Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
Northern New York Birds

> Home > Mail
> Alerts

Updated on Saturday, March 13 at 10:02 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Brazilian Mergansers,©BirdQuest

13 Mar RE: NNYBirds: Pine Siskins, Loon Lake ["Larry Master" ]
13 Mar NNYBirds: Purple Finches in Canton [Eileen Wheeler ]
14 Mar NNYBirds: Pine Siskins, Loon Lake ["cynthia_martino" ]
13 Mar NNYBirds: Ausable Point Saturday ["bustedstuff55" ]
13 Mar NNYBirds: NNYA Cullman grant application ["Charlotte Demers" ]
11 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Re: Many Boreal Chickadees [Dana Rohleder ]
11 Mar NNYBirds: Wood Ducks, RWBBs ["dmbirder5" ]
11 Mar NNYBirds: Ausable Pt. migrants. ["William" ]
11 Mar NNYBirds: Re: Many Boreal Chickadees ["Jeff Nadler" ]
11 Mar NNYBirds: Many Boreal Chickadees [Zachary Wakeman ]
11 Mar NNYBirds: Nightlife in Potsdam ["Joan E. Collins" ]
09 Mar NNYBirds: southern Gyrfalcon - no ["Jeff Nadler" ]
8 Mar NNYBirds: Syracuse RBA [Joseph Brin ]
08 Mar NNYBirds: White Gyrfalcon sighting in southern NY ["Jeff Nadler" ]
8 Mar NNYBirds: Song sparrow ["Julie" ]
07 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Tufted Duck [Dana Rohleder ]
7 Mar NNYBirds: Tufted Duck []
7 Mar NNYBirds: Tufted Duck ["Bill Krueger " ]
07 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon [Dana Rohleder ]
7 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon [William Stahl ]
07 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon [Dana Rohleder ]
7 Mar RE: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon [Jeffery Davis ]
07 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon [Dana Rohleder ]
7 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover? []
07 Mar NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon ["Jeff Nadler" ]
06 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover? [Dana Rohleder ]
6 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover? ["janet akin" ]
06 Mar NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover? ["Jeff Nadler" ]
6 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Tufted Duck at Ausable Pt. ["Julie" ]
06 Mar NNYBirds: Tufted Duck at Ausable Pt. ["bustedstuff55" ]
06 Mar NNYBirds: Hawk Owl ["TomG" ]
05 Mar NNYBirds: Ivory Gull ["TomG" ]
05 Mar NNYBirds: Common tern - thank you ["J" ]
4 Mar RE: NNYBirds: More tern photos - 50/50 split ["grosbeak AT clarityconnect.com" ]
04 Mar NNYBirds: Tern-50/50, more photos ["J" ]
05 Mar NNYBirds: More tern photos - 50/50 split ["J" ]
04 Mar NNYBirds: Ivory Gull ["TomG" ]
4 Mar RE: NNYBirds: Tern ID help ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ]
3 Mar NNYBirds: Ivory Gull today? [Hope Batcheller ]
3 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Tern ID help [Brian McAllister ]
03 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Tern ID help [Dana Rohleder ]
04 Mar NNYBirds: Tern ID help ["J" ]
3 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Northern Hawk Owl [William Stahl ]
3 Mar NNYBirds: Northern Hawk Owl [Peter Relson ]
02 Mar NNYBirds: Ivory Gull and Northern Hawk Owl ["TomG" ]
02 Mar NNYBirds: Bird List ["Ellen Rathbone" ]
02 Mar Re: NNYBirds: Question on Grosbeaks and others ["Ellen Rathbone" ]
2 Mar NNYBirds: Ivory Gull [Bill Krueger ]
1 Mar NNYBirds: Syracuse RBA [Joseph Brin ]
1 Mar NNYBirds: Black-backed Woodpecker, near Long Lake [Lewis Grove ]
1 Mar NNYBirds: Essex County Birds [Matthew Medler ]
1 Mar RE: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ]
1 Mar NNYBirds: File - HelpFile - PLEASE READ & SAVE!! []
28 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory Gull ["ConserveBirds" ]
28 Feb Re: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos ["Sue Stewart" ]
28 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory Gull ["Julie" ]
28 Feb Re: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos ["Sue Stewart" ]
28 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory Gull & Hawk Owl ["TomG" ]
28 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos ["tom" ]
28 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos ["larry master" ]
28 Feb NNYBirds: Thanks to U.S. birders ["Sheldon H" ]
28 Feb NNYBirds: recent birds in Essex []
27 Feb NNYBirds: Champlain Northern Hawk Owl ["TomG" ]
27 Feb NNYBirds: tufted duck and others [Tom Armstrong ]
27 Feb NNYBirds: tufted duck and others []
27 Feb Re: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull [Larry Master ]
27 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory Gull ["TomG" ]
26 Feb Re: NNYBirds: Re: NNYBirds: ["mary beth warburton" ]
26 Feb NNYBirds: Re: NNYBirds: [Dana Rohleder ]
26 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory Gull...Yes! ["birder64" ]
26 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory gull ["Julie" ]
26 Feb NNYBirds: Lesser Black-back Gull--not present 2/26 [Raven Watcher ]
26 Feb Re: NNYBirds: Question on Grosbeaks and others [Alexander Burdo ]
26 Feb Re: NNYBirds: Question on Grosbeaks and others ["Ellen Rathbone" ]
25 Feb NNYBirds: Ivory Gull ["ConserveBirds" ]
25 Feb Re: NNYBirds: Other Champlain spots to check out [Dana Rohleder ]

Subject: RE: NNYBirds: Pine Siskins, Loon Lake
From: "Larry Master" <lawrencemaster AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:02:25 -0500
We've had both Pine Siskins and Purple Finches at our Lake Placid feeders
for the first time since December.  The first Red-winged Blackbirds and Tree
Sparrows of the season also appeared on our farm this week.

