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21 May Fall-out Potential Tomorrow AM [Will Raup ] 21 May Call for Century Run Results ["Penny and Larry Alden" ] 21 May Help Black throated sparrow like bird and strange gray bird [marlene vidibor ] 21 May Mute Swan ["Alan" ] 21 May RE: Hooded Warbler at UAlbany Campus - 5/21 [Will Raup ] 21 May Hooded Warbler at UAlbany Campus - 5/21 [Tristan Lowery ] 20 May eBird Report - Towpath Rd, May 20, 2013 ["Mona Bearor" ] 21 May Today's Discoveries ["curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" ] 20 May Hooded Merganser family at Ann Lee Pond [] 21 May Re: Niskayuna - Black Tern and Great Egret ["Thomas Williams" ] 20 May Albany County - 5/20 [Tristan Lowery ] 20 May Niskayuna - Black Tern and Great Egret ["dharriso57" ] 20 May Century Run Results 5/18/13 - Albany County Only - ADDENDUM [] 20 May English Murder - No Mystery [Alan Mapes ] 19 May Century Run Results 5/18/13 - Albany County Only ["Penny and Larry Alden" ] 19 May Airport birds [Mark Kirker ] 19 May Re: Canada warblers- link corrected ["Jeff Nadler" ] 19 May Canada warblers this morning ["Jeff Nadler" ] 19 May Malta Tech Park trip report ["Susan" ] 19 May tower road, hadley ["gregg_recer" ] 19 May Our Century Run Results ["John" ] 19 May Century Run - Schenectady County Only ["dharriso57" ] 19 May Re: Century Run Results 5/18/13 ["Tom Salli" ] 19 May Century Run Results 5/18/13 [Will Raup ] 19 May Thrashers ["lnmp" ] 18 May Black Tern - Stanton Pond (Albany County) ["Richard Guthrie" ] 19 May Century Run results- Sat., 5/18 ["Thomas Williams" ] 19 May great egreat ["mjaecs" ] 18 May Black-billed Cuckoo at Schodack Island - 5/18 [Tristan Lowery ] 19 May Crested Flycatcher ["Alan" ] 18 May Black Creek Marsh, Schodack Island, and Cohoes Flats - 5/18 [Tristan Lowery ] 18 May Bobolink [Alan French ] 18 May Black-billed Cuckoo, Saratoga NHP ["Susan" ] 18 May RE: Bobolink question [Peter Doherty ] 18 May Shenentaha Park this morning... ["neilfmanning" ] 18 May vischer ferry - some migrant warblers ["gregg_recer" ] 18 May Caspian Tern at Tivoli South Bay [Alan Mapes ] 18 May Wood Thrushes have returned ["birdmanmfk329" ] 18 May Five Rivers - Wilson's Warbler, Willow & Alder Flycatchers, Solitary Sandpiper [Alan Mapes ] 17 May Re: Hooded Warbler [David Martin ] 17 May Re: Yellow and Black Bird [Zach Schwartz-Weinstein ] 17 May Must have been a Baltimore Oriole: Yellow and Black Bird [marlene vidibor ] 17 May Hooded Warbler ["jw.kent" ] 17 May Yellow and Black Bird [marlene vidibor ] 17 May Re: Black-billed Cuckoo, Wilson's Warbler- Normanskill Farm 5/17 [Heather Labore ] 17 May birds today- Fri [susan r stewart ] 17 May Turkeys and Eastern Kingbirds [Alan French ] 17 May Black-billed Cuckoo, Wilson's Warbler- Normanskill Farm 5/17 ["Thomas Williams" ] 17 May Warblers - Ushers Rd State Forest [Bob Ricketts ] 17 May Washington Park addendum [Zach Schwartz-Weinstein ] 17 May Jeralemon Park - Scarlet Tanager, Lo. Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Vireo [Alan Mapes ] 17 May Coeymans Landing - Osprey, Bald Eagle [Alan Mapes ] 17 May Late spring migrants ["lnmp" ] 17 May Washington Park effect, Part II [Zach Schwartz-Weinstein ] 17 May Re: Bobolink question [Langner Jordan ] 17 May Re: Bobolink question [Alan Mapes ] 17 May Bobolink question [Naomi Lloyd ] 16 May Cuckoo ["Penny and Larry Alden" ] 16 May Bank Swallows ["Alan" ] 16 May Mrs Hummer [Naomi Lloyd ] 16 May Century Run and Malta Tech Park ["Don" ] 16 May Tennessee Warbler - New Yard Bird ["John" ] 16 May The Washington Park Effect - 5/16 [Tristan Lowery ] 16 May Todays Birds ["Alan" ] 16 May Ann Lee Pond today ["neilfmanning" ] 16 May Birdline for May 15 ["philwhitney17" ] 15 May Fw: eBird Report - RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, May 15, 2013 ["Larry Federman" ] 15 May Many birds [marlene vidibor ] 15 May City of Albany - 5/15 [Tristan Lowery ] 15 May Around Albany County- 5/15 ["Thomas Williams" ] 15 May Indigo Bunting Help ["Susan" ] 15 May Re: Woodcock? ["ricobirdo" ] 14 May Re: Pine Siskens - New Scotland [Alan Schroeder ] 14 May Re: Woodcock? ["Larry Federman" ] 15 May Woodcock? ["ricobirdo" ] 14 May Re: Pine Siskens - New Scotland [Priscilla ] Subject: Fall-out Potential Tomorrow AM From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 23:04:35 -0400 Fascinating radar this evening! In between rather spectacular Thunderstorms is heavy bird migration. With more storms likely to pass through during the overnight hours, these storms will tend to knock many birds down. If you look at the Binghamton Radar you can even see the birds "pooling" ahead of the storms as they can't go any further north and likely drop to the ground. This evening Storms were mostly from Albany and points north, and storms look to continue from Albany and points south during the overnight. It would appear the best chances of any kind of fall out would be from Albany south. It is late in the migration season, but wouldn't surprise me to see an increase in Blackpoll Warblers, Gray cheeked Thrush and some of the other later migrating warblers, such as Canada and Mourning. Good Birding! Will Raup Albany, NY ------------------------------------Subject: Call for Century Run Results From: "Penny and Larry Alden" <overlook AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 22:37:08 -0400 If anyone did a Century Run on Saturday, please e-mail or send Bob Yunick your lists directly. He is not getting them off HMBirds. He is at: AnneBobY AT aol.com or Bob Yunick 1527 Myron Street, Schenectady, NY 12309. In addition to the species seen, provide your times in the field, members of your field party, and areas covered. Bob compiles all lists for publication in Feathers, so make your sightings count even if you didn't reach 100 species. This effort gives a one-day snapshot of what birds are in our eleven county NYS Region 8 and over time can identify long-term trends in bird populations and migratory patterns, much like Christmas Bird Counts. Larry [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Help Black throated sparrow like bird and strange gray bird From: marlene vidibor <mvidibor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 15:17:46 -0700 (PDT) Has black thick bill, black mask from bill down throat. Other parts of face light and belly light. Back and rump sparrow like streaking, head tan on top down towards back, sides almost but not quite rufous. Some kind of grosbeak? but not reddish at all. At my feeder for past 15 minutes or so. Don't remember seeing it before. Yesterday had a strange gray bird with long dark tail and tan head. Didn't really look like a catbird. thought it might be juvenile of some sort. Marlene Vidibor wildbraidart.com wildbraidart.etsy.com "Like" me at https://www.facebook.com/pages/wildbraidart/116041095100245 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Mute Swan From: "Alan" <earthday49 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 14:34:55 -0000 There are still 2 MUTE SWANS at the Watervliet Reservoir. The water is low but they are visible from Rt. 20. Also, 4 WOOD THRUSHES in Guilderland. There is a lot of nest activity now - CAROLINA WRENS carrying food to the nest in Guilderland, and another pair building a nest in a hanging plant in Voorheesville. MOURNING DOVE on the nest, Guilderland. BLUEBIRDS feeding 4 nestlings, Schenectady. KILLDEER escorting 3 young around a field, Guilderland., and HAIRY WOODPECKER parents hauling huge chunks do suet off into the woods all day long, also Guilderland. Alan Schroeder Guilderland ------------------------------------Subject: RE: Hooded Warbler at UAlbany Campus - 5/21 From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 08:45:30 -0400 This would be just off Western Ave. Will Raup Albany, NY ________________________________ > To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com > From: tristanlowery AT gmail.com > Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 08:05:52 -0400 > Subject: [HMBirds] Hooded Warbler at UAlbany Campus - 5/21 > > > > Currently viewing a singing male Hooded Warbler on the UAlbany campus in > the woods behind the Boor Sculpture Studio. > > Tristan Lowery > Albany > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > ------------------------------------Subject: Hooded Warbler at UAlbany Campus - 5/21 From: Tristan Lowery <tristanlowery AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 08:05:52 -0400 Currently viewing a singing male Hooded Warbler on the UAlbany campus in the woods behind the Boor Sculpture Studio. Tristan Lowery Albany [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: eBird Report - Towpath Rd, May 20, 2013 From: "Mona Bearor" <conservebirds AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 22:27:59 -0400 -Mona Bearor S Glens Falls Towpath Rd, Washington, US-NY May 20, 2013 6:25 AM - 10:15 AM Protocol: Traveling 4.0 mile(s) Comments: drove road from end to end with intermittent stops walking along road 42 species Wood Duck 5 Mallard 4 American Bittern 1 Green Heron 3 Sora 1 Killdeer 1 Mourning Dove 9 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 5 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Alder Flycatcher 1 Willow Flycatcher 7 Least Flycatcher 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Warbling Vireo 6 American Crow 1 Tree Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 3 House Wren 6 Marsh Wren 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Wood Thrush 6 American Robin 21 Gray Catbird 21 European Starling 1 Ovenbird 1 Common Yellowthroat 15 American Redstart 6 Magnolia Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 27 Song Sparrow 13 Swamp Sparrow 4 Northern Cardinal 8 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Bobolink 3 Red-winged Blackbird 138 Common Grackle 13 Brown-headed Cowbird 6 Orchard Oriole 2 1adult male; 1 first summer male Baltimore Oriole 8 American Goldfinch 6 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14191261 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org) ------------------------------------Subject: Today's Discoveries From: "curtmorgan AT rocketmail.com" <pcmjr@nycap.rr.com> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 02:20:22 -0000 Swinging Bluebird http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1733771234/view?picmode=original&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=641&dir=asc Go Baltimore http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/856632972/view?picmode=original&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=641&dir=asc Four Falcon Eyases on the Collar City Bridge; this makes 20 for the parents since 2009 at this location; best seen from the Hedley Building parkinglot under the Collar City Bridge in Troy. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/630365065/pic/1247530105/view?picmode=original&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=641&dir=asc ------------------------------------Subject: Hooded Merganser family at Ann Lee Pond From: ScottJStoner AT aol.com Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 21:22:27 -0400 (EDT) Sorry for the delay posting this; we've been out of town. Last Thursday evening, Denise and I stopped over to Ann Lee Pond in Albany County and got to see the family of Hooded Mergansers. We observed the adult female and three young swimming back and forth in the end of the pond near the parking area. At one point, they ended up in good light: http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturelogues/8759527682/ so birders and photographers may want to check out the pond for some neat views. - Scott Stoner, Loudonville [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Re: Niskayuna - Black Tern and Great Egret From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 00:07:25 -0000 Colleen and I went over to Lions Park just before 7PM and found the Black Tern in flight, circling over the cattails and island upriver from the train station building. It eventually gained a lot of altitude and headed out towards the northeast over Vischer Ferry NHP. We saw three Orchard Orioles, including two 1st summer males (yellow w/black throat patch) squabbling low in the trees right at the train station. Thanks, David! Tom Williams Colonie ------------------------------------Subject: Albany County - 5/20 From: Tristan Lowery <tristanlowery AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 14:05:53 -0400 I finally got my Life Cape May Warbler this morning at Washington Park, in the very tree I'd heard one last Friday but didn't count because I couldn't find the bird. Zach S-W showed up right after I found it and we both enjoyed a few quick glimpses of an otherwise disobliging bird. A male Magnolia Warbler showed up in the same tree and these would be the only two warblers we saw in the park that morning. On better days, however, we've learned this spring that the trees around Englewood Drive seems to be the most productive part of the park for migrating warblers. We also determined that the lone drake Wood Duck on the Lake is missing a big chunk of primaries on his right wing, which probably explains why he's been staying put and slumming it with the local Mallards and domestic fowl. I continued on my own up to the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, which was absolutely hopping with Prairie Warbler, Eastern Towhee, and Field Sparrow. I also heard Chestnut-sided Warbler and Common Yellowthroat, and found both nuthatches and a Veery. Following a tip from Tom W. I then biked up to the corner of Old State and East Lydius in Guilderland, where as promised, there was a huge nest colony of Bank Swallows in a mound of dirt just off a new development construction site. I saw at least thirty at once, and they were the best views of this species I've ever had (or of any swallows in general, really). My backyard on South Manning isn't terribly birdy, but when I got home there were all sorts of songs coming from the treetops. I recognized Blackpoll Warbler immediately and was able to find one of at least two birds. Another pair of birds was singing persistently, a much more complex song I didn't know right away, but I finally narrowed it down to Tennessee Warbler through playback. About ten minutes of difficult searching finally yielded some fleeting glimpses of one of them. A Yellow-rumped and Magnolia Warbler were also present. Good birding! Tristan Lowery Albany [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Niskayuna - Black Tern and Great Egret From: "dharriso57" <david.harrison AT spcorp.com> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 16:58:08 -0000 I was pleasantly surprised and delighted this morning to find a full adult Black Tern along the Mohawk River at Lions Park in Niskayuna. The bird was perched on a driftwood branch beyond the islands and also cruised over the channels at times (I took some lousy, distant digiscope cellphone pictures). What an incredibly graceful and handsome bird. Other birds in the area included a Great Egret at Ferry Road, an immature male Orchard Oriole along the bike trail west of Lions Park and a handful of shorebirds, including one Solitary Sandpiper and 7 Least Sandpipers. I also made a quick mid-day stop at Central Park in Schenectady and, in half an hour, found single Blackpoll,Magnolia and Bay-breasted Warblers, as well as a Fish Crow. I don't see many reports from this park on HMBirds, but it looks like it could be a good spring migrant trap. David Harrison Milford, NJ ------------------------------------Subject: Century Run Results 5/18/13 - Albany County Only - ADDENDUM From: <overlook AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 10:15:14 -0400 I forgot to note that we had a drake American Black Duck x Mallard hybrid at Cohoes flats associating with a female Mallard. We couldn't make it into a full-fledged ABDU, although we tried! Does this count as a half-species? Larry Alden ------------------------------------Subject: English Murder - No Mystery From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 08:26:13 -0400 We watched with amusement as a House Wren busily removed nesting material from our backyard nest box, where an English (House) Sparrow pair were building a nest. At the same time, the male sparrow was picking up the feathers and grass pieces that the wren had tossed out, taking them back into the box. It all seemed very cute until later in the evening, when I went out to fill the nearby bird bath. The wren was dead on the ground by the nest box, his head bloody. The sparrow apparently tired of the game and did what House Sparrows do. Now I'm worried about the Eastern Bluebirds nesting 50 feet away. This morning I may sight in the old air rifle. Alan Mapes New Scotland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Century Run Results 5/18/13 - Albany County Only From: "Penny and Larry Alden" <overlook AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 21:03:32 -0400 Steve Chorvas, Jackie Bogardus and I ran a Century Run yesterday from 2:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., keeping to Albany County only. Temperatures ranged from a low of 41* to a high of 75* and the weather was mostly sunny with generally no wind. Nighttime birding conditions were excellent, although the birds did not always cooperate. We covered Alcove and Basic Creek Reservoirs, Thacher Park, Partridge Run, Cohoes Flats, Black Creek Marsh, Stanton Pond, Downtown Albany, Knox fields, and points in between. As with the other teams, we encountered only small groups of warblers, mostly breeders. We ended the day with 126 species, missing a few species we usually get: both yellowlegs, Herring Gull, Eastern Screech-Owl, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Alder Flycatcher, Winter Wren, Carolina Wren, Nothern Waterthrush, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Orchard Oriole. Our final birds of the day were a Wilson's Snipe winnowing over Black Creek Marsh and a pair of Barred Owls hooting from the woods off Meadowdale Road. The bird of the day was the Black Tern at Stanton Pond - simply stunning as it hawked insects over the water. If anyone would like to know where we had other individual species, please reply off-list. This is the 11th year we have done an Albany County-only big day, and our composite list consists of 167 species. We added two new species to the composite with the tern and a Vesper Sparrow, from the Knox area. And so that you don't think I waited to post this until after the other groups posted, let it be known that family obligations today precluded me posting this earlier, as fatigue precluded me last night. :-) List below: 1. Canada Goose 2. Mute Swan 3. Wood Duck 4. Gadwall 5. Mallard 6. White-winged Scoter (same as Will's group) 7. Common Merganser 8. Wild Turkey 9. Common Loon 10. Double-crested Cormorant 11. American Bittern 12. Least Bittern 13. Great Blue Heron 14. Green Heron 15. Turkey Vulture 16. Bald Eagle 17. Cooper's Hawk 18. Broad-winged Hawk 19. Red-tailed Hawk 20. Virginia Rail 21. Sora 22. Common Gallinule 23. Semipalmated Plover 24. Killdeer 25. Spotted Sandpiper 26. Solitary Sandpiper 27. Least Sandpiper 28. Wilson's Snipe 29. American Woodcock 30. Ring-billed Gull 31. Great Black-backed Gull 32. Black Tern 33. Rock Pigeon 34. Mourning Dove 35. Black-billed Cuckoo 36. Barred Owl 37. Chimney Swift 38. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 39. Belted Kingfisher 40. Red-bellied Woodpecker 41. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 42. Downy Woodpecker 43. Hairy Woodpecker 44. Northern Flicker 45. Pileated Woodpecker 46. American Kestrel 47. Peregrine Falcon 48. Eastern Wood-Pewee 49. Willow Flycatcher 50. Least Flycatcher 51. Eastern Phoebe 52. Great Crested Flycatcher 53. Eastern Kingbird 54. Yellow-throated Vireo 55. Blue-headed Vireo 56. Warbling Vireo 57. Red-eyed Vireo 58. Blue Jay 59. American Crow 60. Fish Crow 61. Common Raven 62. Tree Swallow 63. Northern Rough-winged Swallow 64. Bank Swallow 65. Cliff Swallow 66. Barn Swallow 67. Black-capped Chickadee 68. Tufted Titmouse 69. Red-breasted Nuthatch 70. White-breasted Nuthatch 71. Brown Creeper 72. House Wren 73. Marsh Wren 74. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 75. Golden-crowned Kinglet 76. Eastern Bluebird 77. Veery 78. Hermit Thrush 79. Wood Thrush 80. American Robin 81. Gray Catbird 82. Northern Mockingbird 83. Brown Thrasher 84. European Starling 85. Ovenbird 86. Louisiana Waterthrush 87. Blue-winged Warbler 88. Black-and-white Warbler 89. Nashville Warbler 90. Common Yellowthroat 91. American Redstart 92. Northern Parula 93. Magnolia Warbler 94. Blackburnian Warbler 95. Yellow Warbler 96. Chestnut-sided Warbler 97. Blackpoll Warbler 98. Yellow-rumped Warbler 99. Prairie Warbler 100. Black-throated Green Warbler 101. Canada Warbler 102. Eastern Towhee 103. Chipping Sparrow 104. Field Sparrow 105. Vesper Sparrow 106. Savannah Sparrow 107. Song Sparrow 108. Swamp Sparrow 109. White-throated Sparrow 110. White-crowned Sparrow 111. Dark-eyed Junco 112. Scarlet Tanager 113. Northern Cardinal 114. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 115. Indigo Bunting 116. Bobolink 117. Red-winged Blackbird 118. Eastern Meadowlark 119. Common Grackle 120. Brown-headed Cowbird 121. Baltimore Oriole 122. Purple Finch 123. House Finch 124. Pine Siskin 125. American Goldfinch 126. House Sparrow Larry Alden Meadowdale (on the border of southern Guilderland and northern New Scotland) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Airport birds From: Mark Kirker <mkirker AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 19:01:14 -0400 All the talk about Bobolink prompted me to take a drive through Schenectady county airport today looking for Them. I was happy to see about 15 males flying around and singing cheerfully . Other birds were 5 Savannah Sparrows 1 Mourning Dove 1 Northern Flicker 1 huge Red-tailed hawk being mobbed by crows Several Red-winged blackbirds 15 or so Killdeer with babies running around 1 turkey Mark K Glenville NY Sent from my iPhone On May 19, 2013, at 5:16 PM, "Jeff Nadler"Subject: Re: Canada warblers- link corrected From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 21:16:18 -0000 image link fixed . . . http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6079/051212029.jpg Jeff Nadler --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Nadler"Subject: Canada warblers this morning From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 20:18:37 -0000 In the wet shrubby woods adjacent my backyard (one) and in wet shrubs along a nearby road (one), plus early AM on Lake Desolation road today (four), I've seen or heard a total of 6 Canada warblers today. Lake Desolation Road offered a total of 10 warblers in breeding habitat this morning, all the same species being reported by others in migration. But I've not noticed too many observations of Canada warblers posted so I thought it worth noting. Also at Lake Desolation, American bittern vocals (not seen) in a wetland, Swainson's thrushes more common than hermit thrushes as deciduous woods changed to mixed,common loons wailing from distant waters, and more moose tracks. Least flycatchers very common in open woods areas, and nice views of a swamp sparrow perched in the open and singing. A common and loud songster in the right wet habitat, but rarely seen in the open. Here is a Canada warbler portrait, perhaps after Cerulean . . .my second favorite warbler species, although it's very vocal singing this morning is not exactly thought of as pretty. http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/6079/051212029.jpg Jeff Nadler ------------------------------------Subject: Malta Tech Park trip report From: "Susan" <smbeaudoin1 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 17:21:59 -0000 The HMBC trip to the Malta Tech Park took place this morning, May 19h, with 16 birders in attendance and a total of 48 species seen or heard. It was a mostly cloudy day with some breaks of sun early on, but it drizzled and temperatures cooled towards the end of the trip. We walked on two trail systems and along the wide sidewalks that are found throughout the park. The day started on the trailhead found on Hermes Road, across from the Hudson Valley Nanotech Campus. Large green circles painted on trees that run along the ridge of a hill marked the way. To the right are additional trails that descend into a ravine. This is a narrow trail, also used by dirt bikers, that goes through deciduous woods and empties out onto Stonebreak Road, just east of the 100 Acre Trail parking area. While lovely, these woods were, at first, rather quiet. Near the end we did hear what would be the first of many singing Veeries, Wood Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Oven birds and Eastern Towhees. We broke off from the trail to walk along a clearing that parallels it. Here we had good views of a Chestnut-sided Warbler and an Indigo Bunting, the later arriving only yesterday. The group was treated to even closer looks of these two species later on Stonebreak Road, along with Field, Song, and Chipping Sparrows, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Eastern Kingbirds with nesting material, and Scarlet Tanagers. Continuing up Stonebreak Road, we entered the 100 Acre Wood trail head. This is a lovely section of the Tech Park with broad wood-chip lined paths leading through deep woods and ravines. Stairs and bridges are found in the steeper sections and several stone benches are situated along the trail. Black-throated Blue Warblers and Great Crested Flycatchers were heard in this area. A cooperative Veery in the middle of the path was seen by most participants. After exiting the trails we continued on the sidewalks along Luther Forest Blvd, 100 Acre Wood Rd and back to Stonebreak. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Tree Swallows, a Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flickers, and a Baltimore Oriole made appearances. Unfortunately, so did several Brown-headed Cowbirds. Flyovers included a Red-tailed Hawk, Double-crested Cormorant, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture and a Great Blue Heron. Wile doing our compilation, a singing House Wren signaled its presence. All in all, after a slow start, it turned into a rewarding day with many lovely bird sounds, several good looks at some beautiful species, and walks through pleasant trails with an enthusiastic group of birders. Susan and Tom Beaudoin ------------------------------------Subject: tower road, hadley From: "gregg_recer" <gregg_recer AT alum.rpi.edu> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 17:14:57 -0000 cathy and I covered the loop around eddy and tower roads, plus the hudson at corinth and saratoga airport this morning. highlights included: c. merganser (corinth) c. loon (calling in flight) broad-winged hawk alder flycatcher veery, hermit and wood thrushes 10 warbler species including nashville, magnolia and blackburnian purple finch horned lark & savannah and grasshopper sparrows at the airport gregg recer malta ------------------------------------Subject: Our Century Run Results From: "John" <hersheyj AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 14:42:59 -0000 We completed our Century Run yesterday, covering primarily Albany and Saratoga Counties, starting at 5:30 am and finishing about 9 pm. The five-member team consisted of Bill Lee (field leader), Hank Stebbins, George Shaw, Nancy Slack, and myself. Our preliminary total of 106 was a bit lower than previous years, which I will attribute to missing former members. I will list just some of the highlights below for us in general order of the itinerary: Black Creek Marsh area: VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, COMMON GALLINULE Thacher Park Area: BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, Louisiana Waterthrush Basic Creek Reservoir: Mute Swan Alcove Reservoir: Common Loon Stanton Pond: BLACK TERN, GADWALL Dunn Memorial Bridge: Peregrine Falcon Cohoes Flats: Semipalmated Plover Saratoga Airport: Horned Lark, Savannah Sparrow, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW (all 4 seen within a minute of arriving) Saratoga Lake: BONAPARTE'S GULL Malta Tech Park: WHIP-POOR-WILL, American Woodcock (heard at the same time at Rocket and Stonebreak) There wasn't a lot of time for digiscoping but I did post one pic of a very plain-looking Grasshopper Sparrow perched on a runway light at Saratoga Airport. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/77752785/pic/265163750/view?picmode=large&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=401&dir=asc John Hershey ------------------------------------Subject: Century Run - Schenectady County Only From: "dharriso57" <david.harrison AT spcorp.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 14:20:48 -0000 Yesterday I did a solo Century Run in Schenectady County with a goal of surpassing the 100 species mark within the county boundaries. The pre-dawn weather was spectacular, with no wind to impair hearing and the rest of the day continued with pretty good viewing and listening conditions. Migration was minimal and, as Will mentioned, it seemed pretty quiet overall. My route covered Glenville, Niskayuna and Sheldon Rd. in Duanesburg for pre-dawn birds. Daylight stops were at Featherstonhaugh State Forest, Mariaville Lake, the highlands around Mariaville (Reynolds and Sterling Rds.), meanderings between Mariaville and Duanesburg, West Glenville, Scotia, Collins Park/Lake, and, in Niskayuna, Blatnick Park, Lock 7, Ferry Drive and the Railroad Station Park. At dusk I returned to Glenville for some additional attempts at night birds. I was in the field from 1:25 AM to 9:30 PM and ended the day with 109 species plus an adult male Scaup sp. I had hoped for about 115-120. The list: Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Scaup sp.