuck island, and saw alot of 
activity from some ducks. Looks like mostly mallards, around 70, maybe a few 
black ducks, were also 2 common mergansers (never seen on hudson) and 4 
canadians. The mallards were really active today, doing a lot of diving and 
splashing, guess they were just playing or something. I took some photos and 
posted them in the album below. 

> 
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100444699350821.2611692.9029266&type=1&l=53a3a979fd 

> 
> 
> Whats weird is how inconsistent the coloring on teh ducks are. Look at the 
heads of the male mallard, some have more of a green stripe than a whole green 
head. Are they hybrid with black ducks. Are some of the photos just black 
ducks, ie, the ones with yellow bills. 

> ok, my bird ID skills are not the best.
> 
> id swear i saw a falcon fly 10ft above my car while leaving for work on 
wednesday, but when i walked around the island today, there was nothing. It 
woudl be weird as the family left a few months ago where as i use to see them 
daily. 

>




------------------------------------


Subject: Hudson- Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture
From: "Nancy Jane K" <kernscot AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:18:34 -0000
Nancy Kern

Hudson, Columbia, US-NY
Feb 4, 2012 4:15 PM - 4:35 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)

Comments: Vultures observed flying over, or to the east of Cedar Park Cemetery. 

4 species
 
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  14
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Crow  3
 
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)



------------------------------------


Subject: Merlin - Coxsackie +
From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net>
Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 20:02:21 -0500
There was a very dark MERLIN at the Coxsackie Grasslands this afternoon. I
got a few photos of the bird which I will post on the HMBirds Yahoo site
soon.

 

At twilight, I watched 7 Northern Harriers cavorting over the far fields.

 

There was also a lone American Wigeon in with about 30 Mallards and one
Amer. Black Duck.

 

Also, The Coxsackie Boat Launch Canada Geese numbers dropped from over 2000
last weekend to about 150 today.

 

I did not stay around to see if there were any owls.

 

Rich Guthrie

New Baltimore

The Greene County

gaeltic AT capital.net

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Vultures & Pileated Woodpeckers
From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:33:36 -0000
The 8 vultures with gray heads would either be juvi Turkey or Black Vultures. 
Any clue as to which they were? 

Steve & Brett Abrahamsen



------------------------------------


Subject: Vultures & Pileated Wdpkers
From: "Liz Neill" <neille AT nycap.rr.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:07:44 -0000
Yesterday about 5pm, over 15-minute period, 9 vultures (1 with red on its beak, 
8 with gray beaks) landed on top of the trees in our yard. Tram and I thought 
maybe they were going to roost there but they all moved on, flying low, when it 
got darker. In the last month, I have noticed 6 turkey vultures flying here in 
Guilderland; they may have wintered over. This morning, one vulture perched in 
that same spot for about ten minutes. Also, several times this week in my 
neighborhood I have seen a pair of pileated woodpeckers and possibly a third. - 
happy birding, Liz 




------------------------------------


Subject: ducks on the hudson
From: "jimmy_rivers_edge" <james.macione AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:28:35 -0000


heard some splashing from my apartment today, went out onto the green island 
bridge on the green island side/channel of the starbuck island, and saw alot of 
activity from some ducks. Looks like mostly mallards, around 70, maybe a few 
black ducks, were also 2 common mergansers (never seen on hudson) and 4 
canadians. The mallards were really active today, doing a lot of diving and 
splashing, guess they were just playing or something. I took some photos and 
posted them in the album below. 


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100444699350821.2611692.9029266&type=1&l=53a3a979fd 



Whats weird is how inconsistent the coloring on teh ducks are. Look at the 
heads of the male mallard, some have more of a green stripe than a whole green 
head. Are they hybrid with black ducks. Are some of the photos just black 
ducks, ie, the ones with yellow bills. 

ok, my bird ID skills are not the best.

id swear i saw a falcon fly 10ft above my car while leaving for work on 
wednesday, but when i walked around the island today, there was nothing. It 
woudl be weird as the family left a few months ago where as i use to see them 
daily. 