 

Larry Master

 

From: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of cynthia_martino
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2010 8:52 PM
To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: NNYBirds: Pine Siskins, Loon Lake

 

  

I've had quite a few Pine Siskins frequenting my feeder in the last couple
of days. I don't suspect this is unusual but I haven't seen them here until
now (could be I just didn't notice).



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Purple Finches in Canton
From: Eileen Wheeler <eiwheeler AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:24:23 -0800 (PST)
After their absence all winter, we were surprised with 6 Purple Finch (4 males) 
at our feeders this morning. We also had a larger than usual American Goldfinch 
flock of about 40- It was interesting to see the variations of plumage change 
in the males as they get into their spring molt. 


Another unusual occurrence- a little later I saw three Ravens foraging in the 
backyard near the feeders. We hear ravens occasionally, but I don't recall 
seeing them near the house before. 


Looking forward to Spring,

Eileen Wheeler
Canton, NY


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Pine Siskins, Loon Lake
From: "cynthia_martino" <cynthia_martino AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:52:01 -0000
I've had quite a few Pine Siskins frequenting my feeder in the last couple of 
days. I don't suspect this is unusual but I haven't seen them here until now 
(could be I just didn't notice). 

Subject: NNYBirds: Ausable Point Saturday
From: "bustedstuff55" <bustedstuff55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:14:52 -0000
At Ausable Point today:

Lake side:

Scaup
Ringnecks
Goldeneyes
Hooded Mergansers
Bufflehead
Common Mergansers
Mallards

Marsh side:

Canada Geese
Green Winged Teal (8) 
Red Winged Blackbirds 
Adult Bald Eagle perched by the blockhouse
Kingfisher
Song Sparrow

Tom Armstrong
Peru



Subject: NNYBirds: NNYA Cullman grant application
From: "Charlotte Demers" <cdemersny AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:57:58 -0000
Northern New York Audubon is accepting applications for the Joseph and Joan 
Cullman Conservation Foundation 2010 grants. Deadline is March 31st. Projects 
that support Audubon's mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems 
through research and education are eligible for this grant. More information 
and application procedures can be found on the NNYA web site - 
http://nnya.org/conservation/cullman/ 

Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Re: Many Boreal Chickadees
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:28:06 -0500
Jeff,

Take some sunflower seeds or granola - they'll often eat out of your 
hand up there sometimes.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 3/11/2010 5:14 PM, Jeff Nadler wrote:
> Thanks for the report Zachary. Hoping to climb Colden in April so I will 
listen for them! 

>
> Jeff Nadler
>
> --- In Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com, Zachary 
Wakeman wrote: 

>>
>> I spent last Sunday-Monday hiking/camping in the High Peaks and by far the 
most abundant bird seen and heard was the boreal chickadee. 

>> - Saw a pair near Avalanche Lake
>> - another 2-3 heard on Lake Colden near the Beaver Point Lean-to
>> - saw/heard at least four more on Cliff Mt (also saw an eagle soaring from 
the summit) 

>> - Heard a few Monday morning at the Beaver Point Lean-to again
>> - Saw and heard over a dozen as I climbed Cold Brook Pass Monday morning
>>
>> I noticed that along with most of the sightings from this trip and the 
boreal chickadees I saw a month ago on Macomb Mt. that they were foraging in 
sites that were disturbed by either wind or slides fairly recently in younger 
trees. Is this common? 

>>
>> Zachary Wakeman
>> West Monroe, NY
>> www.zacharywakemanphotography.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
Subject: NNYBirds: Wood Ducks, RWBBs
From: "dmbirder5" <dmbirder5 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:25:54 -0000
No luck with the Tufted Duck (of course) at Ausable today, but I did manage to 
spot 4 WOOD DUCKS at Noblewood Park late this morning. In addition, I saw many 
Red-winged Blackbirds at the Magic Triangle, and several HOODED MERGS at 
different stops along the lake. 


I also saw a black squirrel on the Highlands Road (in Keeseville). This is 
incidentally the third black squirrel I've seen in the last few months, after 
not seeing any that I can recall. 


Happy early spring...