- across the river at Lock 7. I thought Greater Scaup, but couldn't be sure. Common Merganser Wild Turkey Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey- Featherstonhaugh Lake Northern Harrier- a pair was soaring overhead at Sterling Rd. Bald Eagle- Lock 7/an adult Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk (oddly, this was my 100th species for the day) Virginia Rail- 2 at a marsh in Glenville that I "discovered" via Google Maps satellite imagery and another at Niskayuna RR Station Sora- one each at the places I had Virginia Rail Killdeer- fledgling at the foot of the Western Gateway Bridge in Schenectady. Sounded like a normal adult Killdeer, but had the long, spindly legs with a tiny body perched on top and a single breast band Spotted Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Eastern Screech-Owl Great Horned Owl Barred Owl- a pair came in close in response to my hoots at Featherstonhaugh. Good thing I saw them; turkey hunters were using both Turkey calls and Barred Owl calls later in the day Chimney Swift Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Alder Flycatcher- 2 at Sterling Road where I saw them last summer Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo- my last bird of the day at Niskayuna Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren- Featherstonhaugh State Forest Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Ruby-crowned Kinglet- Reynolds Road which was probably my best spot for migrants Eastern Bluebird Veery Swainson's Thrush- Featherstonhaugh State Forest Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Ovenbird Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler- Sterling and Reynolds Road where I had hoped for Golden-winged Black-and-White Warbler Tennessee Warbler- Reynolds Rd Nashville Warbler- Reynolds Rd Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow- Glenville Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole- one each at Blatnick Park and at the Railroad Station Park Baltimore Oriole House Finch Purple Finch Pine Siskin- a calling flyover at Featherstonhaugh American Goldfinch House Sparrow David Harrison Milford, NJ (but in Glenville, NY this AM) ------------------------------------Subject: Re: Century Run Results 5/18/13 From: "Tom Salli" <tsalli AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 09:38:15 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) After 6 years of having bluebird boxes, I finally got a pair this week. So Happy!!! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Century Run Results 5/18/13 From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 09:20:01 -0400 HMBC Supreme Ruler Jory Langner, Rich Guthrie and I did a bit of a Century Run yesterday. We certainly were not in it, to win it and as such we let a lot of "easy" birds go. Even still we had a few good birds, good weather and good company. Migrants, especially Warblers were tough to come by. Most of the warblers we encountered were already on territory. Many areas seemed quieter than usual. We birded: Black Creek Marsh (where we saw many of the other groups), Mysotis Lake, Partridge Run WMA, Bear Swamp, Basic Creek Reservoir, Alcove Reservoir, Stanton Pond, Holt Preserve, Deer (tick) Mountain Preserve, Coeymans Landing, Coxsackie Grasslands, Coxsackie Boat Launch, Henry Hudson Park. We were in the field form about 5:30am to 5pm. We finished with 103 species. List below: 1. Canada Goose 2. Mute Swan 3. Wood Duck 4. Gadwall 5. Mallard 6. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (3) - Alcove Reservoir 7. Hooded Merganser 8. Common Loon (Alcove) 9. Double-crested Cormorant 10. Great Blue Heron 11. Green Heron 12. Black Vulture 13. Turkey Vulture 14. Bald Eagle 15. Northern Harrier (Male, Coxsackie Grasslands) 16. Broad-winged Hawk 17. Red-tailed Hawk 18. American Kestral 19. Virginia Rail 20. Sora 21. Common Gallinule (Cox. Grasslands) 22. Killdeer (including a bird with a nest at Black Creek Marsh. Careful where you walk) 23. Spotted Sandpiper 24. Solitary Sandpiper 25. Lesser Yellowlegs 26. Least Sandpiper 27. Ring-billed Gull 28. BLACK TERN (Stanton Pond! Absolutely stunning bird!) 29. Rock Pigeon 30. Mourning Dove 31. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 32. Downy Woodpecker 33. Northern Flicker 34. Pileated Woodpecker 35. Willow Flycatcher 36. Least Flycatcher 37. Eastern Phoebe 38. Great Crested Flycatcher 39. Eastern Kingbird 40. Yellow-throated Vireo 41. Warbling Vireo 42. Red-eyed Vireo 43. Blue Jay 44. American Crow 45. Fish Crow 46. Common Raven 47. Tree Swallow 48. Northern Rough-winged Swallow 49. Bank Swallow 50. Cliff Swallow 51. Barn Swallow 52. Black-capped Chickadee 53. Tufted Titmouse 54. Red-breasted Nuthatch 55. Carolina Wren 56. House Wren 57. Marsh Wren 58. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 59. Golden-crowned Kinglet 60. Eastern Bluebird 61. Veery 62. Swainson's Thrush 63. Hermit Thrush 64. Wood Thrush 65. American Robin 66. Gray Catbird 67. Northern Mockingbird 68. Brown Thrasher 69. European Starling 70. Cedar Waxwing 71. Blue-winged Warbler 72. Yellow Warbler 73. Chestnut-sided Warbler (abundant and common) 74. Magnolia Warbler 75. Black-throated Blue Warbler 76. Yellow-rumped Warbler 77. Black-throated Green Warbler 78. Black-and-white Warbler 79. American Redstart 80. WOrM-EATING WARBLER (Deer Mountain) 81. Ovenbird 82. Louisiana Waterthrush 83. Common Yellowthroat 84. Eastern Towhee 85. Chipping Sparrow 86. Song Sparrow 87. Swamp Sparrow 88. White-throated Sparrow 89. Dark-eyed Junco 90. Scarlet Tanager 91. Northern Cardinal 92. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 93. Indigo Bunting 94. Bobolink 95. Red-winged Blackbird 96. Common Grackle 97. Brown-headed Cowbird 98. Baltimore Oriole (also very, very abundant) 99. Purple Finch 100.House Finch 101.American Goldfinch 103.House Sparrow Good Birding! Will Raup Albany, NY ------------------------------------Subject: Thrashers From: "lnmp" <lnmp AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 08:13:22 -0400 Saturday morning I spotted a Brown Thrasher in my yard, carrying nesting material! When it flew, it joined a second thrasher (presumably its mate) on the ground near our driveway. I wonder if they will nest in the shrubs in that area. Ellen P. West Charlton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Black Tern - Stanton Pond (Albany County) From: "Richard Guthrie" <richardpguthrie AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 21:25:15 -0400 Just a quick heads-up - there was a nice BLACK TERN at Stanton Pond this afternoon. At least two groups out running their respective Century Runs happened upon this beautiful, delicate bird. With luck, it will be there tomorrow. We did not find the Yellowlegs that Tom had there, but there were Solitary Sandpiper, Least Sandpipers and several Gadwalls among the more expected bird species when we arrived. Also, the Worm-eating Warbler was at the Deer Mountain Preserve in Ravena. Rich guthrie New Baltimore [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Century Run results- Sat., 5/18 From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 01:18:15 -0000 I did a solo run today, beginning at Black Creek Marsh, and ending at Ann Lee Pond. I observed from my yard before and after the field segment. First bird was actually a Gray Catbird singing at 4:15AM, beating the robins to the punch. Last bird was a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird at my feeder. My total was 108 species, improving from 100 each of the last two years. With a better warbler count I could have beaten my goal of 110, but it was not to be. Some highlights: Black Creek Marsh- Virginia Rail, Sora, Northern Waterthrush Normanskill Farm- Blackpoll Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Orchard Oriole Thacher Park Rd.- HOODED WARBLER Thacher Park- Common Loon (flyover), Winter Wren, Blackburnian Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, SWAINSON'S THRUSH Alcove- Cliff Swallow Stanton Pond- Greater Yellowlegs Cohoes Flats- Semipalmated Plover Saratoga County Airport- Vesper and Grasshopper Sparrows, Horned Lark Vischer Ferry NHP- White-crowned Sparrow Tom Williams Colonie ------------------------------------Subject: great egreat From: "mjaecs" <jhdobert AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 01:02:01 -0000 My husband & I were leaving Tupper Lake headed to Lake Placid on Rte 30&3 this afternoon about 3pm when we spotted a large white Heron on our left in some backwater about 2 miles out of tupper Lake just before the Racquette River boat Launch on the right. It had dark legs, very yellow bill . We were so surprised we turned around and went back to study it. I can't think of anything else but a Great Egret. Quite exciting. Certainly a long way off course. Joan Dobert ------------------------------------Subject: Black-billed Cuckoo at Schodack Island - 5/18 From: Tristan Lowery <tristanlowery AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 21:00:18 -0400 I forgot to mention that we also heard a Black-billed Cuckoo giving its "cu-cu-cu-cu" call at Schodack Island this morning. Tristan Lowery [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Crested Flycatcher From: "Alan" <earthday49 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 19 May 2013 00:47:58 -0000 FOS Crested Flycatcher at Schenectady Central Park today 5/18/13 Alan Schroeder Guilderland ------------------------------------Subject: Black Creek Marsh, Schodack Island, and Cohoes Flats - 5/18 From: Tristan Lowery <tristanlowery AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 19:55:43 -0400 John Kent, Zach Schwartz-Weinstein, and I began a very full morning of birding at Black Creek Marsh, where we began the day greeted by the familiar faces of many Century Run participants. Sora and Virginia Rail were heard by all, and I was lucky enough to catch a brief but identifiable glimpse of a LEAST BITTERN flushing out the reeds. Five Green Herons were spotted in a single flyover, along with two Great Blue. We picked out sneezy Willow and Least Flycatchers from the gurgling chorus of Marsh Wrens and Swamp Sparrows. Some of the more wooded patches yielded Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireo, Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warbler, Veery and Wood Thrush, and we had good looks at Eastern Kingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, and Brown Thrasher. The three of us