------------------------------------


Subject: Capital Region Audubon Annual Meeting Feb 12 at Pine Bush Discovery Center
From: ScottJStoner AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 12:15:55 -0500 (EST)
FYI: Sunday, February 12, 2011, 2 pm to 6 pm. Albany Pine Bush Discovery 
Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany.Silent Auction, Guided Snowshoeing, 
Children's Activities, Educ Displays, Food, Drink. SUZIE GILBERT, bird 
rehabilitator/author of FLYAWAY & HAWK HILL will speak  AT  4 PM. Free to Mbrs. 
Nonmembers are encouraged to donate $5 toward programming costs. For more info 
please see http://www.capitalregionaudubon.org/programs.php 

 Email: > president AT capitalregionaudubon.org or call 518.598.3025 with 
questions. 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Blackbirds and Vultures
From: Steve <yugruguru AT aol.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 16:10:41 -0500 (EST)
Jackson and I both had Turkey Vultures in Columbia and Renssalaer counties 
today traveling to and from work in Hudson and he just called and told me there 
are at least two Black Vultures perched on Columbia Memorial Hospital at the 
moment. In the meantime on Mead's Lane today there were at least two large 
flocks of blackbirds one made up of almost all Red-winged Blackbirds. The other 
had at least 300 birds close to half of which were Grackles and the rest were 
split between Brown-headed Cowbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds. Could have had 
some Rusty's there - did not get enough of a look to check them all. Also met 
Al Mapes there - fellow blackbird watcher! 


Anybody who wants to see an eagle should go down 9J between Castleton-on-Hudson 
and where it meets route 9. I have seen eagels nearly every day that I travel 
it in daylight for the last month. My record is three pairs of adults but 
Jackson had 9-10 eagles on the way to work yesterday at about 3 PM including 5 
in one tree at one point! 


Steve Mesick, Slingerlands,


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Crow Games
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:16:03 -0000
I saw a massive number of American Crows at The Crossings in Colonie yesterday 
and they were playing their own version of "King of the Hill." 

Maybe it's called King of the Pine.  Check it out at 
http://youtu.be/oL-maSoGJ8Y

Curt Morgan



------------------------------------


Subject: RE: Short tailed hawk
From: Nancy Jane Kern <kernscot AT hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:51:30 -0500
This
 would be a great find, but highly unlikely in this area. A more likely 
possibility would be a color variant or young Red-tailed Hawk. I will 
try to get over your way and look in that area. I often see Red-tails 
over there.





Nancy



  
 

Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:43:31 -0800
From: mvidibor AT yahoo.com
Subject: Short tailed hawk
To: kernscot AT hotmail.com; marionulmer AT taconic.net; cook AT sunycgcc.edu; 
cjtrapper AT yahoo.com; hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com 




Driving on Schnackenberg yesterday spotted w profile of a black headed bird 
with a white breast in tall roadside bushes of our northern neighbor. It had a 
pronounced raptor beak. Had a hard time finding a pic as google did not come up 
with any useful.suggestions. Today sat down with Marion's trusty Peterson's 
guide to Eastern birds and flopped until I found it: a short tailed hawk. As I 
backed up the car to get a good look it took off and I could see the black back 
and white breast below. It was a first for me and being able to id it so well 
was quite a thrill. Thanks Marion for the book. 

Marlene 


Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android
 		 	   		  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Short tailed hawk
From: marlene vidibor <mvidibor AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:43:31 -0800 (PST)
Driving on Schnackenberg yesterday spotted w profile of a black headed bird 
with a white breast in tall roadside bushes of our northern neighbor.  It had a 
pronounced raptor beak.  Had a hard time finding a pic as google did not come 
up with any useful.suggestions.  Today sat down with Marion's trusty Peterson's 
guide to Eastern birds and flopped until I found it:  a short tailed hawk.  As 
I backed up the car to get a good look it took off and I could see the black 
back and white breast below.  It was a first for me and being able to id it so 
well was quite a thrill.  Thanks Marion for the book. 


Marlene 

Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Turkey Vulture, Coxsackie
From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:11:43 -0500
Driving between New Baltimore and Coxsackie yesterday afternoon, we had a
Turkey Vulture fly up from the ground along River Road.

Alan Mapes
New Scotland


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: "Snow Cute"@ Ft. Miller
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:21:01 -0000
Another intimate portrait of a single snow goose on the Hudson River at Fort 
Miller, Washington County. Photographed from parked vehicle as blind using a 
photo bean bag on door. 


http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/2445/012912021.jpg

Jeff Nadler



------------------------------------


Subject: Ft. Edward, Rt 4 ,, No Golden Eagle but found these others
From: "Ken" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:50:36 -0000
Took another ride the other day to Ft.Miller/Ft. Edward area just on chance the 
GE might still be around. No site of it on my trip but found this Bald Eagle in 
the tree across from Blackhouse Rd. where someone had seen the GE perched... 