Dayna
Subject: NNYBirds: Ausable Pt. migrants.
From: "William" <adkbunkhouse AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:12:31 -0000
They are slowly trickling in.
Heard a Killdeer.
Many Red-winged Blackbirds
Widgeon (5) with c. geese along rt. 9
Hooded Mergansers
Canada Geese
Common Grackles
Lots of Mallards and Black Ducks acting frisky. (Locals?)
Paddled around Ausable R. delta a little. Mostly Ring-billed Gulls (50-100) on 
south sand bar with 1 adult Bald Eagle. Just a few Black-backed Gulls around. 
Many Goldeneye from Ausable Pt. all the way to Port Kent. Some Bufflehead and 
Common Merganser mixed in. Large raft of Scaup still on lake just north of 
area. Didn't look for Tufted Duck, sorry. 

Also seen, Raven and Pileated Woodpecker in woods between river outlets.

Red-winged Blackbirds also seen in Wilmington. Thats what prompted me to go 
down to the lake and have a look around. 


Bill Stahl
Wilmington 
Subject: NNYBirds: Re: Many Boreal Chickadees
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:14:28 -0000
Thanks for the report Zachary. Hoping to climb Colden in April so I will listen 
for them! 


Jeff Nadler

--- In Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com, Zachary Wakeman 
 wrote: 

>
> I spent last Sunday-Monday hiking/camping in the High Peaks and by far the 
most abundant bird seen and heard was the boreal chickadee. 

> - Saw a pair near Avalanche Lake
> - another 2-3 heard on Lake Colden near the Beaver Point Lean-to
> - saw/heard at least four more on Cliff Mt (also saw an eagle soaring from 
the summit) 

> - Heard a few Monday morning at the Beaver Point Lean-to again
> - Saw and heard over a dozen as I climbed Cold Brook Pass Monday morning
> 
> I noticed that along with most of the sightings from this trip and the boreal 
chickadees I saw a month ago on Macomb Mt. that they were foraging in sites 
that were disturbed by either wind or slides fairly recently in younger trees. 
Is this common? 

> 
> Zachary Wakeman
> West Monroe, NY
> www.zacharywakemanphotography.com
> 
> 
>       
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Subject: NNYBirds: Many Boreal Chickadees
From: Zachary Wakeman <zachnaturephotos AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:49:18 -0800 (PST)
I spent last Sunday-Monday hiking/camping in the High Peaks and by far the most 
abundant bird seen and heard was the boreal chickadee. 

- Saw a pair near Avalanche Lake
- another 2-3 heard on Lake Colden near the Beaver Point Lean-to
- saw/heard at least four more on Cliff Mt (also saw an eagle soaring from the 
summit) 

- Heard a few Monday morning at the Beaver Point Lean-to again
- Saw and heard over a dozen as I climbed Cold Brook Pass Monday morning

I noticed that along with most of the sightings from this trip and the boreal 
chickadees I saw a month ago on Macomb Mt. that they were foraging in sites 
that were disturbed by either wind or slides fairly recently in younger trees. 
Is this common? 


Zachary Wakeman
West Monroe, NY
www.zacharywakemanphotography.com


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Nightlife in Potsdam
From: "Joan E. Collins" <JECollins AT twcny.rr.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:52:17 -0500
3/11/10 Potsdam

 

At 1:45 a.m., our bedroom window was vibrating to the sound of a vocalizing
Great Horned Owl.  I opened the window and also heard a calling Barred Owl
farther back in the forest.  So I decided to go outside for awhile.  The
Great Horned Owl continued to hoot, and there was another Great Horned Owl
calling nearby.  Then, coyotes began to howl.  They were particularly eerie
last night, and I wished I had recording equipment to capture the sounds
they were making.  I really wish I didn't need sleep because I love the
nocturnal world.

 

I just spent several days in Cincinnati (not a birding trip) and on my last
night (Monday), I stayed in hotel by the airport (the Cincinnati airport is
actually in Kentucky!).  I stepped outside to drive somewhere for dinner,
and Amer. Woodcocks were peenting and displaying!  It was an odd location in
a small amount of habitat amid lots of large buildings and a highway!  I
kept my sliding door open and they vocalized throughout the night.  Amer.
Robins began to sing at 4 a.m.  I also heard Northern Cardinals and Song
Sparrows singing.  It was 20 degrees warmer there and it felt like spring.
It made me anxious for spring to arrive in the North Country!

 

Joan Collins

Potsdam & Long Lake



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: southern Gyrfalcon - no
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:34:02 -0000
That southern NY bird turned out to be a leucistic Red-tailed Hawk.

I can assure you my sighting was not a hawk. The flight, wing shape, wing 
pattern were a flacon and not a hawk. The vocals were a gyrfalcon. It's 
probably much easier to distinguish a gyrfalcon from a leucistic Red-tailed 
Hawk when viewed in flight vs. a perched bird from a distance, which is how the 
southern NY bird was observed. So I guess i was very lucky! 


