Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Hudson Mohawk Birds > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, September 2 at 11:32 AM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Rockjumper,©Tony Disley

2 Sep NNYBirds: Vulture culture ["philbrown AT juno.com" ] 2 Sep Vulture culture ["philbrown AT juno.com" ] 2 Sep christmas bird counts [george steele ] 01 Sep Philadelphia Vireo- Vischer Ferry NHP 9/1 ["Thomas Williams" ] 31 Aug seeking speakers for HMBC monthly programs [] 01 Sep Go West, Young Nighthawks ["rita" ] 31 Aug Miss. Kites, town of Root, Aug 29 [] 31 Aug Re: albino teal? ["rita" ] 31 Aug albino teal? ["Susan" ] 30 Aug RE: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? ["Richard Guthrie" ] 30 Aug Re: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? ["Penny and Larry Alden" ] 31 Aug Re: leucistic b-w teal ["rita" ] 30 Aug Re: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? [Susan Beaudoin ] 30 Aug RE: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? [Will Raup ] 30 Aug Re: leucistic b-w teal? ["rita" ] 30 Aug Re: leucistic b-w teal? ["rita" ] 30 Aug Re: leucistic b-w teal? ["rita" ] 30 Aug Re: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? [Susan Beaudoin ] 30 Aug Re: Leucistic b-w teal? ["rita" ] 30 Aug leucistic b-w teal? ["Susan" ] 30 Aug Migrant warblers- Lock 19 Vischer Ferry NHP ["Thomas Williams" ] 29 Aug Grafton Lakes SP--Long Pond Trail , 8/28/10 [Brad Walker ] 29 Aug Re: Fulton Lakes, Saratoga, and CommunityWalk - sightings needed ["rita" ] 29 Aug Fulton Lakes, Saratoga, and CommunityWalk - sightings needed ["rita" ] 29 Aug No Subject [] 28 Aug Patridge Run WMA - Warblers 8/28/10 [Will Raup ] 27 Aug Barred Owl ["rita" ] 27 Aug Migrant warblers @ Ferry Dr. east- Vischer Ferry ["Thomas Williams" ] 26 Aug RE: Unusual Robin behavior? [Will Raup ] 26 Aug Unusual Robin behavior? ["ConserveBirds" ] 25 Aug Common Nighthawks again ["ConserveBirds" ] 25 Aug Common Nighthawks again... ["Thomas Williams" ] 25 Aug Cooper's Pond, August 25 [Brad Walker ] 25 Aug Kestrel again ["rita" ] 25 Aug Wrights Cornfield, Ruffed Grouse? ["rita" ] 24 Aug Nighthawks over Colonie- 8/24 ["Thomas Williams" ] 24 Aug Vischer Ferry NHP 8/23 & 8/24 ["Thomas Williams" ] 24 Aug Cooper's Pond, August 24 [Brad Walker ] 23 Aug Sorry for the multiple post on Miss Kite ["cpkbh1" ] 23 Aug Mississippi Kite ["cpkbh1" ] 23 Aug Black and White Warbler [Steven Sulzer ] 23 Aug Mississippi Kite ["cpkbh1" ] 23 Aug Mississippi Kite ["cpkbh1" ] 22 Aug Re: Baird's Sandpiper at Cohoes Flats ["rita" ] 22 Aug Baird's Sandpiper at Cohoes Flats ["dharriso57" ] 22 Aug Saratoga Battlefield ["Susan" ] 22 Aug Latham Nighthawks (8/21) [Brad Walker ] 22 Aug Water Levels at Cohoes Flats ["goodness.gary" ] 22 Aug two visits to Round Lake and the Anthony Kill - birding highlights and dam open [] 22 Aug Least sandpiper ID ["Jeff Nadler" ] 21 Aug Shorebird Searching [Will Raup ] 21 Aug Cooper's Pond, August 21 [Brad Walker ] 21 Aug Re: Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, etc. at Crescent Halfmoon Park ["John" ] 21 Aug Nighthawks ["Alan" ] 20 Aug Mississippi Kites - Successful nesting confirmed ["Richard Guthrie" ] 20 Aug Mississippi Kites - Successful nesting confirmed ["Richard Guthrie" ] 21 Aug Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, etc. at Crescent Halfmoon Park ["John" ] 20 Aug Cooper's Pond, August 20 [Brad Walker ] 20 Aug Re: Short-billed Dowitcher and Western Sandpipers, little park by cresent ["rita" ] 20 Aug Short-billed Dowitcher & Western Sandpipers, little park by cresent bridge ["cpkbh1" ] 20 Aug Re: Why are there Goldfinches on my Sweet Annie plants? ["rita" ] 20 Aug Why are there Goldfinches on my Sweet Annie plants? ["vjwallin" ] 20 Aug Re: Short-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper ["rita" ] 19 Aug RE: Short-Billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper [Will Raup ] 19 Aug Short-Billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper [Will Raup ] 19 Aug Re: Where do the Egrets Roost? ["rita" ] 18 Aug RE: your Shorebirds? ["Richard Guthrie" ] 19 Aug Where do the Egrets Roost? ["Bruce" ] 18 Aug RE: Great Blue Heron and ? [Will Raup ] 18 Aug Re: Great Blue Heron and ? [Alan Mapes ] 18 Aug Re: Great Blue Heron and ? ["rita" ] 18 Aug Great Blue Heron and ? [Robert Nash ] 18 Aug Great Blue Heron and ? ["mahasselwander" ] 18 Aug Swallows, Oriole & shorebirds- Vischer Ferry NHP ["Thomas Williams" ] 18 Aug A few shots of Great Egrets along Mohawk River ["cpkbh1" ] 18 Aug A few shots of Great Egrets along Mohawk River ["cpkbh1" ] Subject: NNYBirds: Vulture culture From: "philbrown AT juno.com" <philbrown@juno.com> Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 16:30:31 GMT In his latest humorous post on Adirondack Dispatches, John Thaxton tells us how we got into birding. http://blog.timesunion.com/adirondacks/plasma-tv/376/ Phil Brown Lost Pond Press Saranac Lake, NY 12983 www.lostpondpress.com 518.891.3918 ____________________________________________________________ Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat! http://www.juno.com/freeemail?refcd=JUTAGOUT1FREM0210 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Vulture culture From: "philbrown AT juno.com" <philbrown@juno.com> Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 16:30:31 GMT In his latest humorous post on Adirondack Dispatches, John Thaxton tells us how we got into birding. http://blog.timesunion.com/adirondacks/plasma-tv/376/ Phil Brown Lost Pond Press Saranac Lake, NY 12983 www.lostpondpress.com 518.891.3918 ____________________________________________________________ Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat! http://www.juno.com/freeemail?refcd=JUTAGOUT1FREM0210 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: christmas bird counts From: george steele <unlessyoucare AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 09:16:18 -0700 (PDT) I know it is only the start of the September but I am working on my schedule and need to plan ahead for Christmas Bird Counts so as to not miss any. Can anyone give me a heads up on local counts. I believe the Greene Co counts is Dec 14. I've been in touch with Alan Mapes and know that the Albany Co count is Dec 19. How about the Saratoga, Troy or Schenectady counts. Thanks for any help. George Steele [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Philadelphia Vireo- Vischer Ferry NHP 9/1 From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:50:19 -0000 A walk down the towpath westward from the Whipple Bridge turned up no warblers this morning. A large accipiter was glimpsed flying on the other side of the old canal, I believe it was a Cooper's Hawk. The pigment-challenged small duck that was previously reported by Susan is still present; it is shaped, and behaves, like the blue-winged teal it is associating with. A Philadelphia Vireo was foraging by itself in the trees alongside the canal. I find this species difficult to separate from Warbling Vireo in appearance. This bird had a distinct yellow wash from the throat through the flanks, and the facial pattern was more of a split, diffuse eyering. A Warbling Vireo seems to have a distinct white "eyebrow", with a less bold crescent under the eye, and very little yellow down the flanks. I later saw, and heard briefly, a Warbling Vireo for comparison. Eastern Wood-pewees were hawking bugs, and occasionally vocalizing. A Red-tailed Hawk was watching the action on the main waterway. The swallows have moved on, although I saw a few perched on wires on the drive out. BUGCON- 2 Tom Williams Colonie Subject: seeking speakers for HMBC monthly programs From: ScottJStoner AT aol.com Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:43:16 -0400 Fellow HMBC members and birders with interests in the Capital Region: The Hudson-Mohawk bird club offers monthly programs of interest to its members and the general public. As HMBC Program Chair for nearly 20 years, I am continually seeking to identify speakers, both local and from farther away, with knowledge and experience on birds, birding locations, habitats, conservation issues and science related to birding, who are willing to share this with us. If you have traveled to some intresting North American or other birding destination, have pictures (digital or slides) of birds and the birding experience, or related topics, or know of such a prospective speaker, please contact me OFFLINE at scottjstoner AT aol.com . Thank you - Scott [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Go West, Young Nighthawks From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:27:36 -0000 4 clearly very inexperienced Common Nighthawks all flew together to the west this evening at Oxford Dr. (Saratoga), providing both a curious situation and an FOS. Also presnt were Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Red-eyed Vireo, and Downy Woodpecker. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Miss. Kites, town of Root, Aug 29 From: ScottJStoner AT aol.com Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:39:31 -0400 mid-afternoon, at least 2 birds, one at Donato and Mapletown; one seen from partway up Donato, then two at one time, on donato. some great looks at them. - Scott and Denise = [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: albino teal? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:38:27 -0000 This bird doesn't have pink eyes, so it can't be albino. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: albino teal? From: "Susan" <tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:28:59 -0000 Brian McAllister, who teaches an ornithology lab at Paul Smith's and posts the blog www.adirondackexplorer.org/blogs.php , also took a look at the pictures and wondered if the bird is question was a true albino given the pink beak. He said the coloration on the head and chest could be tannin water staining. Unfortunately the other photos I have which more clearly show the pink beak did not upload. I can embed them in an off line email if any one is interested. I would also appreciate any off line help with why my photos showed up as a question marks, not photos. The one photo that did come through yesterday and which I set as a my cover picture in the album " Beaudoin's Birds," today showed up as a question mark. I uploaded the pictures again into iphoto directly from my camera and tried again to put them in my hmbirds album with the the same results. Susan Beaudoin Subject: RE: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:43:53 -0400 The "Oops" flag on eBird is intended to set for further consideration species, or numbers of individuals, that, as Larry states, are unexpected in the area for that time period. In the case of Blue-winged Teal, this year has been unusual for this species in our area. The Blue-winged Teal has seen some marked declines as a breeding bird in New York Stat. So, any nesting season records are of particular interest. The difficulty in August is that since many of the birds are either immatures or adults in molt, identification is not as straight forward as in other months. That being said, unusually high numbers of them have been turning up at various locations since late July suggesting a resurgence of this species as a breeder in the HM area. Bottom line is - report the numbers as you see them. Don't be dissuaded by that "Oops" business. All that is asking is if you are sure that is what you intended to report (typos do hapen). It's a good way to monitor any changes in the species. With rare or unexpected species, well, that's another story. With those reports, an observer may be asked to submit some sort of documentation to be sure the identification is correct. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore The Greene County, gaeltic AT capital.net http://blog.timesunion.com/birding _____ From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Penny and Larry Alden Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 9:06 PM To: HMBirds Yahoogroups Subject: Re: [HMBirds] Re: Leucistic b-w teal? E-birds gives an oops if you report something out of range or expected date. Perhaps it's not programmed to accept Blue-winged Teal until after August. The number reported probably doesn't have anything to do with it. The pictures look like BWTE to me. Haven't seen anything posted here to suggest otherwise. Report them and confirm the oops. Larry Alden Meadowdale (on the border of southern Guilderland and northern New Scotland) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Beaudoin" > To: "Will Raup" > Cc: >; "HMBirds Yahoogroups" > Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 6:14 PM Subject: Re: [HMBirds] Re: Leucistic b-w teal? >I saw about 15-20 blue- winged teal. When I got the Oops!, just to see >what would happen, I changed it to 8 and still got an Oops! > Susan > > On Aug 30, 2010, at 6:03 PM, Will Raup wrote: > >> >> >> >> I don't see why this isn't a Blue-winged Teal. Size is right, shape is >> right, especially compared to the more obviously plumaged ones. The bird >> is too small to be a Mallard or Gadwall. >> >> And what kind of Oops! were you getting in E-bird? How many Blue-winged >> Teal were there? I know e-bird gave me issues because I had 10 at Stanton >> Pond the other day, I know their numbers have declined for quite awhile >> now, but they are certainly not uncommon in late summer/early fall, >> especialy at Vischer Ferry. >> >> Will Raup >> Albany, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? From: "Penny and Larry Alden" <overlook AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:06:17 -0400 E-birds gives an oops if you report something out of range or expected date. Perhaps it's not programmed to accept Blue-winged Teal until after August. The number reported probably doesn't have anything to do with it. The pictures look like BWTE to me. Haven't seen anything posted here to suggest otherwise. Report them and confirm the oops. Larry Alden Meadowdale (on the border of southern Guilderland and northern New Scotland) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Beaudoin" To: "Will Raup" Cc: ; "HMBirds Yahoogroups" Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 6:14 PM Subject: Re: [HMBirds] Re: Leucistic b-w teal? >I saw about 15-20 blue- winged teal. When I got the Oops!, just to see >what would happen, I changed it to 8 and still got an Oops! > Susan > > On Aug 30, 2010, at 6:03 PM, Will Raup wrote: > >> >> >> >> I don't see why this isn't a Blue-winged Teal. Size is right, shape is >> right, especially compared to the more obviously plumaged ones. The bird >> is too small to be a Mallard or Gadwall. >> >> And what kind of Oops! were you getting in E-bird? How many Blue-winged >> Teal were there? I know e-bird gave me issues because I had 10 at Stanton >> Pond the other day, I know their numbers have declined for quite awhile >> now, but they are certainly not uncommon in late summer/early fall, >> especialy at Vischer Ferry. >> >> Will Raup >> Albany, NY Subject: Re: leucistic b-w teal From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:17:25 -0000 In the photo of the leucistic duck together with the teal, the leucistic duck looks bigger, in between the size of a teal and mallard, like a Gadwall (perhaps the "smallness" was created due to its hunched neck?). Also, look at that bright bill - teals have dull bills, whereas female Gadwalls have quite bright ones not dissimilar to the one on this bird. There was a Broad-winged Hawk on Louden Rd. (Saratoga) this evening. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Re: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? From: Susan Beaudoin <tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:14:45 -0400 I saw about 15-20 blue- winged teal. When I got the Oops!, just to see what would happen, I changed it to 8 and still got an Oops! Susan On Aug 30, 2010, at 6:03 PM, Will Raup wrote: > > > > I don't see why this isn't a Blue-winged Teal. Size is right, shape is right, especially compared to the more obviously plumaged ones. The bird is too small to be a Mallard or Gadwall. > > And what kind of Oops! were you getting in E-bird? How many Blue-winged Teal were there? I know e-bird gave me issues because I had 10 at Stanton Pond the other day, I know their numbers have declined for quite awhile now, but they are certainly not uncommon in late summer/early fall, especialy at Vischer Ferry. > > Will Raup > Albany, NY > > > CC: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com > > To: abradicap AT yahoo.com > > From: tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com > > Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:01:37 -0400 > > Subject: Re: [HMBirds] Re: Leucistic b-w teal? > > > > I have a picture of it with a mallard and another teal. It's the same size as the teal, smaller than the mallard. > > Susan > > On Aug 30, 2010, at 4:58 PM, rita wrote: > > > > > Definitely a leucistic bird, that's for sure... it looks like a ghost amongst those drab Mallards. However, we think it is actually a Mallard itself. It's the same size (teal is about 8 inches smaller), and is hanging out with them. In fact, it looks like a white replica of one, but really, it could be any duck in that size range. Cool bird! > > > Steve & Brett Abrahamsen > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: hmbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com hmbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: hmbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: RE: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:03:24 -0400 I don't see why this isn't a Blue-winged Teal. Size is right, shape is right, especially compared to the more obviously plumaged ones. The bird is too small to be a Mallard or Gadwall. And what kind of Oops! were you getting in E-bird? How many Blue-winged Teal were there? I know e-bird gave me issues because I had 10 at Stanton Pond the other day, I know their numbers have declined for quite awhile now, but they are certainly not uncommon in late summer/early fall, especialy at Vischer Ferry. Will Raup Albany, NY > CC: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com > To: abradicap AT yahoo.com > From: tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com > Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:01:37 -0400 > Subject: Re: [HMBirds] Re: Leucistic b-w teal? > > I have a picture of it with a mallard and another teal. It's the same size as the teal, smaller than the mallard. > Susan > On Aug 30, 2010, at 4:58 PM, rita wrote: > > > Definitely a leucistic bird, that's for sure... it looks like a ghost amongst those drab Mallards. However, we think it is actually a Mallard itself. It's the same size (teal is about 8 inches smaller), and is hanging out with them. In fact, it looks like a white replica of one, but really, it could be any duck in that size range. Cool bird! > > Steve & Brett Abrahamsen > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: leucistic b-w teal? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:20:49 -0000 Sorry to post again... this time we will make it definitve: Gadwall. The brown cap and gray neck are quite conspicuous in the photo marked "l", and the size seems to be a match. Maybe not, but its markings don't seem to match a teal. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Re: leucistic b-w teal? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:14:01 -0000 Yes, we did post too soon. We didn't read Susan's message before our last post. If that's the case, then we'd agree as to the species, but it must be a female... the head markings are off for a male teal. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Re: leucistic b-w teal? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:09:49 -0000 Actually, we posted too soon... there aren't any ducks in the Mallard's size range that would like like that if they were leucistic. Also, the bill color and black on the top of the head almost certainly point to Mallard (check out the photos in the "New Photos" link, Susan's uploading problems have apparently been solved). Also, we're stunned at the report of only 1 Great Egret. We found 39 of them a mere 10 days ago. If you live in that area, be on the lookout - one of those 38 might come to you. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Re: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? From: Susan Beaudoin <tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:01:37 -0400 I have a picture of it with a mallard and another teal. It's the same size as the teal, smaller than the mallard. Susan On Aug 30, 2010, at 4:58 PM, rita wrote: > Definitely a leucistic bird, that's for sure... it looks like a ghost amongst those drab Mallards. However, we think it is actually a Mallard itself. It's the same size (teal is about 8 inches smaller), and is hanging out with them. In fact, it looks like a white replica of one, but really, it could be any duck in that size range. Cool bird! > Steve & Brett Abrahamsen > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: hmbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com hmbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: hmbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Leucistic b-w teal? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:58:40 -0000 Definitely a leucistic bird, that's for sure... it looks like a ghost amongst those drab Mallards. However, we think it is actually a Mallard itself. It's the same size (teal is about 8 inches smaller), and is hanging out with them. In fact, it looks like a white replica of one, but really, it could be any duck in that size range. Cool bird! Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: leucistic b-w teal? From: "Susan" <tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:33:27 -0000 We saw what I believe was a leucistic blue wing-teal at Visher Ferry mid morning today. I have pictures and would appreciate a confirmation or a better suggestion. I thought I had it right, but after getting an Oops! in my ebird report for b-w teal, I'm questioning myself and removed them from my list. Tom and I found the bird down towards the end of the open water area on the tow path going west from the Whipple Bridge. I have several good quality pictures of the bird, but have been unable to upload them to the hmphotos. I've gone through the process several times, but instead of a picture showing up in my album, I'm getting a question mark in a blue box. I did upload jPG photos. If anyone is willing to take a look at the pictures for me, I can include them in a personal email to you. Thanks Susan Beaudoin We also checked out Stony Creek Reservoir from Englemore Road. There were a handful of shorebirds there: lesser yellow legs, least and semipalmated sandpipers and killdeer. It was noon by the time we stopped there. I'm guessing there would be more earlier in the morning. Location:     NY, Vischer Ferry Preserve Observation date:     8/30/10 Number of species:     19 Wood Duck     12 Mallard     22 Great Blue Heron     5 Great Egret     1 Belted Kingfisher     1 Downy Woodpecker     1 Northern Flicker     1 Eastern Phoebe     1 Warbling Vireo     1 Blue Jay     2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow     6 Tree Swallow     20 Black-capped Chickadee     6 American Robin     8 Gray Catbird     3 Cedar Waxwing     2 Northern Parula     1 American Redstart     1 American Goldfinch     4 Subject: Migrant warblers- Lock 19 Vischer Ferry NHP From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:09:10 -0000 A small roving band of chickadees and titmice also contained a juvenile Magnolia Warbler, and an adult female Blackburnian Warbler. This group was found just west of the historic Lock 19 area at VFNHP. Off-topic, maybe :)- In future field reports, I may include the BUGCON (bug condition) level, modeled on the Department of Defense's DEFCON (defense condition) system, alerting other birders as to what else they'll encounter out there. Examples: (before BUGCON)- "...so not only didn't I find the goshawks that Tom W. posted about, but that SOB failed to mention the hornet's nest near the bridge, too." (after BUGCON)- "...you can go chase those Yellow Warblers at Vischer Ferry, but I'm going elsewhere; it's BUGCON 5 up that way." BUGCON threat levels- BUGCON 0 - NON-EXISTENT e.g., January. The last bug you saw was an ailing housefly on a south-facing windowsill. Birding is completely bug free, but you're out doing the local CBC on the coldest, windiest day of December so far, the snow pellets stinging your face like...mosquitoes. BUGCON 1 - SURPRISE "Hey, that looked like a mosquito...couldn't be this early in March, right?" BUGCON 2 - ACCEPTANCE "Good, the migrants are here right on time to hawk all these bugs." BUGCON 3 - ANNOYANCE "Flycatchers, my a AT AT ! ...where are they when you need them?" BUGCON 4 - INVASION "Walk faster, Herb...no stopping unless you're sure it's a Bachman's Warbler..." Arms constantly swiping and waving about the head, 85% liquid DEET in a gallon jug hanging from your belt, wondering why you're in a swamp during full leaf-out in late May, looking for tiny birds that generally defy identification even when motionless. BUGCON 5 - SURVIVAL "...they're going up my nose, and landing on my eyeballs..."(running full speed back in the direction that you think you left the car.) Clouds of insects make shadows on the ground; audible chomping sounds buzz constantly in your ears; hikers reported missing without a trace in black fly country. Tom Williams Colonie BUGCON 2 Subject: Grafton Lakes SP--Long Pond Trail , 8/28/10 From: Brad Walker <EdgarAllenHoopoe AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:51:49 -0400 Hi all, I took a walk around Long Pond at Grafton yesterday while my friends lounged on the beach. I was expecting it to be fairly quiet, but I was pleasantly surprised several times with Blackburnian, Blackpoll and Black-throated Green Warblers. I came across a flock of about 15 birds of several species feeding together. With some strong pishing, I brought most of them down to eye level and got some great looks. Also present was a BROAD-WINGED HAWK perched on a wire above the road at the entrance. The complete list is below -Brad Location: Grafton Lakes SP--Long Pond Trail Observation date: 8/28/10 Number of species: 16 Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 2 Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 1 Heard Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2 Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens 1 Heard Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus 3 Feeding with chickadees Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus 8 Two family groups feeding and giving chickadee-like calls. Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 3 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 1 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 22 Numerous groups of 4-5 birds White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 1 Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 10 Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens 2 Two birds feeding with a mixed flock of BCCH, BLPW, BLBW, REVI, WBNU Blackburnian Warbler - Dendroica fusca 2 Both female/immature, feeding with Chickadees and others Blackpoll Warbler - Dendroica striata 1 American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Fulton Lakes, Saratoga, and CommunityWalk - sightings needed From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:28:54 -0000 More accurately, click on the URL - it takes you right to the map. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Fulton Lakes, Saratoga, and CommunityWalk - sightings needed From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:25:04 -0000 Were up at Canada Lake yesterday, where we managed to add in a little birding. 5 Common Loons were together on the lake at one point, and we also found Common Merganser and Gray Catbird, though overall the birds were pretty quiet. The red squirrels were not, however. En route to Canada, we drove by Peck Lake, where we found Common Merganser and Broad-winged Hawk, and had great views of both. At Oxford Dr. (Saratoga) yesterday, there was a flock of 4 Purple Finches, along with a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (presumably several) and a couple of Downy Woodpeckers. We recently created a new map on the mapping website CommunityWalk devoted to mapping the best bird and wildlife sightings in Saratoga County. We have already plotted our best sightings, but need your help to finish painting the picture. We're looking for anything that would get capital letters on David Martin's Birdline, or on an AnimaLine had it existed. Some of the more interesting birds that would receive lowercase letters would also be great. Historical sightings are welcome and in fact encouraged, so long as you were the observer. Additionally, if you're plotting a sighting of your bird or animal, you can also mention some of the more common species you as well (they must be somewhat interesting, though; we're not looking to hear about the chickadees hanging around your birdfeeder). So, if you have any sightings within Saratoga Co. worth adding to the map (you can add any number of sightings), type the following URL into your browser and click the "Add Marker" icon: http://www.communitywalk.com/map/index/624958 Then, tell us what you saw. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: No Subject From: Jcrenss AT aol.com Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 05:55:45 -0400 http://eilorvybeilos.ru.gg Subject: Patridge Run WMA - Warblers 8/28/10 From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:51:32 -0400 Danika and I took a late afternoon ride through Patridge Run WMA in Southwestern Albany County. We arrived about 3:30pm, a time not usually known for being very "birdy". But I never forget what Frank Murphy used to constantly say "To find warblers in fall, look where chickadees call". And we did. 1st spot we heard Black-capped Chickadees, we stopped and spished a bit, our patience was rewareded with Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler. At the next place we heard chickadees, we again stopped and spished and got a warbler to pop up. It remained difficult to see at first, but finally came onto an exposed branch where we could clearly see it as a very crisp fall plumaged BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. As we were continuing to scan, 2 ENCON officers stopped and chatted (they informed us that they had seen 2 Northern Goshawks earlier in the day), as they drove off, we went to get back into the car when Danika noticed another warbler skulking along the bottom on the dense brush, a bit more spishing and another very crisp fall plumaged bird, this time a MOURNING WARBLER. The rest of our ride was fairly quiet, with lots of American Goldfinches and Cedar Waxwings. We checked out the area where the Goshawks were reported, but only found a very Cooperative Broad-winged Hawk. We also passed 2 flocks of Wild Turkey's easily numbering over 60 birds, the vast majority of them still medium sized poults. Good Birding, Will and Danika Raup Albany, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Barred Owl From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:34:16 -0000 One was making a barrage of strange calls today at Oxford Dr. (Saratoga), none following the usual "who-cooks-for-you?" format. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Migrant warblers @ Ferry Dr. east- Vischer Ferry From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:34:27 -0000 Radar indicated a strong movement of migrating birds overnight along the entire east coast. I parked at the end of Ferry Dr. this morning and headed east into the preserve. About four tenths of a mile from that entrance, a small grassy area surrounded by trees opens up between the path and the river. A second, much larger grassy area is located a bit further down the path. Both these areas have proven to be excellent habitat for migrating warblers, thrushes and other songbirds. At the smaller grassy opening, I found a good-sized group of warblers and vireos, mixed in with chickadees and a nuthatch. Birds seen were highlighted by the following: Black-throated Green Warbler (adult female) Nashville Warbler (adult male) Wilson's Warbler (adult male) Blue-winged Warbler (adult male) Yellow-throated Vireo American Redstart (prob. adult female) Baltimore Oriole If you can, get out and check your local migrant "traps" and see what you can find. List below for Birdline. Location: Ferry Dr. East- Vischer Ferry Observation date: 8/27/10 Number of species: 19 Mallard 2 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 American Crow 4 Black-capped Chickadee 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 American Robin 1 Cedar Waxwing 3 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 American Redstart 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 2 Baltimore Oriole 1 American Goldfinch 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/ny) Tom Williams Colonie Subject: RE: Unusual Robin behavior? From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:08 -0400 Perhaps more likely is the Robin was attracted to the bugs on the dead rodent as opposed to the rodent itself. Will Raup Albany, NY To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com From: conservebirds AT gmail.com Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:58:35 -0400 Subject: [HMBirds] Unusual Robin behavior? The query below was forwarded to me... any thoughts? I did question the originator to make sure it was a rodent, and not a dead nestling. Thought I would ask about the robin I viewed on my lawn 10 days ago who was apparently attempting to feed on a small dead rodent, most likely a mouse! Through binoculars I watched him flail, poke, and carry it around for about 15 minutes. Of course, while I was not looking he disappeared and that was the end of that. "Birds of North America Online" does list shrews as an unusual food item, but...? Has anyone else ever viewed behavior such as this? -Mona Bearor South Glens Falls [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: hmbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com hmbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: hmbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Unusual Robin behavior? From: "ConserveBirds" <conservebirds AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:58:35 -0400 The query below was forwarded to me... any thoughts? I did question the originator to make sure it was a rodent, and not a dead nestling. Thought I would ask about the robin I viewed on my lawn 10 days ago who was apparently attempting to feed on a small dead rodent, most likely a mouse! Through binoculars I watched him flail, poke, and carry it around for about 15 minutes. Of course, while I was not looking he disappeared and that was the end of that. "Birds of North America Online" does list shrews as an unusual food item, but...? Has anyone else ever viewed behavior such as this? -Mona Bearor South Glens Falls [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Common Nighthawks again From: "ConserveBirds" <conservebirds AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:28:18 -0400 Three Common Nighthawks flew over my home in South Glens Falls at 6:15 this evening, heading west to the Hudson River. Mona Bearor South Glens Falls Subject: Common Nighthawks again... From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:00:59 -0000 Colleen and I set up chairs in the yard this evening at 5:30PM and faced northward, waiting to record any passing birds. There were about fifty Common Grackle who came through the neighborhood in a wave. Three RT Hummingbirds, one each adult male, adult female, and hatch year bird vied for spots at the two feeders and the cardinal flower. At 6:05PM, a group of Common Nighthawks flew in from the east, passed roughly overhead, and went westward where they flew in a sort of "kettle" arrangement for a few minutes. I counted 42 nighthawks. They flew back towards Colonie and then east-northeastward towards Latham. About fifteen minutes later they returned and circled directly overhead before dispersing in random directions. Tom Williams Colonie Subject: Cooper's Pond, August 25 From: Brad Walker <EdgarAllenHoopoe AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:29:28 -0400 Hi all, I took two trips to the pond today (morning and evening) and had a few highlights worth noting: Juvenile BALD EAGLE soaring in the morning heading towards the SE GREAT EGRET perched on a log and feeding in the evening; eventually flew off Other interesting migrants were AMERICAN REDSTART, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK -Brad [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kestrel again From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:39:10 -0000 While fetching corn today, we noticed an American Kestrel and Red-tailed Hawk along King Rd. in Northumberland. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Wrights Cornfield, Ruffed Grouse? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:00:51 -0000 Hi everyone, While perusing our copy of HMBC's book, we noted the excellent sightings seen at Wright's Loop around this time of year, and figured that the northernmost field would likely be flooded - with both water and shorebirds - given the heavy rain of the past couple days. So, yesterday, we set out in pursuit. Of nothing. Save for a young deer and 3 phoebes, the place was absolutely barren - literally. The southern field's grass had been mowed quite short and was untouched by rain, while the Sod Farmers had planted a crop - most likely corn - in the northern field. Thus, there was not a wader in sight - even the Killdeers had fled. Traveling through the Saratoga farm country has its benefits, though (and it's much quicker to take the backroads to the Battlefield or here if you're coming from Saratoga Springs or points north), and for us that was plenty of raptors - Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, and Red-tailed Hawk all on Sweet Rd. There was also a mockingbird flashing its wings, likewise on Sweet. Has anyone been seeing many Ruffed Grouse in Region 8 this year? We started birding in 2006, and the grouse evaded us until 2008 - a year we saw dozens of them. In 2009, we only found one in this area, and now, again, it's been almost a year and a half since we've seen one around here. We've read that their populations can fluctuate, but we've never observed any fluctuation this dramatic. Has anyone else noticed the same thing, or have any predictions on when they'll rebound again? Our guess is that next year will be Year of the Grouse, if we're correct that they have large outbreaks over 3-year intervals. Thanks and avoid Wright's Loop, Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Nighthawks over Colonie- 8/24 From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:04:38 -0000 At 5:55PM a group of 40-50 Common Nighthawks flew over my yard in Colonie. They were headed in a south to southwest direction. Tom Williams Colonie Subject: Vischer Ferry NHP 8/23 & 8/24 From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:31:13 -0000 Water levels increased somewhat in the canal and the main waterway last evening, and markedly overnight. The mudflats are now covered with a couple of inches of water in most places. Last evening, there was a small group of Lesser Yellowlegs present in the main waterway, along with two Solitary Sandpipers in the little pond across from the parking lot at the main entrance. At the western end of the towpath, about a mile down from the bridge, a foraging group of chickadees turned out to include a Golden-crowned Kinglet, a Magnolia Warbler, and two American Redstarts (female or juvenile). A Northern Waterthrush was moving along the edge of the old canal. This morning there was a Greater Yellowlegs, several Lesser Yellowlegs, and a small group of Least Sandpipers in the main waterway just across the Whipple Bridge. Three Baltimore Orioles (two adult males, one juvenile) were chattering at the top of a tree by the bridge as well. There were still a few swallows around, but numbers are down from last week. I'll be waiting to hear if Gary and Don's group had any interesting sightings further down the main path and elsewhere. Tom Williams Colonie Subject: Cooper's Pond, August 24 From: Brad Walker <EdgarAllenHoopoe AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:14:21 -0400 Hi all, I took a walk around Cooper's Pond this morning, but things were fairly quiet. The only landbird of note was a male INDIGO BUNTING in a weedy patch on the edge of the water. There were also two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS and one LEAST SANDPIPER feeding in the mud and I was treated to a nice surprise when 5 GREAT EGRETS flew over low, heading west. A first for me at that spot! -Brad [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sorry for the multiple post on Miss Kite From: "cpkbh1" <kharper AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:21:04 -0000 Sorry for the multiple post on Miss Kite. Looks like I did a bit of a stutter on the send key. Subject: Mississippi Kite From: "cpkbh1" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:01:44 -0000 Went out to visit the Mississippi Kites in Ames the other day and was rewarded with them flying several times while are was there and also with one of them landing in a tree up the hill on Mapletown. The one in the tree seemed to be hunting insects from it's perch as it would fly out just a few feet from the perch catch something and return to the perch. It did that several times. Here are a couple of shots of it sitting in the tree, unfortunately the flight shots I got this time were not steller at all: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2950461400065162350QuTCnM http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2149285440065162350IbJALe Subject: Black and White Warbler From: Steven Sulzer <kanebird AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:05:17 -0700 (PDT) I watched a Black and White Warbler yesterday at my home in Claverack.  A nice male.  He was acting much like a Nuthatch, moving up, down and around the trunk of a maple tree probing for bugs. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mississippi Kite From: "cpkbh1" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:04:04 -0000 Went out to visit the Mississippi Kites in Ames the other day and was rewarded with them flying several times while are was there and also with one of them landing in a tree up the hill on Mapletown. The one in the tree seemed to be hunting insects from it's perch as it would fly out just a few feet from the perch catch something and return to the perch. It did that several times. Here are a couple of shots of it sitting in the tree, unfortunately the flight shots I got this time were not steller at all: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2950461400065162350QuTCnM http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2149285440065162350IbJALe Subject: Mississippi Kite From: "cpkbh1" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:03:57 -0000 Went out to visit the Mississippi Kites in Ames the other day and was rewarded with them flying several times while are was there and also with one of them landing in a tree up the hill on Mapletown. The one in the tree seemed to be hunting insects from it's perch as it would fly out just a few feet from the perch catch something and return to the perch. It did that several times. Here are a couple of shots of it sitting in the tree, unfortunately the flight shots I got this time were not steller at all: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2950461400065162350QuTCnM http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2149285440065162350IbJALe Subject: Re: Baird's Sandpiper at Cohoes Flats From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:53:45 -0000 Hmmm... That's probably the same bird we saw Friday at Canal Rd. Park. Nice to know that it's moved on... Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Baird's Sandpiper at Cohoes Flats From: "dharriso57" <david.harrison AT spcorp.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:57:51 -0000 A Baird's Sandpiper was at Cohoes Flats yesterday morning. sorry for the late post. David Harrison Milford, NJ (temporarily at Galway Lake) Subject: Saratoga Battlefield From: "Susan" <tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:12:13 -0000 Well, the bob-o-links are all gone, but there are still meadowlarks and kingbirds hanging in there, but in much reduced numbers. Only heard one towhee when previously they had been everywhere. Even the song sparrows were silent, although I did get a nice view of a parent feeding a fledgling. My best sighting was a close up of an ovenbird. It's been a while since I've seen any wood warblers other than common yellow-throats. Location: NY, Saratoga National Historical Park Observation date: 8/20/10 Number of species: 24 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Empidonax sp. 