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2188766910065162350XkMHlJ?vhost=outdoors
...and found this Red-tailed hawk a little further up Rt. 4 on a roadside pole
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2217416990065162350ndIXQk?vhost=outdoors
Take care and good birding to all.
Ken H.



------------------------------------


Subject: Big Flock of Blackbirds - Mead's Lane
From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 10:53:51 -0500
This morning on Mead's Lane in Delmar, I had a flock of about 250
blackbirds - estmated 150 Red-winged Blackbirds, 100 Brown-headed Cowbirds,
2 Rusty Blackbirds, 1 Common Grackle. Also in the cornfields - 100 Canada
Geese, 21 Wild Turkeys. No sparrows found.

Alan Mapes
New Scotland


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Fort Miller- Female Barrow's Goldeneye below the Dam
From: "Nancy Jane K" <kernscot AT hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:46:13 -0000
Fort Miller, Washington, US-NY
Jan 31, 2012 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments: Mild day in the 40's. Many waterfowl concentrated below the lock and 
dam on the Hudson River. 

10 species
 
Snow Goose  120
Canada Goose  3500
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  70
Common Goldeneye  120
Female Barrow's Goldeneye   1
Common Merganser  28
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  1
Dark-eyed Junco  2
 
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)



------------------------------------


Subject: Turkeys
From: Alan French <adfrench AT nycap.rr.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:23:22 -0500
I have seven Turkeys under my bird feeders.

Clear skies, Alan
Glenville



------------------------------------


Subject: Out of area report on Superbowl of Birding
From: Steve <yugruguru AT aol.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 03:26:56 -0500 (EST)


I posted a couple weeks ago about looking for team members for the Superbowl of 
Birding held annually in northeastern MA and southeastern NH. Quite an 
enjoyable event in some of the most starkly attractive winter landscapes 
around. I know other folks have posted about Plum Island but it is also a 
breathtaking place in the winter. Jackson and I teamed up with 3 local birders 
to do 12 hours of coastal and land birding. We do not play to win as we are 
very unlikely to win against the best regional birders of that area but we had 
a great time. Highlights included great views of Snowy and Short-eared Owls, a 
Townsend's Warbler that has found its way to NH and has been wintering at a 
feeder in Ipswich, a falcon sweep with good views of all three but especially 
the Merlin, and 28 species of waterfowl of various kinds. I went out a day 
early and had a couple other highlights - a Yellow-breasted Chat that has been 
visiting a feeder in Hampton for much of the winter and a Cape May Warbler(!!) 
that has been foraging along the seaweed wrack of the Atlantic shore at Odiorne 
State Park. This bird is showing an incredible adaptation to survive in the NH 
winter, mild though it has been. He has been seen since the 12th in the same 
spot, but he has presumably been there all winter. The bird should be in Cuba 
right now. IHe has made it through at least 2 very cold snaps since the 12th. 

 
I have posted some pix of the Snowy and the Cape May: 
 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/1724267484/pic/146345878/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc 

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/1724267484/pic/223434674/view?picmode=medium&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&dir=asc 

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/1724267484/pic/1539974626/view?picmode=medium&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&dir=asc 

 
Also we are entered in the Team-in-Action Photo contest - if you can in good 
conscience vote for a picture that is probably not the best please do so at: 

 
 
http://www.greatblue.com/superbowlofbirdingphotocontest

(We are the Unflappables)
 
 
Steve Mesick, Slingerlands




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: HMBC program Monday Feb 6 - Namibia
From: ScottJStoner AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:35:11 -0500 (EST)
On Safari in Namibia


Leader or Speaker: 

Gregg Recer


Location of Event: 

Colonie Public Library


Date: 

February 6, 2012 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm

On Safari in Namibia
In this travelogue program, Gregg Recer will share photos from self-guided 
travels he, along with his wife Cathy and son Bryce, took through northern 
Namibia in 2010. Namibia, in southwestern Africa, is predominantly an arid 
country, famous for the skeleton coast and the huge sand dunes of the namib 
desert. However, the northern part of the country includes extensive savanna 
and riparian corridors that abound with not only "charismatic megafauna" 
similar to east Africa, but a tremendous variety of birds, including many 
southern-Africa endemics and old-world families such as ostrich, rollers, 
hornbills, bee-eaters, guineafowl, babblers, weavers and waxbills. The program 
will explore several of Namibia's excellent national parks, including the 
Namib-Naukluft, Etosha, Mahango and Mudumu. 