(FYI. My son actually saw a white gyrfalcon well ahead of me, thanks to his 
being based in Thule Greenland for a year. He had zero risk of it being a 
falconry bird. :) 


Jeff Nadler


Subject: NNYBirds: Syracuse RBA
From: Joseph Brin <brinjoseph AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 15:45:16 -0800 (PST)
RBA
 
*  New York
*  Syracuse
*  March 08, 2010
*  NYSY 0803.10
 
Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert
Dates(s):
March 01, 2009 - March 08, 2010
to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com
covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County),
Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison & Cortland
compiled:March 08 AT 6:00 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Joseph Brin
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
 
 
#195 -Monday March 08, 2010
 
 
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of March 01 , 
2009 

 
Highlights:
-----------

NORTHERN SHOVELER
CANVASBACK
NORTHERN GOSHAWK
PEREGRINE FALCON
KILLDEER
ICELAND GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
GLAUCOUS GULL
NORTHERN HAWK OWL (Extralimital)
NORTHERN SHRIKE
COMMON RAVEN
CAROLINA WREN
FOX SPARROW


Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)
------------

     No reports this week.


Migrants seen this week
-------------------

     TURKEY VULTURE
     NORTHERN GOSHAWK
     RED-TAILED HAWK
     NORTHERN SHOVELER
     RUSTY BLACKBIRD
     COMMON GRACKLE
     KILLDEER


Onondaga County
------------

 At Baldwinsville on the Seneca River GLAUCOUS GULL, ICELAND GULL, and LESSER 
BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen up to 3/7. None of these species were found today 

     3/1: A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Rt.80 east of Fabius.
     3/2: The Beaver Lake Nature Center was seen this day and on 3/5.
 3/3: 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS were seen alon the Erie Canal Trail On Shapp Road 
near the Peru Bridge. PEREGRINE FALCON activity was seen on the webcam. 

 3/5: A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen along the Erie anal Trail near the Peru 
bridge. 

 3/7: 12 species of waterfowl were seen on Onondaga Lake from the Nine Mile 
Creek inlet. Highlights were CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, both SCAUP species and SWAN 
species. 



Oswego County
------------

 3/3: A CANVASBACK and an ICELAND GULL were seen on Oneida Lake in Brewerton. A 
COMMON RAVEN was seen at Selkirk Shores State Park. A NORTHERN SHRIKE Awas seen 
on Halsey Road in Mexico. 



Madison County
------------

      3/3: A PINE SISKIN continues to come to a feeder in Erieville.


Herkimer County
------------

     3/8: A FOX SPARROW is still frequenting a feeder near Cedar Lake.


Derby Hill
------------

 This is the first week of official Hawk counting at Derby Hill. Only three 
species, TURKEY VULTURE, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and RED-TAILED HAWK were deemed to 
be true migrants. The new Hawk counter is Seth Cutright. Stop up and say hi. 



Extralimital
-------------

 The IVORY GULL discovered at Rouse’s Point on Lake Champlain in Clinton 
County has not been seen since 3/2. The NORTHERN HAWK OWL being seen in 
Champlain, also Clinton County, was last reported on 3/6. 


     

 --end transcript
 
--
Joseph Brin
Region 5
Baldwinsville, N.Y.  13027  U.S.A.


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: White Gyrfalcon sighting in southern NY
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:34:52 -0000
Wow, so now there is one being seen down in New Paltz per a NYS Bird post.

Some gyr-ponderings that I have.

-Could my bird or this bird be the same, it flew south?
-Just coincidence of 2 birds within a couple days or is this the time they 
migrate? But migrate from where? 

-Could these birds if different be raised and released falconer birds and not 
wild birds? 

-If wild, where was the bird wintering that I saw? Perhaps some beach on LI or 
NJ? Or perhaps in the Lake Champlain Valley right here? 


(I've read that official acceptance of gyrfalcon sightings is not typical due 
to releases of falconry birds.) 


Jeff Nadler
Subject: NNYBirds: Song sparrow
From: "Julie" <mcjbird AT charter.net>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 12:54:30 -0500
While observing the Tufted Duck at AuSable Point on Saturday, March 7th,
I also heard a Song Sparrow.  The first of the season RW Blackbird showed
up at my feeder on Sunday, March 8th. Maybe this spring weather will hold 
on.... 


Julie Lattrell
Keeseville, NY

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Tufted Duck
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:44:55 -0500
All,

About 4:30 pm the TUDU was on the east side of the raft. It took nearly 
20 min. to find it in the fray using IS binocs. A good scope would 
probably have been better, but the black back and distinct tuft were 
clearly visible at 15X. I didn't have a prayer to pick out the possible 
hen reported earlier.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 3/7/2010 5:00 PM, JPThax5317 AT aol.com wrote:
> We saw the Tufted Duck at about 2:15 this afternoon.  As  described earlier
> today and yesterday, seen from Rt 9 about 100 yards N of the  AuSable
> Campground entrance. The large Scaup raft was about 150 yards offshore. The 

> Tufted was off the S end of the raft with only a dozen  other birds.  Later
> when it began diving more frequently, it mixed in with the denser part of the 

> raft and was more difficult to find after diving.   We had great looks for
> about 15-20 minutes.  Scanning the small flock at  the end of the raft, John
> spotted the prominent tuft immediately.
>
> Pat&  John Thaxton
> Keene, NY
>
>
Subject: NNYBirds: Tufted Duck
From: JPThax5317 AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 17:00:36 EST
We saw the Tufted Duck at about 2:15 this afternoon.  As  described earlier 
today and yesterday, seen from Rt 9 about 100 yards N of the  AuSable 
Campground entrance.  The large Scaup raft was about 150 yards  offshore.  The 
Tufted was off the S end of the raft with only a dozen  other birds.  Later 
when it began diving more frequently, it mixed in with  the denser part of the 
raft and was more difficult to find after diving.   We had great looks for 
about 15-20 minutes.  Scanning the small flock at  the end of the raft, John 
spotted the prominent tuft immediately.
 