continued on to Schodack Island State Park, where we finished the morning with thirteen species of warblers, including Yellow, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Nashville, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Black-and-White, Black-throated Blue, American Redstart, and Ovenbird. A number of Blue-winged Warblers were seen and heard as well, including one that was doing an absolutely spot-on Golden-winged Warbler song that really got our hopes up - enough for us to trudge through tick-infested brush to get a better (though certainly disappointing!) look at the impostor. Other notable birds included Great Crested Flycatcher, three vireo species (Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, and Warbling), and a good number of both Wood Thrush and Veery. The highlight of the day however, was a bird which we had long given up hope for, after three-and-a-half hours of walking, craned necks, and auditory fatigue. After a whole morning of tuning out so many Redstarts and Yellow Warblers, a quick trill followed by a rapidly ascending buzz awakened our tired ears just before we reached the parking lot. After some desperate searching for movement in the canopy above, we all got some decent looks at a male CERULEAN WARBLER flitting in the leaves high above us. A Lifer for me and a very good bird for anyone, I reckon. Never give up hope, I guess. John and I continued on to Cohoes Flats after lunch, where the most notable birds were a single Solitary and Least Sandpiper, probably the only time I've seen just one of the latter. Maybe it was taking a cue from the former. All three locally common gulls were present as well, though it feels like ages since I entered any of their names on a checklist. Good birding and good luck to all the Century Runners! Tristan Lowery Albany [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Bobolink From: Alan French <adfrench AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 17:05:50 -0400 We often see Bobolinks in the fields along Ridge Road just north of Washout. While we did not see one on today's walk, we did hear one. Clear skies, Alan Glenville ------------------------------------Subject: Black-billed Cuckoo, Saratoga NHP From: "Susan" <smbeaudoin1 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 17:42:07 -0000 While walking on the Wilkerson Trail, Tom and I heard a Black-billed Cuckoo calling from what sounded like the area below Stop 1. This is the same area a B-b Cuckoo spent the season a few years ago. Other notable species included Broad-winged Hawk, R-t Hummingbird, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, my FOS Red-eyed Vireo, Wood thrush, Blue-winged, Yellow and Chestnut-sided Warblers, E. Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager Bobolink And E Meadowlark. Susan Beaudoin Stillwater,NY NY, Saratoga National Historical Park, Saratoga, US-NY May 18, 2013 9:43 AM - 12:18 PM 44 species Mallard 4 Turkey Vulture 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 2 Black-billed Cuckoo 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue Jay 7 American Crow 4 Tree Swallow 8 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Tufted Titmouse 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 House Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 3 Wood Thrush 6 American Robin 6 Gray Catbird 5 European Starling 4 Ovenbird 5 Blue-winged Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 18 Yellow Warbler 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 5 Chipping Sparrow 6 Field Sparrow 11 Song Sparrow 12 Scarlet Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 4 Bobolink 20 Red-winged Blackbird 9 Eastern Meadowlark 6 Common Grackle 1 Baltimore Oriole 2 American Goldfinch 4 ------------------------------------Subject: RE: Bobolink question From: Peter Doherty <leasttern AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 12:58:07 -0400 Greetings. Please my tardy reply, Naomi. My farm in Sharon, Schoharie County hosts a large breeding population of Bobolinks. Some of the farm is enrolled in the LIP Grassland Bird Program administered by NYSDEC. The farm is on the rim of the Mohawk Valley (~1500') nearly to the Montgomery County line. BOBO arrive historically at the farm on the Sunday after The Kentucky Derby--which is the 1st Saturday in May. This year a single male arrived on April 30th, the earliest observed arrival in 30+ years. Courtship flights and nest-building begin quickly thereafter. I have found nests with partial clutches during the last week in May, but I do not make a point of looking for them. They are difficult to find and easy to trample. To answer your question, as of May 17th, I doubt that the mowing destroyed any nests with eggs in them. The interesting question is whether or not your BOBO will move to "suitable" habitat elsewhere to nest. Under the LIP program, mowing is not allowed until after 15 August each year. Some fields are only mowed every other year. Hedgerows are also removed to eliminate predator edge use and to create grasslands of larger contiguous acreage. This spring much of the BOBO acreage was burned. Should you like to view and hear hundreds of breeding BOBO you may drive to and park along some of my fields on Staleyville Road. The best views of BOBO can be had ~one mile after turning east on Staleyville off Route 10 just south of Sunnycrest Orchards in the Town of Sharon, Schoharie County. Staleyville makes a 90 degree turn at this point and there is a perfect spot to pull over at this spot. Bring a spotting scope along with your binoculars. Please do not walk into the fields nor let your dog off the leash. It is a spectacle to behold. But, BOBO are on a tight annual schedule; Argentina beckons and they need to breed, raise their chicks and undergo a complete body and wing molt before their fall migration. Visit this month or very early in June. Best, Peter Peter Doherty leastternathotmail.com > CC: naomi_kestrel AT yahoo.com; hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com > To: alanmapes AT gmail.com > From: birderjory AT gmail.com > Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 07:29:00 -0400 > Subject: Re: [HMBirds] Bobolink question > > Audubon is in alignment with Al. > > Nonetheless If you google "Audubon mowing" there are some suggestions for farmers to lessen the impact of mowing. > > Jory Langner > Delmar > > Sent from my iPhone > > On May 17, 2013, at 6:49 AM, Alan MapesSubject: Shenentaha Park this morning... From: "neilfmanning" <nfmanning AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 16:00:09 -0000 Seen: Red-eyed Vireo (many), Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Scarlet Tanager Heard: Common Yellowthroat, Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Great-crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush -Neil ------------------------------------Subject: vischer ferry - some migrant warblers From: "gregg_recer" <gregg_recer AT alum.rpi.edu> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 15:52:02 -0000 cathy and I spent about 3 hours this morning doing the large VF loop. highlights included: green heron yellow-bellied sapsucker (drumming on a speed limit sign) eastern wood-pewee great-crested flycatcher yellow-throated vireo (several singing males along towpath) wood thrush scarlet tanager (heard only) white-crowned sparrow innumerable rose-breasted grosbeaks and baltimore orioles a few migrant warblers including: northern waterthrush magnolia blue-winged black-and-white BT green rails again failed to make their presence known gregg recer malta ------------------------------------Subject: Caspian Tern at Tivoli South Bay From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 11:50:30 -0400 On a kayak trip yesterday into Tivoli Bays, we found a beautiful Caspian Tern feeding, along with a small group of Ring-billed Gulls. As we watched, the bird flew out of South Bay and north up the river. We found it again near Magdalen Island after we battled our way up there against a very stiff north wind. Alan Mapes, Delmar [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Wood Thrushes have returned From: "birdmanmfk329" <birdman329 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 14:52:59 -0000 FOS wood thrush sounding off since late yesterday (5/17) in Sand Lake. Mike Kuhrt ------------------------------------Subject: Five Rivers - Wilson's Warbler, Willow & Alder Flycatchers, Solitary Sandpiper From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 09:13:30 -0400 A mini-century run this morning produced these plus red-eyed, blue-headed and yellow-throated vireos, white-crowned sparrow and lots of migrating blue jays. 55 species for the two hours. Alan Mapes New Scotland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Re: Hooded Warbler From: David Martin <david AT naturebits.org> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 22:52:10 -0400 Hooded Warbler seems to be more commonly detected in our area than in the past. The hooded warbler song John heard and Tom found on xeno-canto is one of the versions of the hooded's song that I recorded some years ago in the Holt Preserve, Albany County. I heard the same song at Holt a few other years. The Holt hooded warbler songs can be found on this page -- http://naturebits.org/parulidae.php David Martin Slingerlands, New York http://naturebits.org On 5/17/2013 5:34 PM, jw.kent wrote: > Early this morning, just south of the intersection of Barent Winne Rd. and River Rd. in Selkirk, I heard a bird song that I didn't recognize. I recorded it with my phone and sent the recording to Tom Williams. He found a recording - http://www.xeno-canto.org/17110 - which is a very close match to mine. It is an alternate song of Hooded Warbler. After listening to both recordings several times I feel confident that that's what it was. > > I also heard an Eastern Wood-Pewee this morning in the same area. > > John Kent > Selkirk > > > > > ------------------------------------ > >Subject: Re: Yellow and Black Bird From: Zach Schwartz-Weinstein <zachsw AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 17:48:47 -0400 Hi Marlene, Have you considered 1st summer orchard oriole? Best, Zach S-W On May 17, 2013, at 5:22 PM, marlene vidiborSubject: Must have been a Baltimore Oriole: Yellow and Black Bird From: marlene vidibor <mvidibor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 14:35:51 -0700 (PDT) Although the song voice sounded much stronger and just different than the Baltimore oriole. It was really a brilliant yellow just like the Scott's M. Marlene Vidibor wildbraidart.com wildbraidart.etsy.com "Like" me at https://www.facebook.com/pages/wildbraidart/116041095100245 --- On Fri, 5/17/13, marlene vidiborSubject: Hooded Warbler From: "jw.kent" <jw.kent AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 21:34:25 -0000 Early this morning, just south of the intersection of Barent Winne Rd. and River Rd. in Selkirk, I heard a bird song that I didn't recognize. I recorded it with my phone and sent the recording to Tom Williams. He found a recording - http://www.xeno-canto.org/17110 - which is a very close match to mine. It is an alternate song of Hooded Warbler. After listening to both recordings several times I feel confident that that's what it was. I also heard an Eastern Wood-Pewee this morning in the same area. John Kent Selkirk ------------------------------------Subject: Yellow and Black Bird From: marlene vidibor <mvidibor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 14:22:54 -0700 (PDT) I know this sounds crazy but I think I just saw a Scott's Oriole. Is is possible that one wandered this far north and east. Not only did I see with my binocs, the bird high on a tree over Schnackenberg Rd, here in Ghent, it had a brilliant yellow body with black head and the song from Audubon sounded just like it. I'm trying to play it with my kindle to see if it responds. It did fly off before I was able to id it. What northeastern bird could possibly look and sound like it? It had a healthy loud song and was definitely not a yellow warbler. I'll keep checking but wanted to get this out there. Marlene Marlene Vidibor wildbraidart.com wildbraidart.etsy.com "Like" me at https://www.facebook.com/pages/wildbraidart/116041095100245 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Re: Black-billed Cuckoo, Wilson's Warbler- Normanskill Farm 5/17 From: Heather Labore <birdnerd425 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 16:34:56 -0400 Awesome!!! I have never seen a Cuckoo before. Only a fake one in my mother in-laws clock. Good luck to everyone who is doing the Century Run tomorrow! Heather Labore Delmar [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: birds today- Fri From: susan r stewart <suestew68 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 16:25:49 -0400 FOS Eastern Kingbird, and Baltimore Oriole Tree Swallow nest in mailbox newspaper section and they warned me off while walking the dog Barn Swallows active also previous days ago FOS Gray Catbird 2 locations Beautiful Yellow-rump Warbler 2 warning me off Jenkins Rd Co.Yellowthroat hear Green and Great blue Heron back and forth among local ponds. B. Kingfisher back at Lasher rd. Marsh Turkey 2 seen freguently back acres Red-eyed Vireo non-stop vocal Chipping Sparrow pair always active near road Of course Ovenbird plus heard from! SueStewart Burnt Hills, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Turkeys and Eastern Kingbirds From: Alan French <adfrench AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 16:11:48 -0400 On my way to do errands, I had to slow for five Turkeys crossing Washout Road just north of Sanders Road. A walk a while ago yielded my first Eastern Kingbirds of this year. The first female Ruby-throated Hummingbird has also appeared, joining the single male who has been around. The bird baths have been very popular. Clear skies, Alan Glenville ------------------------------------Subject: Black-billed Cuckoo, Wilson's Warbler- Normanskill Farm 5/17 From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 16:41:37 -0000 Normanskill Farm was very birdy this morning. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers were
moving around in the trees along the water. On the brushy hillside just past
the farm buildings, there was an Alder Flycatcher, and a Willow Flycatcher,
too. Another Willow Flycatcher was along the creek across from the gardens.
Always check sparrows on the ground. Within twenty feet of each other were a
Chipping, a Field, and a White-crowned. The two Mockingbirds continue to do
battle, and an Eastern Kingbird is now in the mix as well.
In the woods along the stream, I could hear several warbler sounds but could
only come up with a singing Blackburnian, and a singing Wilson's Warbler. On
the sunny side of those same woods, I could could hear a low "cu-cu" sound
repeatedly. Eventually, a Black-billed Cuckoo flew up to the trees for a better
view:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31316159 AT N02/8748135516/sizes/k/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31316159 AT N02/8747013587/sizes/k/in/photostream/
The Eastern Meadowlark(s?) and Bobolinks seem like they are going to give it a
go here, they've been a fixture for over a week now.
Tom Williams
Colonie
------------------------------------
Subject: Warblers - Ushers Rd State ForestFrom: Bob Ricketts <rlr5528 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 07:14:32 -0700 (PDT) Worm-eating and chestnut-sided warblers present this AM. Also, ovenbird, common yellowthroat, red-eyed vireo and swamp sparrow. Bob Ricketts [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Washington Park addendum From: Zach Schwartz-Weinstein <zachsw AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 09:05:04 -0400 A couple other notable birds showed up after I sent that last email, including: FOY Indigo Bunting FOY Wilson's Warbler (female) FOY/lifer Tennessee Warbler (67% sure on this call. Saw it for a couple seconds. Had white eye line, greenish back, moved like a warbler and had a small bill.) American Redstart And a female Cape May. Good birding! ------------------------------------Subject: Jeralemon Park - Scarlet Tanager, Lo. Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Vireo From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 08:43:34 -0400 A walk at this nice park outside Ravena yesterday gave us nice looks at Coopers Hawk, Ovenbird, Red-eyed Vireo and Brown Creeper. We heard Scarlet Tanager and Louisiana Waterthrush. May Apples were in bloom. This is a great place for wildflowers and ferns, being full of limestone. You can find the park on Starr Road, just north of Rt. 143, west of Ravena. Alan Mapes New Scotland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Coeymans Landing - Osprey, Bald Eagle From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 08:32:08 -0400 Yesterday, we had our weekly Bald Eagle-watching lunch at Yanni's Too at Coeymans Landing. This is a great waterfront eatery and it's wise to have binoculars close at hand. Two young eagles entertained us with aerial play over Schodack Island, just across the Hudson River. We also had an Osprey and lots of Great Blue Herons. Swallows working the waterfront included Barn, Tree and N. Rough-winged. Alan Mapes New Scotland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Late spring migrants From: "lnmp" <lnmp AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 08:12:13 -0400 This morning I heard a Scarlet Tanager singing and a Red-Eyed Vireo (both FOS for me) while I was out in my yard. Finally! The tanager contributed to the morning woodland chorus that also includes Ovenbird and Wood Thrush. Yesterday I visited the farm field down the road where I've seen Bobolinks in the past, but didn't find any. Ellen P. West Charlton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Washington Park effect, Part II From: Zach Schwartz-Weinstein <zachsw AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 07:52:06 -0400 There's another mini-fallout of warblers along Englewood Drive in Washington Park this morning. Species diversity seems less pronounced than what Tristan found yesterday, but there are a bunch of Yellow Rumpeds, a Black-throated green, and at least one male Cape May Zach Schwartz-Weinstein, Albany ------------------------------------Subject: Re: Bobolink question From: Langner Jordan <birderjory AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 07:29:00 -0400 Audubon is in alignment with Al. Nonetheless If you google "Audubon mowing" there are some suggestions for farmers to lessen the impact of mowing. Jory Langner Delmar Sent from my iPhone On May 17, 2013, at 6:49 AM, Alan MapesSubject: Re: Bobolink question From: Alan Mapes <alanmapes AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 06:49:34 -0400 My guess - they are paired, have built nests, and might even have some eggs layed - but no young hatched yet. Unfortunately, getting the best nutrition value from hay is not compatible with the nesting of most hay field birds. Alan Mapes New Scotland On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 5:11 AM, Naomi LloydSubject: Bobolink question From: Naomi Lloyd <naomi_kestrel AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 05:11:24 -0400 Does any one know if Bobolinks are nesting already, or if they're still forming pairs and setting up territory? I've been seeing them in my neighbor's hayfield for a week or so, and he mowed the fields yesterday. I'd hate to think the nests were lost. I know there's a suggested schedule for haying to avoid disturbing nests, but unfortunately he's not very approachable. Naomi Lloyd West Sand Lake http://kestrelhill.wordpress.com/ ------------------------------------Subject: Cuckoo From: "Penny and Larry Alden" <overlook AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 23:47:38 -0400 A Black-billed Cuckoo was calling briefly from my property this evening. No caterpillers that I've noticed so I have doubts he'll hang around. Larry Alden Meadowdale (on the border of southern Guilderland and northern New Scotland) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Bank