Gregg Recer is a former HMBC president. He and his wife Cathy have been birding 
for nearly 25 years. They have travelled and birded over much of North America 
and have recently focused on exploring tropical birding locations. 

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - ALL ARE WELCOME
For directions to the library, please see http://www.colonie.org/library/



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Ft edward grasslands yesterday
From: "scottjstoner AT aol.com"<ScottJStoner@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:10:27 -0500
Sunday afternoon january 29 we had 11 No. Harrier, 4 red-tails , 2  
rough-legs and 1 Am kestrel. 

Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Trip to Fort Edward
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:40:46 -0000
I made the 50 mile trip to Fort Edward today, but no Golden Eagle was seen 
along the way. Like Rich and Jeff, I saw a number of Bald Eagles* (2 over Rt 4 
in North Troy; a second pair along Rt 4 north of Fort Miller). Between the 
second pair of Eagles and Blackhouse Rd. I saw two swans flying south along the 
river, but could not confirm their species. At Blackhouse and Rt 4 I saw a dark 
morph Rough-legged Hawk, and a Red-tailed Hawk**. In Fort Miller I saw the 
1000s of Canada Geese, but didn't spot the Snow Geese. In Fort Edward it was 
too early for the SEOs on Fitzpatrick Rd (3:20 pm). In addition to the above I 
saw a Red Fox in Fort Edward and a Coyote in Colonie. 


Curt Morgan

* 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1621829678/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


**

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/224613324/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 






------------------------------------


Subject: Re: "Snow on Ice"
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:08:07 -0000
Beautiful shot, Jeff. You did great on white balance which is a challenge for a 
sunny morning. 


Curt Morgan

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Nadler"  wrote:
>
> My wife and I did not have success finding the Ft. Miller area golden eagle 
this morning but hope others there did. We found a hunting rough-legged hawk on 
Cary Road, 4 adult bald eagles in one view (2 in a tree and 2 soaring) along 
Route 4, and common goldeneye at numerous river stops. And with only a couple 
dozen snow geese among the thousands of canada geese, I decided to just focus 
in on one to practice white exposure. As I took this, a beaver emerged from 
under the ice and swam by. After breakfast in Greenwich, we checked the fields 
and river south of Schuylerville for the golden eagle again without success. 
Here is a portrait of one snow goose on ice. 

> 
> http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8937/012912022.jpg
> 
> Jeff Nadler
>




------------------------------------


Subject: A few Greene County sightings
From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:58:40 -0500
I made a  few stops around The Greene County today and was able to find
these highlights:

 

BALD EAGLES: 3 at New Baltimore; 1 at the Coxsackie Boat Launch; and 2 at
4-mile Point (they were gathering sticks for their new nest - the old one
must have been blown off the tree over the last year);

 

NORTHERN HARRIERS: 5 at the Coxsackie Grasslands (viewed from both the west
side and the River Road side);

 

BELTED KINGFISHER: 1 at the Hannacroix Creek Preserve in New Baltimore;

 

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS: a flock of about 25 at the Coxsackie Grasslands; 1 at
4-mile Point;

 

The Cardinals, Titmice, Chickadees, and a couple of pairs of Red-tailed
Hawks were displaying various signs of courtship such as spring song, and -
in the case of the hawks - aerial displays.

 

Rich Guthrie

New Baltimore

The Greene County

gaeltic AT capital.net

(I'll be joining Bob Cudmore on WVTL 1570AM at 9:05 tomorrow (Jan 30)
morning)



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Bald Eagle - Averill Park - Nassau NY - Burden Lake
From: Brian Smith <brijsmith AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:28:30 +0000
Hi,
 
Spotted a bald eagle flying over Burden Lake in Averill Park as it just was 
getting dark yesterday. There was little activity on the lake yesterday since 
it was mild and the ice was not very solid. 

 
It seemed to be looking at spots of open water.  

Brian Smith 
Averill Park, NY 		 	   		  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Salem eagle
From: Priscilla <greenmtbluebird AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:36:06 -0800 (PST)
Spotted an eagle on Route 153 in the Town of Salem today.  It was in the 
vicinity of Beattie Hollow and seemed to be following the White Creek.   