Pat & John Thaxton
Keene, NY


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Tufted Duck
From: "Bill Krueger " <billkrueger AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 16:48:13 +0000
This bird was still present at Ausable Point this morning. It took us more than 
half an hour to find it. It was near the edge of the raft of scaup and seemed 
to avoid the densely packed areas. 


Bill Krueger
Plattsburgh, NY
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry



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

All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    Northern_NY_Birds-digest AT yahoogroups.com 
    Northern_NY_Birds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Northern_NY_Birds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:01:45 -0500
Bill,

Yes, I suppose that is it. But jeezus, flying 1-4 thousand miles over
the course of a winter is quite an energy expenditure as well...

I suppose another part of the equation is that Gyrs are more ambush
hunters (like buteos) as opposed to Peregrines and Merlins (like
accipiters), who tend to specialize more in bird prey therefore have
more of a tendency to chase down their prey on the wing. Possibly it is
more of an issue of the nature of their preferred hunting styles as
opposed to any particular prey abundance.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 3/7/2010 10:29 AM, William Stahl wrote:
> Dana- I think you're right with the energy theory, trying to catch a
> gull. Where I work in AK we see them almost daily. Ptarmigan are
> their main diet up there. One interesting episode I witnessed was an
> adult Gyr. taking down an imm. Lesser Sandhill Crane! Amazing site.
> The parent cranes were not happy, and harassed the falcon for a
> bit.Awesome bird.Just thought I'd share this while we are all waiting
> for spring. Bill StahlWilmington NY
>
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon
From: William Stahl <adkbunkhouse AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 07:29:23 -0800 (PST)
Dana- I think you're right with the energy theory, trying to catch a gull. 
Where I work in AK we see them almost daily. Ptarmigan are their main diet up 
there. One interesting episode I witnessed was an adult Gyr. taking down an 
imm. Lesser Sandhill Crane! Amazing site. The parent cranes were not happy, and 
harassed the falcon for a bit.Awesome bird.Just thought I'd share this while we 
are all waiting for spring. 

Bill StahlWilmington NY

--- On Sun, 3/7/10, Dana Rohleder  wrote:

From: Dana Rohleder 
Subject: Re: NNYBirds:  Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon
To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, March 7, 2010, 10:15 AM















 
 



  


    
      
      
      'course on their breeding grounds they can't be quite as picky!



I was thinking more of through the winter. Why fly thousands of miles 

when there are gulls aplenty along most coasts? Maybe they don't provide 

enough fat or particular nutrients/enzymes that mammals can offer. Or 

possibly the amount of energy required to kill a gull isn't worth the 

amount of nutrients they can provide. Who knows - maybe it's just too 

damn cold and they prefer the "warmer" weather...



Dana Rohleder

Port Kent, NY



On 3/7/2010 9:00 AM, Jeffery Davis wrote:

>

> Unless, of course, its an Ivory Gull! I guess they have discerning tastes! ;)

>

> http://peregrinepri nts.com/ind_ _WhatsNew. htm

>

> regards,

> jeff

>

> Downingtown, PA

>

> Checkout our bird photos at the link below:

> http://www.flickr. com/photos/ jeffamy/

>

> "Birding Like I Have Six Months To Live"

>

> ...One thing that always amazes me is that Gyrs and other raptors don't

> often utilize one of the most common food sources in the area - gulls.

> It seems nothing wants to eat a gull. (Insert funny comment here!) I

> would think a Gyr could spend a winter anywhere there is a decent gull

> population without accumulating so many frequent-flier miles.

>

> Dana Rohleder

> Port Kent, NY

>

>   		 	   		

>





    
     

    
    


 



  











      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:15:04 -0500
'course on their breeding grounds they can't be quite as picky!

I was thinking more of through the winter. Why fly thousands of miles 
when there are gulls aplenty along most coasts? Maybe they don't provide 
enough fat or particular nutrients/enzymes that mammals can offer. Or 
possibly the amount of energy required to kill a gull isn't worth the 
amount of nutrients they can provide. Who knows - maybe it's just too 
damn cold and they prefer the "warmer" weather...