Swallows From: "Alan" <earthday49 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 22:42:20 -0000 Eighteen Bank Swallows arrived at their Guilderland nest site this morning. The swallows have been using this site, on E. Lydius St., for several years but the sand has been gradually hauled away. Unfortunately this may be the last season sand banks will be there. Alan Schroeder Guilderland ------------------------------------Subject: Mrs Hummer From: Naomi Lloyd <naomi_kestrel AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 18:33:49 -0400 Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird at my feeder now. Let the nestbuilding begin! Naomi Lloyd West Sand Lake http://kestrelhill.wordpress.com/ ------------------------------------Subject: Century Run and Malta Tech Park From: "Don" <dgresens AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 21:09:30 -0000 This weekend HMBC has two activities on the schedule. Century Run Saturday, May 18, 2013 - 12:00am - 9:00pm Compiler: Bob Yunick 1527 Myron Street, Schenectady, NY 12309 377-0146 Coordinator: Larry Alden 861-6087 overlook AT nycap.rr.com This is the Club's 68th Guy Bartlett Century Run, where teams of birders try to find as many species of birds as they possibly can in a single day within the eleven county NYS Region 8. Each group must stay together and jointly identify species reported. Reports must be mailed to the compiler by May 28th in order to be counted and published in "Feathers." Also, please e-mail Birdline (birdline AT hmbc.net) with the total species and highlights for your group. Note: Contact Larry Alden if you have any questions or need suggestions. Also let Larry know if you need people to fill out a group or are interested in joining a group; he may be able to make a match. Sunday, May 19, 2013 - 7:30am - 12:00pm Malta Business Park (Tech Park) Coordinators: Susan and Tom Beaudoin 584-8116 smbeaudoin AT gmail.com This trip will consist of hiking two different trail systems in the Malta Tech Park, as well as walking some of the sidewalks along the roads within the Tech Park. Both have gentle to moderate uphill sections. The first trail is off Hermes Road and is a narrow foot/mountain bike path through a forested area along a ridge. Singing Hermit Thrushes and Veeries can be heard. From this trail we will connect to the 100 Acre Wood trail system located off Stonebreak Road. These trails are broader, covered with wood chips, and have stone benches and bridges crossing small streams. Here warblers, flycatchers, Scarlet Tanagers, Wood Thrushes and other woodland species can be found. Along the roadside we will look for Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Towhees, Eastern Bluebirds, sparrows and raptors. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Park-and-Ride lot in the Malta Business Park. Coming from the south on I-87 (the Northway), take Exit 12 and stay to the right, heading east on Rt. 67 toward Route 9. From the north, go ¾ of the way around the traffic circle at Exit 12 to head east on Rt. 67. At the next traffic circle, take the first right into the business park and turn right again to the parking area. Don Gresens 370-3923 dgresens AT nycap.rr.com ------------------------------------Subject: Tennessee Warbler - New Yard Bird From: "John" <hersheyj AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 16:34:45 -0000 I've been envious of some of the reports of uncommon birds in the backyard on HMBirds. So, I've been checking the small area in the back of my yard where there are trees and brush. I assumed I was hearing a Nashville Warber this morning but when I got a brief look at it, I saw that it was definitely a (similar sounding) TENNESSEE. They are fresh in my memory from the field trip at Vischer Ferry on Sunday. I think I now have to add a new species to my list of birds that are more common in this area than we think. My list now includes: Swainson's Thrush, Winter Wren, Blackpoll Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, Philadelphia Vireo, and Tennessee Warbler. Also, continuing my exercise in migration appreciation, I'd say a likely point of origin for this bird would be Panama or Columbia (after checking a Cornell lab map). John H. Clifton Park ------------------------------------Subject: The Washington Park Effect - 5/16 From: Tristan Lowery <tristanlowery AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 11:14:46 -0400 Heading out to grab my bike on the way to Albany's Washington Park this morning, I had at least six Yellow-rumped Warblers in my yard. My yard is never particularly birdy, so I took this as a promising sign. I birded the city park from just after six-thirty to a little past ten o'clock.There was warbler activity in the conifers along Englewood Drive the moment I got there: my first Blackburnian Warbler of the year, along with a few Yellow-rumpeds and both Black-throated Greens and Blues. After about a half an hour things got quiet again, so I took a walk around the lake, where I found a Green Heron, a female Baltimore Oriole, and the continuing drake Wood Duck. Just as I was thinking of leaving for a new spot, I started hearing a lot of birds (again, around Englewood) as it suddenly got a lot warmer and buggier. For the next forty-five minutes I watched a good variety of warblers pass through the treetops overhead: a ridiculous number of Yellow-rumpeds (at least thirty all day, I'd say), more Black-throated Greens and Blues, Chestnut-sided, Nashville, American Redstart, Black-and-White, Northern Parula, and my second BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (another male) in as many days. Also of note were at least three Least Flycatchers (actively singing), a Blue-headed Vireo, and a (late?) Ruby-crowned Kinglet. As I was reluctantly leaving just after ten, I distinctly heard a singing Cape May Warbler. It sang persistently for another minute, but never showed itself. After it went quiet for good (or moved on secretly), I spent another ten minutes search for what would have been a lifer, to no avail. I'm not counting it, but I am reporting it because it was there. One complaint about the park itself: I don't think I've ever been in a noisier city park in my life. The number of people that have been in Central Park on a single day is greater than the entire population of the City of Albany, yet you can find a great many spots in Central that are downright quiet. But there are cars everywhere in Washington Park; I'm beginning to think the whole park is nothing more than an idiotically planned short-cut through the city center for drivers. Also, I don't think there's a single square foot of that park with grass that's ever higher than half an inch, and yet the groundskeepers are continuously riding around on lawnmowers every single day I'm there. No wonder no one ever birds there. Anyways, good birding. Tristan Lowery Albany [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Todays Birds From: "Alan" <earthday49 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 04:56:15 -0000 This morning I still had a PINE SISKIN coming to the feeder AND a female Pileated Woodpecker decided to check out all the activity and also found the suet. Photo link attached. This evening a Veery came up to our waterfall for a drink and bath. Once they arrive here in the spring this is a daily occurrence until they leave in the fall. Following the Veery to the water was a male Black-throated Blue Warbler. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/photos/album/201324896/pic/1739072\ 814/view?picmode=original&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=61&dir=asc Alan SchroederGuilderland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Ann Lee Pond today From: "neilfmanning" <nfmanning AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 00:57:27 -0000 Stopped by the Ann Lee Pond after work this afternoon and was rewarded with good looks at singing American Redstart and Scarlet Tanager. Also, female Hooded Merganser with chicks....cute. -Neil ------------------------------------Subject: Birdline for May 15 From: "philwhitney17" <philwhitney17 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 00:43:06 -0000 Birdline summary for week ending May 15: Best of the week: RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: Lake George 5/10 (4) BLACK VULTURE: Ghent 5/11; Pine Bush 5/12 (2). RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: Averill Park 5/7. VIRGINIA RAIL: Black Creek Marsh 5/9 (2); Vischer Ferry 5/11; Ramshorn/Livingston 5/15.. SORA: Black Creek Marsh 5/15. BONAPARTE'S GULL: Lake George 5/10. WHIP-POOR-WILL: Malta Tech Park 5/9. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: Daketown 5/12. CLIFF SWALLOW: Alcove Reservoir 5/15. AMERICAN PIPIT: Papscanee 5/9 (2); Pine Bush 5/12 (4). TENNESSEE WARBLER: Vischer Ferry 5/12; Albany 5/12. CAPE MAY WARBLER: Vischer Ferry 5/11; Albany 5/12; Normanskill Farm 5/12; Poestenkill 5/14; Five Rivers 5/14. BAY-BREASTED WARBLER: Albany 5/15. WORM-EATING WARBLER: Albany 5/7; Ravena 5/13. WILSON'S WARBLER: Albany 5/12; East Greenbush 5/15. ORCHARD ORIOLE: Normanskill Farm 5/10, 5/12 (3); Ghent 5/11 (2); Coxsackie Grasslands 5/11 (2). New arrivals and a winter holdover: Brant: Ramshorn/Livingston 5/15 (165). Semipalmated Plover: Cohoes Flats 5/14 (5). Least Sandpiper: Coxsackie Grasslands 5/11 (7); Chatham 5/12 (5); Cohoes Flats 5/14 (15). Chimney Swift: Delmar 5/7 (2); Normanskill Farm 5/10, 5/12 (~30); Vischer Ferry 5/12. Least Flycatcher: Ghent 5/8; Vischer Ferry 5/11, 5/12; Five Rivers 5/11. Bank Swallow: Stuyvesant 5/9 (60). Blackpoll Warbler: Albany 5/12. White-crowned Sparrow: 10 reports. Indigo Bunting: Daketown 5/12. Pine Siskin: 9 reports. Thanks to Susan Beaudoin (Malta Tech Park), Suzanne Cardinal (Ghent), Nancy Castillo (Providence), Deb Ferguson (Delmar), Larry Federman (Ramshorn/Livingston), Mark Fitzsimmons (New Scotland, Duanesburg, Glenmont), Alan French (Glenville), Dan Furbish (Saratoga), Rich Guthrie (Durham, Coxsackie Grasslands), Sue Hendler (Edinburg), John Hershey (Vischer Ferry), John Kent (Normanskill Farm), Nancy Kern (Ghent, Stuyvesant), Ellen Kieweg (Chatham), Naomi King (Papscanee, Averill Park), Eric Krantz (Lake George), Priscilla Leonard (Jonesville), Naomi Lloyd (West Sand Lake), Tristan Lowery (Albany, Normanskill Farm), Jim de Waal Malefyt (Pine Bush, Poestenkill), Alan Mapes (New Scotland), Jeff Nadler (Daketown), Ellen Pemrick (West Charlton), Will Raup (Albany), Gregg Recer (Vischer Ferry), Alan Schroeder (Guilderland, Pine Bush), Zack Schwartz-Weinstein (Five Rivers, Normanskill Farm), Scott Stoner (Five Rivers),Marlene Vidibor (Ghent), Tom Williams (Alcove, Black Creek Marsh, Ravena, Pine Bush, Five Rivers, Cohoes Flats), Chad Witko (Ghent) and Will Yandik (Livingston). ------------------------------------Subject: Fw: eBird Report - RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, May 15, 2013 From: "Larry Federman" <birderlarry AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 14:56:43 -0400 Best birds of the morning were 4 White-crowned Sparrows, 3 loons winging NW, and a large flock of Brant. Larry Federman Education Coordinator Audubon New York Rheinstrom Hill, Buttercup Farm, and RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuaries and Centers RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, Greene, US-NY May 15, 2013 7:15 AM - 11:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.2 mile(s) Comments: Mostly cloudy, starting temps in the upper 30s! Started raining around 9:30 am, then off and on light drizzle. 55 species Brant 165 Canada Goose 4 Wood Duck 7 Common Loon 3 Great Blue Heron 3 Turkey Vulture 1 Bald Eagle 5 2 adults near nest, 2 eaglets in nest, 1 immature flying north Red-tailed Hawk 2 Virginia Rail 1 Mourning Dove 2 Chimney Swift 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Willow Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Eastern Kingbird 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 223 American Crow 17 Fish Crow 1 Tree Swallow 5 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 4 Veery 3 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 1 Gray Catbird 5 Blue-winged Warbler 3 Black-and-white Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 3 American Redstart 5 Magnolia Warbler 2 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 9 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 7 White-crowned Sparrow 4 Scarlet Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 4 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Red-winged Blackbird 8 Common Grackle 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Baltimore Oriole 3 American Goldfinch 5 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14123140 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/ny) ------------------------------------Subject: Many birds From: marlene vidibor <mvidibor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 10:54:52 -0700 (PDT) Today about 1 pm saw the following: Ruby throated hummer male at hb feeder and looking for flowers but didn't seem to be finding them although many out in pots. Trying to find flowers at hanging pots but not too many there yet. Seems to remember where they were last year. Will have to reposition some hanging pots. He flew down back looking for where I have columbines I guess. White crowned sparrow seen several times before including early spring on my deck before I knew what it was; seen today feeding from seed dropped by other birds into flower pots. Blue Jay likewise at seed in flower pots. Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds duking it out at the suet and sunflower seeds. Chipping Sparrows many American Goldfinches - one at sunflower feeder sharing with an English Sparrow, yesterday all day and days before, always in good weather, an army of GF's. Three thistle seed feeders out. No red or purple finches however, strange? Chickadees just showed up. More later Marlene Vidibor wildbraidart.com wildbraidart.etsy.com "Like" me at https://www.facebook.com/pages/wildbraidart/116041095100245 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: City of Albany - 5/15 From: Tristan Lowery <tristanlowery AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 13:35:04 -0400 I headed out in high hopes after some promising radar last night, but birding was pretty slow on this rather chilly morning at Normanskill Farm, where I ran into Zach S-W upon arrival. We covered most of the property but turned up only four species of warblers (Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and American Redstart), along with Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-eyed Vireo, White-crowned Sparrow, and at least one Bobolink. Zach also picked out a Savannah Sparrow's song along the banks of the Normanskill. I headed over to the UAlbany campus late in the morning to study for finals, but decided to walk across campus and look for birds before the rain came down. I'm glad I did; my first bird was a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER singing its high, needling song from the treetops behind the baseball field. Only my third one ever, and second in spring. Two Yellow-rumped warblers were there too, but it took me almost another hour before finding another group, which included Black-throated Blue Warbler, a female Magnolia Warbler, and a few more Yellow-rumpeds. I also had solo appearances of Great-crested Flycatcher and Eastern Kingbird. A pair of Spotted Sandpipers were at the Indian Pond, and I noticed nesting activity by pairs of Tufted Titmouse, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, and a Killdeer already running around with four young ones. Good birding! Tristan Lowery Albany [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Around Albany County- 5/15 From: "Thomas Williams" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 17:02:01 -0000 Did some scouting for Saturday's Century Run this morning. Still quite a few species just arriving, or not here yet. Flycatchers are conspicuously hard to find. Late-arriving warblers are even later this season. As Susan mentioned, same goes for Indigo Bunting. Three more nights to bring them in, should be just in time if the weather holds as forecast. At Black Creek Marsh I Sora little dude walking on the fringe: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31316159 AT N02/8741884792/sizes/h/in/photostream/ Basic Creek reservoir (permit required) was nearly devoid of bird life, except for a cloud of swallows swirling across the surface of the water. At the Alcove spillway there were many more swallows, including at least one Cliff Swallow. Tom Williams Colonie ------------------------------------Subject: Indigo Bunting Help From: "Susan" <smbeaudoin1 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 15:38:34 -0000 I've been tramping the Malta Tech Park the past few days to scout out birds for this coming Sunday's field trip and have yet to see or hear a single Indigo Bunting. If anyone has seen one there could you reply privately and let me know what section it was located. What I have seen and heard a lot of are E. Towhees, Ovenbirds, Veeries, Hermit & Wood Thrushes, and Chestnut-sided Warblers. In fewer number, but reliable, are Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanagers and Black-throated Blue Warblers. Today I also heard a Black-throated Green and a Barred Owl, and saw Northern Harrier and White-throated Sparrow. Susan Beaudoin Stillwater ------------------------------------Subject: Re: Woodcock? From: "ricobirdo" <ricobirdo AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:29 -0000 Thanks to everyone who responded. Sounds like it probably was indeed a woodcock, but I'll keep an eye out for nighthawks, too. - Gabrielle --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "ricobirdo"Subject: Re: Pine Siskens - New Scotland From: Alan Schroeder <earthday49 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 22:16:49 -0400 I was surprised to find one at my feeder this morning in Guilderland. Sent from my iPad On May 14, 2013, at 5:44 PM, Alan MapesSubject: Re: Woodcock? From: "Larry Federman" <birderlarry AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 21:45:01 -0400 There was a post yesterday of woodcocks still going strong, I believe in the Albany area. Larry Federman Education Coordinator Audubon New York Rheinstrom Hill, Buttercup Farm, and RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuaries and Centers From: ricobirdo Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 9:03 PM To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [HMBirds] Woodcock? I just stepped outside for moment at dusk and heard what sounded like a woodcock "peenting." I came in and played the sound on Cornell's all about birds site, and sure enough that was what I had heard. But I thought that woodcock mating activity was all done by now, and also there's not much woodland here. The terrain is mostly open fields. Is there some other critter that sounds exactly like a woodcock? Thanks for any ideas on this. - Gabrielle Isenbrand Esperance, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------Subject: Woodcock? From: "ricobirdo" <ricobirdo AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 01:03:19 -0000 I just stepped outside for moment at dusk and heard what sounded like a woodcock "peenting." I came in and played the sound on Cornell's all about birds site, and sure enough that was what I had heard. But I thought that woodcock mating activity was all done by now, and also there's not much woodland here. The terrain is mostly open fields. Is there some other critter that sounds exactly like a woodcock? Thanks for any ideas on this. - Gabrielle Isenbrand Esperance, NY ------------------------------------Subject: Re: Pine Siskens - New Scotland From: Priscilla <greenmtbluebird AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 17:48:06 -0700 (PDT) I have had a flock of pine siskins at my feeder the past few days. Noisy, agressive; they empty the feeder at least once a day. They will be moving on, right?! Priscilla Jonesville ________________________________ From: Alan Mapes |