Priscilla Leonard


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: "Snow on Ice"
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:59:38 -0000
My wife and I did not have success finding the Ft. Miller area golden eagle 
this morning but hope others there did. We found a hunting rough-legged hawk on 
Cary Road, 4 adult bald eagles in one view (2 in a tree and 2 soaring) along 
Route 4, and common goldeneye at numerous river stops. And with only a couple 
dozen snow geese among the thousands of canada geese, I decided to just focus 
in on one to practice white exposure. As I took this, a beaver emerged from 
under the ice and swam by. After breakfast in Greenwich, we checked the fields 
and river south of Schuylerville for the golden eagle again without success. 
Here is a portrait of one snow goose on ice. 


http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8937/012912022.jpg

Jeff Nadler



------------------------------------


Subject: Article on Snowy Owl invasion
From: "ann2bird" <ann9br-junk AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:39:45 -0000
Thought you might be interested in this article about the invasion of Snowy 
Owls. Ann 


http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/29/snowy-owls-soar-south-from-arctic-in-rare-mass-migration.html 




------------------------------------


Subject: Journey to Fort Miller
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:32:45 -0000
As I cruised the unpaved River Road just south of Fort Miller today I got 
excited when I saw a brownish eagle perch on the west side of the river, but 
alas it was an immature Bald Eagle. On the way there I saw a male Peregrine 
Falcon (Troy), mature Bald eagle (Stillwater), three RTHs, a common Golden Eye 
& Common Merganser (in the same neighborhood as the Eagle). 


Here is a proof shot of the Eagle 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/99253657/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 


Curt Morgan
28January2012



------------------------------------


Subject: Golden Eagle still around
From: "Mona Bearor" <conservebirds AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:57:51 -0500
I was talking to a couple birders this afternoon in Fort Miller.  They said
they saw the Golden Eagle perched in a tree on the bank of the Hudson at the
intersection of RT4 and Blackhouse Rd.  It was being harassed by crows, and
finally to the south.  I did not see the bird.
 
If you are birding the Hudson in the Fort Edward - Fort Miller -
Northumberland areas tomorrow, keep your eyes open!
Mona Bearor
So. Glens Falls


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller
From: "Ken" <kharper AT nycap.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:08:29 -0000
John,
Nice photo, great bird. Boy am I kicking myself for not going with the group 
this AM. 

thanks for posting  Ken H

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "John"  wrote:
>
> The Thursday Morning group spotted a GOLDEN EAGLE this morning from River Rd. 
south of Fort Miller. The Eagle was perched in a tree across the River, 
actually in the Town of Northumberland. We had excellent looks at the eagle 
before it took off going south along the Hudson River. It was seen from a point 
south of the intersection where River Rd. becomes Fort Miller Rd. I've posted a 
few digiscoped pics in my folder. 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/1832783227/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=241&dir=asc 

> 
> John Hershey
>




------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:53:28 -0000
What a great find and great digiscoped images. Congrats John! Thanks for 
sharing with us! 


--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "John"  wrote:
>
> The Thursday Morning group spotted a GOLDEN EAGLE this morning from River Rd. 
south of Fort Miller. The Eagle was perched in a tree across the River, 
actually in the Town of Northumberland. We had excellent looks at the eagle 
before it took off going south along the Hudson River. It was seen from a point 
south of the intersection where River Rd. becomes Fort Miller Rd. I've posted a 
few digiscoped pics in my folder. 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/1832783227/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=241&dir=asc 

> 
> John Hershey
>




------------------------------------


Subject: RE: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller
From: "Mona Bearor" <conservebirds AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:43:42 -0500
Nice find!  Congratulations! Great photos, too.
Mona Bearor
So. Glens Falls

-----Original Message-----
From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
John
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 1:49 PM
To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [HMBirds] Golden Eagle - Fort Miller

The Thursday Morning group spotted a GOLDEN EAGLE this morning from River
Rd. south of Fort Miller.  The Eagle was perched in a tree across the River,
actually in the Town of Northumberland.  We had excellent looks at the eagle
before it took off going south along the Hudson River. It was seen from a
point south of the intersection where River Rd. becomes Fort Miller Rd.
I've posted a few digiscoped pics in my folder.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/1832783227/v
iew?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=241&dir=asc

John Hershey






------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller
From: "Stephen" <smp928s AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:11:22 -0000
That is one awesome bird. Thanks for sharing these! 