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 3/7/2010 9:00 AM, Jeffery Davis wrote:
>
> Unless, of course, its an Ivory Gull! I guess they have discerning tastes! ;)
>
> http://peregrineprints.com/ind__WhatsNew.htm
>
> regards,
> jeff
>
> Downingtown, PA
>
> Checkout our bird photos at the link below:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffamy/
>
> "Birding Like I Have Six Months To Live"
>
> ...One thing that always amazes me is that Gyrs and other raptors don't
> often utilize one of the most common food sources in the area - gulls.
> It seems nothing wants to eat a gull. (Insert funny comment here!) I
> would think a Gyr could spend a winter anywhere there is a decent gull
> population without accumulating so many frequent-flier miles.
>
> Dana Rohleder
> Port Kent, NY
>
>   		 	   		
>
Subject: RE: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon
From: Jeffery Davis <jwdjwd67 AT msn.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 09:00:30 -0500
Unless, of course, its an Ivory Gull! I guess they have discerning tastes! ;)

http://peregrineprints.com/ind__WhatsNew.htm

regards,
jeff

Downingtown, PA 

Checkout our bird photos at the link below: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffamy/ 

"Birding Like I Have Six Months To Live"

...One thing that always amazes me is that Gyrs and other raptors don't 
often utilize one of the most common food sources in the area - gulls. 
It seems nothing wants to eat a gull. (Insert funny comment here!) I 
would think a Gyr could spend a winter anywhere there is a decent gull 
population without accumulating so many frequent-flier miles.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

 		 	   		  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:44:39 -0500
Jeff,

I believe you did as well. I saw one last winter - I believe it was
around E-town or Reber somewhere flying fast & low over a fields & 
hedgerows hoping to flush a meal. The white-phase Gyrs are more scarce 
in this area, but again, not at all unheard of. If I remember correctly, 
they are more common much further north - Greenland, etc. Gyrs seen in 
this area in winter are usually greyer birds. According to Cornell's BONA:

"Although an uncommon species, the Gyrfalcon is not rare, as
frequently stated. Remoteness of habitat, fluctuations in breeding
populations and in migratory movements, variability in plumage and
behavior, and rumors of rarity have all combined to make this species
frequently misidentified or overlooked."

Another thing to keep in mind - yes, they are from the tundra, but they 
tend to nest on cliffs and escarpments. It should not be considered 
unusual to see them in mountainous areas. In the western states, they 
are routinely seen in Idaho and Montana. They are typically not highly 
specialized - seemingly comfortable anywhere they can find food - 
shorelines, open areas, mountains, etc.

One thing that always amazes me is that Gyrs and other raptors don't 
often utilize one of the most common food sources in the area - gulls. 
It seems nothing wants to eat a gull. (Insert funny comment here!) I 
would think a Gyr could spend a winter anywhere there is a decent gull 
population without accumulating so many frequent-flier miles.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 3/7/2010 7:12 AM, Jeff Nadler wrote:
> After review of internet flight videos and recorded vocalizations, I
> am confident that indeed the bird observed flying very close
> overhead but within view for only about 8 seconds was an adult white
> gyrfalcon. If only I had photos.
>
> Jeff Nadler
>
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover?
From: JPThax5317 AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 08:02:43 EST
We have found that Phelps Mtn in the high peaks is a good place to see  
raptors on a fall migration day.  A few years ago we had a Gyrfalcon fly by  
the summit.
 
Pat & John Thaxton
Keene, NY
 
 
In a message dated 3/6/2010 5:49:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
jnphotonet AT yahoo.com writes:

 
 
 
Now this is really an ID dilemma for me. When climbing Cascade Mountain  
this morning, I heard a raptor call overhead, looked up and flying over me was 
 a large white raptor with dark wing-tips that I have never seen before. I 
only  had a short lens point and shoot and the bird soon vanished so no 
photo. Calendar-wise and unfamiliarity-Now this is really an ID dilemma for me. 

When climbing Cascade Mountain  this morning, I heard a raptor call 
overhead, looked up and flying over me was  a large white raptor with dark 
wing-tips that I have never seen before. I only had a short lens point and 
shoot 

and the bird soon vanished so no photo.  Calendar-wise and 
unfamiliarity-wise, I was thinking Northern Goshawk all the way home. But 
as I sit here 

with my Sibleys book on page 132, the bird was  pure white with gray-black t
ips, an exact match to the white adult gyrfalcon  on page 132.
I am not sure how to  conclude what I saw due to the rarity of this species 
in our region. I hope  someone in Lake Placid sees this bird!

Since I can't share a photo of  the bird, I'll at least share a photo from 
the summit of Cascade, looking at  Algonquin and Colden. It was indeed the 
most beautiful winter day I've ever  had in the Adirondacks. If I could 
somehow know it was (other sightings,  photos, etc.) Gyrfacon based on Sibleys 
alone, it would be an even more  incredible day. Suggestions?

_http://img130.http://img1http://imghttp://img130.



Subject: NNYBirds:  Cascade Mt. Gyrfalcon
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:12:30 -0000
After review of internet flight videos and recorded vocalizations, I am 
confident that indeed the bird observed flying very close overhead but within 
view for only about 8 seconds was an adult white gyrfalcon. If only I had 
photos. 