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Eastern Kingbird 6 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Barn Swallow 15 Black-capped Chickadee 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 American Robin 4 Gray Catbird 1 Cedar Waxwing 12 Ovenbird 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Field Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Eastern Meadowlark 6 Common Grackle 2 American Goldfinch 6 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Susan Beaudoin Subject: Latham Nighthawks (8/21) From: Brad Walker <EdgarAllenHoopoe AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:23:16 -0400 Hi all, Last night, I spotted a group of 13 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS feeding over the renovated bridge in Latham near Latham Farms. They stayed in a pretty tight group and eventually flew off to the west. -Brad [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Water Levels at Cohoes Flats From: "goodness.gary" <goodness AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:45:23 -0000 If you going to Cohoes Flats to view shorebirds it would be beneficial to check the water stage(depth) for the Mohawk River-Cohoes Basin first. The number to call is 235-7440. The recording starts w/ an electronic buzz,then basin number 01357500 and then the stage in feet. If the stage is above 10 feet the flats will be covered w/ water. This has been the case all month. It is a good rule of thumb,it will save you a lost trip. Gary Goodness Subject: two visits to Round Lake and the Anthony Kill - birding highlights and dam open From: ScottJStoner AT aol.com Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:03:22 -0400 We paddled and birded Round Lake and the Anthony Kill on Weds. 8-18 and again Sat 8-21. Highlights:(seen both days) Osprey Great Blue Heron Red-tailed Hawk Couble Crested Cormorant E. Wood Pewee E.Kingbird E.Phoebe Marsh Wren Cedar Waxwing On 8-18 only: Spotted Sandpiper (4) Rose-breasted Grosbeak special note to paddlers: the water level in the stream is lower; a beaver dam is now exposed upstream (lake side) of the heron rookery area, but we were able to get the boat over it. The large dam past the rookery is gone. A few weeks ago, some water was passing through the left side of it. As of 8-21 much of it was gone (some remnants at the sides and under the water). The stream was flowing fast just upstream of it. We did not have time to explore beyond this dam. - Scott Stoner and Denise Hackert-Stoner [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Least sandpiper ID From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:57:18 -0000 I'm posting this close-up image of a least sandpiper that I have, in case it is useful for anyone's use for ID purposes. http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/4250/least3970.jpg Jeff Nadler Subject: Shorebird Searching From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:12:26 -0400 8/21/10 After hearing the reports of a good number of shorebirds at the Stony Creek Reservoir, I headed up that way. By the time I got there, there were NO Sandpipers or any shorebirds present. Access seems limited with the best viewing I had off Englemore (?) Road. After striking out there, I made my way down to Cresent Park to see if the Short-billed Dowitcher was still there and to check on the other birds reported recently. I did NOT find the Dowitcher, but have heard it was seen earlier in the day. Present were about 20 Least Sandpipers in various stages of molting. 2 Spotted Sandpipers were also bobbing along with a Killdeer. A Great Blue Heron and 2 Great Egrets stalked the marsh as well. Made one last stop at the Cohoes flats were I ran into Rich Guthire. Water levels were MUCH higher than they were a couple of days ago (Hyrdo Plant related?) when I was there, which might explain why Cohoes has been somewhat dissapointing in terms of shorebirds. We did quickly spot a Long-billed shorebird, which got us both thinking Dowitcher... but it turned out to be a Wilson's Snipe. I don't think I've ever seen a Snipe on the Cohoes flats, the bird look kinda odd out there on the exposed rocks. Also present was about 6 Killdeer, 2 Spotted Sandpipers and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. Also quite a few Great Blue Herons, all 3 Common Gulls (Ring-billed being most numerous), several Double-Crested Cormorants, Am. Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Canada Goose, Mallard and an Osprey. Will Raup Albany, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Cooper's Pond, August 21 From: Brad Walker <EdgarAllenHoopoe AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:12:34 -0400 Hi all, I took a bike ride around the pond near my house today to look for some migrants and I found a few new faces: Least Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper (2) Rose-breasted Grosbeak Baltimore Oriole (2) Indigo Bunting (2) Warbling Vireo Canada Warbler Wilson's Warbler Sharp-shinned Hawk I'll be checking the lone little mudflat intermittently throughout the day in case something interesting shows up. -Brad [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, etc. at Crescent Halfmoon Park From: "John" <hersheyj AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:13:21 -0000 My thanks to the persons who gave me some quick feedback on my photos below of a suspected "Western Sandpiper" at Crescent Halfmoon Park. I had responses both for and against "Western Sandpiper". One convincing opinion to me was that the bird is actually a juvenile Least Sandpiper. The thing that is quite confusing is that the bird appears to have black legs, but this could simply be the effect of mud covering the legs. Other peeps in the same spot clearly did not have this black appearance on the legs, illustrating how tricky these identifications can be. The rufous coloring on the back also is apparently broader than would be the case with a Western. If you are still interested in going to this spot, it's just north of the Crescent Rt. 9 Bridge just off of Canal Rd. The birds are surprisingly close to the little parking lot there. John Hershey --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "John" wrote: > > I was over at Crescent Halfmoon Park this evening after seeing Ken's post. The Short-billed Dowitcher was still there about as close to the walking area as you can get and easily seen without bins. I'm still trying to learn my shorebirds, so I could be wrong but I suspect that I saw and photographed at least one Western Sandpiper. There were more Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers present. I believe the photos I posted (VFP folder) are of the same bird. According to my field guides I see these field marks indicative of Western in one or more of the photos: rufous crown and ear patch (perhaps fading in August), rufous bases to scapular feathers, black legs, drooping bill. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/1451089386/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=61&dir=asc > > John Hershey > Clifton Park > Subject: Nighthawks From: "Alan" <earthday49 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 03:02:10 -0000 Was out to the Altamont Fair this evening. Saw 35 Nighthawks working their way south at dusk. Alan Subject: Mississippi Kites - Successful nesting confirmed From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:00:48 -0400 Not surprising, and after much anticipation, I was able to confirm the successful nesting of the Mississippi Kites in the Town of Root, Montgomery County today. I was fortunate to get a video of the parent bird bringing food to a begging fledgling. I'll post a few of the photos on my blog in the Albany Times Union: http://blog.timesunion.com/birding. Interestingly, there are three adult birds tending to the nest. Apparently, this is a behavior known to the species where an additional adult or sub-adult will join in the parenting role of the mated pair. I have posted a photo of all three in a previous blog entry. The birds, when not in the air, are frequenting a woodlot on private property. The landowner reiterates that he does not want anybody entering the property. He expressed appreciation for those who honored this request, but noted there were a few exceptions. In one case, two over zealous visitors had to be escorted off nearby private property. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore, The Greene County, New York gaeltic AT capital.net -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l AT cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Mississippi Kites - Successful nesting confirmed From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:00:48 -0400 Not surprising, and after much anticipation, I was able to confirm the successful nesting of the Mississippi Kites in the Town of Root, Montgomery County today. I was fortunate to get a video of the parent bird bringing food to a begging fledgling. I'll post a few of the photos on my blog in the Albany Times Union: http://blog.timesunion.com/birding. Interestingly, there are three adult birds tending to the nest. Apparently, this is a behavior known to the species where an additional adult or sub-adult will join in the parenting role of the mated pair. I have posted a photo of all three in a previous blog entry. The birds, when not in the air, are frequenting a woodlot on private property. The landowner reiterates that he does not want anybody entering the property. He expressed appreciation for those who honored this request, but noted there were a few exceptions. In one case, two over zealous visitors had to be escorted off nearby private property. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore, The Greene County, New York gaeltic AT capital.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, etc. at Crescent Halfmoon Park From: "John" <hersheyj AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:48:54 -0000 I was over at Crescent Halfmoon Park this evening after seeing Ken's post. The Short-billed Dowitcher was still there about as close to the walking area as you can get and easily seen without bins. I'm still trying to learn my shorebirds, so I could be wrong but I suspect that I saw and photographed at least one Western Sandpiper. There were more Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers present. I believe the photos I posted (VFP folder) are of the same bird. According to my field guides I see these field marks indicative of Western in one or more of the photos: rufous crown and ear patch (perhaps fading in August), rufous bases to scapular feathers, black legs, drooping bill. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/1451089386/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=61&dir=asc John Hershey Clifton Park Subject: Cooper's Pond, August 20 From: Brad Walker <EdgarAllenHoopoe AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:03:20 -0400 Hi all, I decided to check the pond this evening before it got too dark and was pleased to find a few shorebirds decided to stop over. Due to the recent lack of rain, the north end of the pond is turning into a mudflat. Present this evening were three LEAST SANDPIPERS and two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS. All were very close the dead end on Lisa Lane. Also present was a Great Crested Flycatcher. Not uncommon, but I haven't heard one in a while. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Short-billed Dowitcher and Western Sandpipers, little park by cresent From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:44:32 -0000 Ken and Gary- We saw the same flock of peeps today. Actualy, your photos look like Least Sandpipers (what we saw). The yellow legs are a dead giveaway, and you can also tell by the short bill, rich brown plumage, and lack of rufous-and-gray contrast on the wings. Nice shots, though. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Short-billed Dowitcher & Western Sandpipers, little park by cresent bridge From: "cpkbh1" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:33:56 -0000 Oberved the Short-billed Dowitcher still present today at the little park by the Rt 9 Cresent Bridge. Also observed a small flock of peeps which turned out to be mostly Western Sandpipers (thanks to Gary Goodness for the lesson in "peep ID"!! The SB Dowitcher seems to have a bum foot which he favors most of the time and has trouble walking on it. Here are a few photos from today: SB Dowitcher - http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2439676580065162350tKUcZc http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2595693870065162350kTyXyj Western Sandpiper - http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2899920330065162350DNZFVF http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2603871810065162350VZuKkm Subject: Re: Why are there Goldfinches on my Sweet Annie plants? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:07:59 -0000 It must be the ladybugs. Goldfinches feed on seeds and insects exclusively (but mostly seeds) and there seems to be nothing else on the plants that they could be after. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Why are there Goldfinches on my Sweet Annie plants? From: "vjwallin" <pawallin AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:39:58 -0000 For the past week I have had many Goldfinches feeding on my Sweet Annie plants (a very fragrant herb also known as Sweet Wormwood, Fragrant Fern, or Artemisia Annua). The plant doesn't have any seeds yet, & I can't see any insects on the leaves other than a few ladybugs. What are the birds eating? Valerie Beaver Dam Pond Spencertown Subject: Re: Short-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:32:07 -0000 This morning, we also checked out Vischer Ferry and the Canal Road Park once the clouds cleared. When they did, it was a beautiful morning, with wonderfully cool temperatures. Starting off at Vischer Ferry, we found a whopping 39 (and possibly 40) Great Egrets, all within 50 feet of each other. The density was so high, in fact, that even the cattails looked white. All the birds were at the west end of the towpath. In addition to the egrets, we found: Northern Rough-winged Swallow (7), Bank Swallow, Wood Duck (25), a flycathcer 4-pack (Least, Pewee, Kingbird, and 2 Phoebes, likely the same pair that made their home this year under the preserve entrance sign), 14 Lesser Yellowlegs (a record for us), Solitary Sandpiper, 7 Semipalmated and 12 Least Sandpiper (probably many more of both), Killdeer, Green Heron, 13 Great Blue Heron, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole (a stunning male singing, almost certainly an LOY [Last of Year]), Belted Kingfisher, Chimney Swift, Cedar Waxwing (3), Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird on Van Vranken Rd., Downy Woodpecker, and Gray Catbird (4). The Pectoral Sandpipers appeared to have departed. Animal-wise, we found several green frogs, 2 painted turtles, and a red squirrel. After seeing Peg H.'s otter family in person, we definitely changed our minds as to their identity as muskrats. Very playful critters. At the Canal Road Park, we found the Short-billed Dowitcher right up close by parking lot, along with: Least Sandpiper (4), Semipalmted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Killdeer, and a lone Baird's Sandpiper, whose identity we are sure of (larger than Semipalmated, black legs and bill, somewhat vague black wing blotches, somewhat elongated brownish neck, and a sharp brown-and-white contrast on the wings and the body below the neck). Also, unlike the Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, this bird stayed on the flats, not wading or probing in the water. The bird was by itself on the mudflat about 20 feet to the left of the parking lot. We later walked under the bridge (where we saw a Gray Catbird), came back, and saw that it flew; but we were never able to relocate it. Probably, though, it is still out there probing the flats as we speak. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: RE: Short-Billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:58:33 -0400 I forgot to mention also at Cohoes Flats that the female Hooded Merganser continues and a male Gadwall was present. Will Raup Albany, NY To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com; birdline AT hmbc.net From: Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:45:56 -0400 Subject: [HMBirds] Short-Billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper The Short-billed Dowticher photographed yesterday was still present at Halfmoon-Cresecent Park just off the Rt. 9 Bridge. The bird was right next to the parking area, almost no binoculars required. Also present were both Semi-Palmated and Least Sandpipers, Killdeer and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs. Cohoes Flats had 2 Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. Vischer Ferry was hopping with nearly 25 Semi-Palmated Sandpipers (mostly juvies), 15 Least Sandpipers and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers. Also present were hundreds of Swallows, Tree, Barn, Bank and Northern Rough-winged All accounted for. Good Birding, Will Raup Albany, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: hmbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com hmbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: hmbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Short-Billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:45:56 -0400 The Short-billed Dowticher photographed yesterday was still present at Halfmoon-Cresecent Park just off the Rt. 9 Bridge. The bird was right next to the parking area, almost no binoculars required. Also present were both Semi-Palmated and Least Sandpipers, Killdeer and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs. Cohoes Flats had 2 Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. Vischer Ferry was hopping with nearly 25 Semi-Palmated Sandpipers (mostly juvies), 15 Least Sandpipers and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers. Also present were hundreds of Swallows, Tree, Barn, Bank and Northern Rough-winged All accounted for. Good Birding, Will Raup Albany, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Where do the Egrets Roost? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:59:02 -0000 To add to Rich's observation, there are actually 22 Great Egrets, and perhaps even more not visible in the picture. Nice find with the dowitcher - we've never seen one up here. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: RE: your Shorebirds? From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:15:38 -0400 The large shorebird in your photo is a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. The little guys are as you identified, LEAST SANDPIPERS. Nice pictures. Rich Guthrie gaeltic AT capital.net http://blog.timesunion.com/birding _____ From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 9:50 PM To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [HMBirds] Where do the Egrets Roost? Stopped along the Mohawk at Cohoes Crescent Park (adjacent to the Rt 9 bridge) this evening. Three Great Egrets and a nice great Blue Heron were there along with quite a few shore birds that I don't dare attempt to ID. Met a gentleman (Ken? bad with names) who I'm guessing posted the photos of Great Egrets this AM from a bit further downriver. We discussed where the egrets might roost. I suspected Visher Ferry and verified that later on by a view across the river from Lion's Park, Niskayuna, on the bike path. A tree in the preserve was full of what I presume to be Great Egrets. I counted a max of 25 in my view at one time with more arriving as I left around 7:45 pm. The distance across the river was too great for a good photo with my lens, but perhaps I can convince you that these are the egrets. I think there are 21 in the photo I posted. Photos posted at: http://picasaweb.google.com/BCDudek/August182010MohawkRiver?# BTW, the Bald Eagles were in their typical position in a tree at the SE end of Niska Isle, visible with binoculars from Lions Park. Bruce Dudek Niskayuna/Colonie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Where do the Egrets Roost? From: "Bruce" <bdudek2 AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:50:22 -0000 Stopped along the Mohawk at Cohoes Crescent Park (adjacent to the Rt 9 bridge) this evening. Three Great Egrets and a nice great Blue Heron were there along with quite a few shore birds that I don't dare attempt to ID. Met a gentleman (Ken? bad with names) who I'm guessing posted the photos of Great Egrets this AM from a bit further downriver. We discussed where the egrets might roost. I suspected Visher Ferry and verified that later on by a view across the river from Lion's Park, Niskayuna, on the bike path. A tree in the preserve was full of what I presume to be Great Egrets. I counted a max of 25 in my view at one time with more arriving as I left around 7:45 pm. The distance across the river was too great for a good photo with my lens, but perhaps I can convince you that these are the egrets. I think there are 21 in the photo I posted. Photos posted at: http://picasaweb.google.com/BCDudek/August182010MohawkRiver?# BTW, the Bald Eagles were in their typical position in a tree at the SE end of Niska Isle, visible with binoculars from Lions Park. Bruce Dudek Niskayuna/Colonie Subject: RE: Great Blue Heron and ? From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:35:19 -0400 They look like Otters to me. Nice find! Will Raup Albany, NY To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com From: peazel AT aol.com Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:35:08 +0000 Subject: [HMBirds] Great Blue Heron and ? I posted some photos that I took at Vischer Ferry this morning of a Great Blue Heron - but I can't figure out what's in the background... a mammal of some sort? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/151910059/pic/2035577687/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc Peggy Hasselwander Albany, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: hmbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com hmbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: hmbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Great Blue Heron and ? From: Alan Mapes <aamapes AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:40:14 -0400 It's a family of otters - good catch!!! Look at the later photos for a good look at their heads. Alan Mapes New Scotland On 8/18/2010 4:35 PM, mahasselwander wrote: > > I posted some photos that I took at Vischer Ferry this morning of a > Great Blue Heron - but I can't figure out what's in the background... > a mammal of some sort? > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/151910059/pic/2035577687/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc > > > Peggy Hasselwander > Albany, NY > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Great Blue Heron and ? From: "rita" <abradicap AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:56:48 -0000 Certainly a muskrat, no other critter has that type of stature and such a small tail. Steve & Brett Abrahamsen Subject: Great Blue Heron and ? From: Robert Nash <rjn23 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:50:19 -0700 (PDT) Peg, When I zoom in it gets really grainy, but judging by the round tail I'd guess a muskrat. Rob Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Great Blue Heron and ? From: "mahasselwander" <peazel AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:35:08 -0000 I posted some photos that I took at Vischer Ferry this morning of a Great Blue Heron - but I can't figure out what's in the background... a mammal of some sort? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/151910059/pic/2035577687/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc Peggy Hasselwander Albany, NY Subject: Swallows, Oriole & shorebirds- Vischer Ferry NHP From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:31:27 -0000 location: Vischer Ferry NHP date/time: 8/18/10 9:30-10:00AM weather: mostly cloudy/70/south 5mph insects: tolerable Observed the waterway to the west of the main path, just across the Whipple bridge. Swallows in good numbers flew sorties out across the waterway/mudflats, and perched on the wires along the path. Whereas on previous days Barn Swallows were in the mix, and possibly a Bank Swallow or two, today it appeared to be all Tree Swallows, most of them juveniles. Estimated count of 150; others flew over to the east and north. An adult, male Baltimore Oriole was singing weakly from a treetop at the bridge. Nine GB Herons and one Great Egret were present, and a single Green Heron and kingfisher as well. By watching the herons wading through the muck, it appears that the water level is perhaps only six or eight inches deep where there is water still pooled. The exposed mudflats had distant peeps, probably Least Sandpipers judging by behavior and sounds. Two Lesser Yellowlegs flew into the maelstrom of swallows and did a few laps, offering some really nice views of flight profiles. Tom Williams Colonie Subject: A few shots of Great Egrets along Mohawk River From: "cpkbh1" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:54:10 -0000 I was down by Mohawk River by the Colonie Landfill this AM and there was a group of about 20 Great Egrets in the water plants just offshore. Here are a few shots of these big beautiful birds: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2265880500065162350UDknmS http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2707888970065162350JGGjtC http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2873977800065162350RRCgUZ http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2375775910065162350mOyPxZ http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2240326430065162350FjnXfE Subject: A few shots of Great Egrets along Mohawk River From: "cpkbh1" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:53:31 -0000 I was down by Mohawk River by the Colonie Landfill this AM and there was a group of about 20 Great Egrets in the water plants just offshore. Here are a few shots of these big beautiful birds: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2265880500065162350UDknmS http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2707888970065162350JGGjtC http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2873977800065162350RRCgUZ http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2375775910065162350mOyPxZ http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2240326430065162350FjnXfE