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "John"  wrote:
>
> The Thursday Morning group spotted a GOLDEN EAGLE this morning from River Rd. 
south of Fort Miller. The Eagle was perched in a tree across the River, 
actually in the Town of Northumberland. We had excellent looks at the eagle 
before it took off going south along the Hudson River. It was seen from a point 
south of the intersection where River Rd. becomes Fort Miller Rd. I've posted a 
few digiscoped pics in my folder. 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/1832783227/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=241&dir=asc 

> 
> John Hershey
>




------------------------------------


Subject: RE: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller
From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:50:48 -0500
Wow!  No question about that one!

Will Raup

Albany, NY


 To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com
From: hersheyj AT nycap.rr.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:48:54 +0000
Subject: [HMBirds] Golden Eagle - Fort Miller


















 



  


    
      
      
 The Thursday Morning group spotted a GOLDEN EAGLE this morning from River Rd. 
south of Fort Miller. The Eagle was perched in a tree across the River, 
actually in the Town of Northumberland. We had excellent looks at the eagle 
before it took off going south along the Hudson River. It was seen from a point 
south of the intersection where River Rd. becomes Fort Miller Rd. I've posted a 
few digiscoped pics in my folder. 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/1832783227/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=241&dir=asc 




John Hershey





    
     

    
    






   		 	   		  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Golden Eagle - Fort Miller
From: "John" <hersheyj AT nycap.rr.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:48:54 -0000
The Thursday Morning group spotted a GOLDEN EAGLE this morning from River Rd. 
south of Fort Miller. The Eagle was perched in a tree across the River, 
actually in the Town of Northumberland. We had excellent looks at the eagle 
before it took off going south along the Hudson River. It was seen from a point 
south of the intersection where River Rd. becomes Fort Miller Rd. I've posted a 
few digiscoped pics in my folder. 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/1832783227/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=241&dir=asc 


John Hershey



------------------------------------


Subject: West side of the Hudson from Catskill to Coxsackie
From: Steve <yugruguru AT aol.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:53:51 -0500 (EST)
Was headed home from work and took a little different route today gpoing up the 
west side of the river. Highlights include a stop at the boat launch area at 
the mouth or Murderer's Creek in Athens and was surprised to find one female 
WOOD DUCK steaming upstream. Downstream there were four COMMON MERGANSERS - one 
male and three females. The other highlight was a light morph Rough-legged Hawk 
at Coxsackie Grasslands. Both the Woodie and the Roughie gave good looks. 


Steve Mesick, Slingerlands


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Berries/seeds wanted
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:22:10 -0000
This site ought to keep you going for a while Mark.

http://www.sialis.org/plants.htm

Curt

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "markclaydon.rm"  wrote:
>
> I would like to plant a berry producing tree that is attractive to bluebirds. 
If anyone has such a tree with berries on it now I would like to have some for 
planting if you're willing to share. I will gladly come and pick them up. 

> 
> Thank you!
> Mark Claydon
> Glenville, NY
>




------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Berries/seeds wanted
From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:56:57 -0500
I've seen them eat two varieties of fruits in the winter time, multifora
rose hips and staghorn sumac fruit heads.The rose is invasive and will take
over your land, if allowed to. It takes work to control the stuff, but it's
a great wildlife food plant. In my yard, a No. Mockingbird guards the rose
clumps and tries to keep the hips all for himself.

Staghorn sumac is native, is beautiful in the fall, and not nearly as
invasive like the rose (it's also native). I don't know how it is to
cultivate - have not heard of people doing that, but you might find some
information on a web search. You can find some sprouts along a roadside in
the spring, if you want to try transplanting. A number of bird species use
the fruits, including Wild Turkey. Many people consider sumac a weed tree,
but it's a dandy wildlife plant.

Alan Mapes
New Scotland




On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 8:29 PM, markclaydon.rm
wrote:

> **
>
>
> I would like to plant a berry producing tree that is attractive to
> bluebirds. If anyone has such a tree with berries on it now I would like to
> have some for planting if you're willing to share. I will gladly come and
> pick them up.
>
> Thank you!
> Mark Claydon
> Glenville, NY
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Berries/seeds wanted
From: "markclaydon.rm" <markclaydon AT rocketmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:29:09 -0000
I would like to plant a berry producing tree that is attractive to bluebirds. 
If anyone has such a tree with berries on it now I would like to have some for 
planting if you're willing to share. I will gladly come and pick them up. 