Jeff Nadler
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover?
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:18:18 -0500
Jeff,

In winter, Gyr's are seen in the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks 
regularly, but not often. They don't stay in one spot for long, moving 
from lake to field, etc. You may have seen a bird that knows where to 
find snowshoe hares and grouse. The High Peaks don't have a lot of 
fields, but there are a lot of timberline areas as well as frozen 
ponds/lakes/wetlands that can provide food for a ramblin' Gyr.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 3/6/2010 5:28 PM, Jeff Nadler wrote:
> Now this is really an ID dilemma for me.  When climbing Cascade
> Mountain this morning, I heard a raptor call overhead, looked up and
> flying over me was a large white raptor with dark wing-tips that I
> have never seen before. I only had a short lens point and shoot and
> the bird soon vanished so no photo.  Calendar-wise and
> unfamiliarity-wise, I was thinking Northern Goshawk all the way home.
> But as I sit here with my Sibleys book on page 132, the bird was pure
> white with gray-black tips, an exact match to the white adult
> gyrfalcon on page 132. Why should I not say it was so?  This is
> really not the right habitat, correct? It was flying just below the
> summit at the Porter Mtn. junction vs. tundra-like fields.  (It was
> not a male adult northern harrier-I am very familiar with them!) It
> does not match a northern goshawk at all. It was large, noticably
> larger than a peregrine falcon I am not sure how to conclude what I
> saw due to the rarity of this species in our region.  I hope someone
> in Lake Placid sees this bird!
>
> Since I can't share a photo of the bird, I'll at least share a photo
> from the summit of Cascade, looking at Algonquin and Colden. It was
> indeed the most beautiful winter day I've ever had in the
> Adirondacks. If I could somehow know it was (other sightings, photos,
> etc.) Gyrfacon based on Sibleys alone, it would be an even more
> incredible day. Suggestions?
>
> http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2864/cascade029.jpg
>
> Jeff Nadler
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover?
From: "janet akin" <jakin AT rochester.rr.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:23:26 -0500
Here in the Finger Lakes a Gyrfalcon was reported to e-bird on March 4. That 
bird was seen hunting over a field of corn stubble.Also on March 2 a bird 
fitting the same description was seen chasing Redheads on Coneus Lake west of 
here. My friend saw that bird while goose hunting. He described a large white 
predator with black wing tips soaring and diving over the lake. I showed him 
the Sibleys picture today and he said it looked like what he saw. What a 
mystery? Janet Akin, Seneca Castle, NY 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jeff Nadler 
  To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 5:28 PM
  Subject: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover?


    
 Now this is really an ID dilemma for me. When climbing Cascade Mountain this 
morning, I heard a raptor call overhead, looked up and flying over me was a 
large white raptor with dark wing-tips that I have never seen before. I only 
had a short lens point and shoot and the bird soon vanished so no photo. 
Calendar-wise and unfamiliarity-wise, I was thinking Northern Goshawk all the 
way home. But as I sit here with my Sibleys book on page 132, the bird was pure 
white with gray-black tips, an exact match to the white adult gyrfalcon on page 
132. Why should I not say it was so? This is really not the right habitat, 
correct? It was flying just below the summit at the Porter Mtn. junction vs. 
tundra-like fields. (It was not a male adult northern harrier-I am very 
familiar with them!) It does not match a northern goshawk at all. It was large, 
noticably larger than a peregrine falcon 

 I am not sure how to conclude what I saw due to the rarity of this species in 
our region. I hope someone in Lake Placid sees this bird! 


 Since I can't share a photo of the bird, I'll at least share a photo from the 
summit of Cascade, looking at Algonquin and Colden. It was indeed the most 
beautiful winter day I've ever had in the Adirondacks. If I could somehow know 
it was (other sightings, photos, etc.) Gyrfacon based on Sibleys alone, it 
would be an even more incredible day. Suggestions? 


  http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2864/cascade029.jpg

  Jeff Nadler



  


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



  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
 Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2727 - Release Date: 03/06/10 
19:34:00 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Cascade Mt. - possible white adult Gyrfalcon flyover?
From: "Jeff Nadler" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:28:41 -0000
Now this is really an ID dilemma for me. When climbing Cascade Mountain this 
morning, I heard a raptor call overhead, looked up and flying over me was a 
large white raptor with dark wing-tips that I have never seen before. I only 
had a short lens point and shoot and the bird soon vanished so no photo. 
Calendar-wise and unfamiliarity-wise, I was thinking Northern Goshawk all the 
way home. But as I sit here with my Sibleys book on page 132, the bird was pure 
white with gray-black tips, an exact match to the white adult gyrfalcon on page 
132. Why should I not say it was so? This is really not the right habitat, 
correct? It was flying just below the summit at the Porter Mtn. junction vs. 
tundra-like fields. (It was not a male adult northern harrier-I am very 
familiar with them!) It does not match a northern goshawk at all. It was large, 
noticably larger than a peregrine falcon 

I am not sure how to conclude what I saw due to the rarity of this species in 
our region. I hope someone in Lake Placid sees this bird! 


Since I can't share a photo of the bird, I'll at least share a photo from the 
summit of Cascade, looking at Algonquin and Colden. It was indeed the most 
beautiful winter day I've ever had in the Adirondacks. If I could somehow know 
it was (other sightings, photos, etc.) Gyrfacon based on Sibleys alone, it 
would be an even more incredible day. Suggestions? 


http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2864/cascade029.jpg

Jeff Nadler

Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Tufted Duck at Ausable Pt.
From: "Julie" <mcjbird AT charter.net>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 17:15:55 -0500
Thanks for the posting Tom. After about a half hour of searching I was 
beginning to doubt that I would be able to pick the tufted out from all the 
other ducks. Then all of a sudden he was in my scope. What a sight. 