Thank you!
Mark Claydon
Glenville, NY



------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Great Blue in icy water
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:42:38 -0000
I like this shot, Ken.  The GBH in a small open circle surrounded by ice--nyce!

Curt

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Ken"  wrote:
>
> Came across this Great Blue Heron the other day down by the ClamSteam Tavern 
in frozen river estuary. Just a small slot of water was open and he was 
standing in it fishing. Guess they will stick around as long as there is some 
open water. 

> http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2367905040065162350JrKTsz?vhost=outdoors
> Ken H.
>




------------------------------------


Subject: Vantage Point
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:57:44 -0000
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/555807280/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 




------------------------------------


Subject: Vantage Point
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:15:05 -0000
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1260242443/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=381&dir=asc 




------------------------------------


Subject: Winter Surprises
From: "Mona Bearor" <conservebirds AT gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:48:47 -0500
Yesterday I was surprised to see three immature Red-winged Blackbirds on New
Swamp Rd in Hudson Falls.
 
This morning from my porch I watched a Turkey Vulture as it gained altitude
- possibly from a nighttime roost - and rocked off to the west.
 
This afternoon I viewed three Song Sparrows, and about a dozen immature
White-throated Sparrows on Washington county route 113, a little ways south
of General Fellows Rd.  I also saw a flock of about 50 Horned Larks on a
manured field near there.  My scope is in for repair so I was not able to
check for Longspurs.
 
I saw one Brown-headed Cowbird with a flock of European Starlings on RT32 on
the backside of Saratoga National Historic Park.
 
I returned home to find the Carolina Wren finally present on a Project
Feeder Watch count day, and my all time high count of 11 Northern Cardinals.
 
Mona Bearor
So. Glens Falls
 
 
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Great Blue in icy water
From: "Ken" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:55:53 -0000
Came across this Great Blue Heron the other day down by the ClamSteam Tavern in 
frozen river estuary. Just a small slot of water was open and he was standing 
in it fishing. Guess they will stick around as long as there is some open 
water. 

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2367905040065162350JrKTsz?vhost=outdoors
Ken H.



------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Snow Geese
From: Jim de Waal Malefyt <dewaalmalefyt AT gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:59:13 -0500
Last Friday around noontime there was a large flock of Snow Geese (several
hundred +) in the ag. fields behind the farm buildings south of Callahan Rd
and east of Rt 32 in Northumberland. Also saw 4 tail-bobbing American
Pipits along Callahan.  There was only about 20 Snows in with the thousands
of Canada Geese on the Hudson at Fort Miller.  Quite a bit less open water
then when Ken took photos.  It would be interesting to know the daily
activity of these geese?

Yesterday I saw about 100 Horned Larks on a maure spread at the corner of
Rt 7 and John Synder Rd. in Brunswick.

Jim de Waal Malefyt


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------


Subject: Re: Snow Geese photos from last week
From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:37:20 -0000
Wow, Ken, those are awesome shots. I have never seen so many SG in one place. 
Are they still there, do you know? Glad to see that you are back out there. We 
have missed you! 


Curt

--- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Ken"  wrote:
>
> Sorry for posting this late but just trying to catch up on stuff.
> I was up in Ft. Miller on 1/10 and was lucky enough to view about 1200 snow 
geese on the river. They kept taking off, circleing around and then landing 
again. Along with the snow geese there were probably about 10,000 Canada Geese. 
What a sound they all made, it was amazing. 

> Here is a link to some of the snowgeese photos I took.
> http://kenharperphotos.com/pelikenphotos_098.htm
> 
> Ken Harper
>




------------------------------------


Subject: Snow Geese photos from last week
From: "Ken" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:46:39 -0000
Sorry for posting this late but just trying to catch up on stuff.
I was up in Ft. Miller on 1/10 and was lucky enough to view about 1200 snow 
geese on the river. They kept taking off, circleing around and then landing 
again. Along with the snow geese there were probably about 10,000 Canada Geese. 
What a sound they all made, it was amazing. 

Here is a link to some of the snowgeese photos I took.
http://kenharperphotos.com/pelikenphotos_098.htm

Ken Harper



------------------------------------


Subject: Rustys
From: Steve <yugruguru AT aol.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:29:31 -0500 (EST)
Jackson and I checked for sparrows on Mead's Lane and did not find much besides 
American tree Sparrows and juncos but we found some blackbirds as well in two 
flocks with closer to 8-10 Rustys. 


Steve Mesick


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------