This was a life bird for me!

Also thanks to TomG and Donna for all their postings on the Ivory Gull and for 
their help when we were up there looking for it, even thought it wasn't found 
that day.... 


Julie Lattrell
Keeseville, NY
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: bustedstuff55 
  To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 12:55 PM
  Subject: NNYBirds: Tufted Duck at Ausable Pt.


    
 At 12:30 today I again found the Tufted Duck among a raft of about 200 Scaup 
just north of the Ausable Point entrance road. Today I was able to single him 
out with binos, about 150 yds from shore before I broke out the scope. He was 
not diving as frequently as last Sunday and eventually I found a female TD (90% 
certain)that seemed to be continually nearby the male. 


 On the Lakeshore Rd south of Great Chazy Boat Launch I found a flock of about 
40 Snow Buntings with 10 Horned Larks in close proximity. 


  Tom Armstrong
  Peru



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Tufted Duck at Ausable Pt.
From: "bustedstuff55" <bustedstuff55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:55:01 -0000
At 12:30 today I again found the Tufted Duck among a raft of about 200 Scaup 
just north of the Ausable Point entrance road. Today I was able to single him 
out with binos, about 150 yds from shore before I broke out the scope. He was 
not diving as frequently as last Sunday and eventually I found a female TD (90% 
certain)that seemed to be continually nearby the male. 


On the Lakeshore Rd south of Great Chazy Boat Launch I found a flock of about 
40 Snow Buntings with 10 Horned Larks in close proximity. 


Tom Armstrong
Peru
Subject: NNYBirds: Hawk Owl
From: "TomG" <tomdonna AT primelink1.net>
Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:23:45 -0000
The Hawk Owl was at his favorite tree on Prospect St. at 6am this morning. Tom 
& Donna Champlain NY 

Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull
From: "TomG" <tomdonna AT primelink1.net>
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:59:58 -0000
We were unable to find The Ivory Gull today.We checked several times at Kelly 
Bay and Stony Point. Tom & Donna Champlain NY 

Subject: NNYBirds: Common tern - thank you
From: "J" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:28:32 -0000
Thank you to all who took their time to review my photos and reply with their 
identification thoughts. I am sorry that the first posted photo was slightly 
overexposed and indicated that the tern was a Forster's. I am glad that the 
additional images helped positively confirm the photo as a common tern. A 
summary of multiple e-mails with the same ID clincher, "The bill is perfect in 
shape and color for a Common, too small and red (versus orange) for a 
Forster's. And note that the wings seem to extend to or just beyond the tail 
tip, normal for a Common, whereas the longer Forster's tail extends noticeably 
beyond the wingtips. There are other more subtle differences (besides size) 
such as the amount of white above the gape, etc." 


I am appreciative that the moderator and members of Northern NY Birds provide a 
website resource that is more than a list for recent bird sightings. In this 
case, assisting with identification is again much appreciated. 


Jeff Nadler
www.jnphoto.net

Subject: RE: NNYBirds: More tern photos - 50/50 split
From: "grosbeak AT clarityconnect.com" <grosbeak@clarityconnect.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 21:57:23 -0500
I'd go with Common Tern.

Matt

Original Message:
-----------------
From: J jnphotonet AT yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:17:37 -0000
To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: NNYBirds:  More tern photos - 50/50 split


Both web and email responses are at 50/50 (4 and 4) on ID thoughts with
requests for more photos. So 
here are two more images -I've kept the plumage tone as close to original
as possible. (sorry if there 
are 2 posts-the first one did not seem to go through)

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/584/tern2.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7478/tern3.jpg

Please reply with your much appreciated thoughts by e-mail. Thanks.

Jeff Nadler




--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web.com – What can On Demand Business Solutions do for you?
http://link.mail2web.com/Business/SharePoint

Subject: NNYBirds: Tern-50/50, more photos
From: "J" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:46:07 -0000
While the website replies have offered Forster's, most of the private e-mail 
replies, going into detail, state it's a common tern. (so 4 and 4 replies) Also 
a request for more photos. Here are different positions and I refrained from 
any Photoshop levels adjustments to avoid white-gray tones that are not 
accurate. I hope these photos assist with confirming the ID. 


http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/584/tern2.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7478/tern3.jpg

The reason I want to confirm the ID is for an Adirondack publication use. I 
have read that common terns, while not breeding, do appear and summer on Lake 
Champlain and Tupper Lake. Forster's would be a huge longshot. But don't let my 
influence wish it to be a common. 


To not fill up the website with posts on this, please reply to me via email 
with yout much appreciated help. 


Thank you!

Jeff Nadler
 

Subject: NNYBirds: More tern photos - 50/50 split
From: "J" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:17:37 -0000
Both web and email responses are at 50/50 (4 and 4) on ID thoughts with 
requests for more photos. So here are two more images -I've kept the plumage 
tone as close to original as possible. (sorry if there are 2 posts-the first 
one did not seem to go through) 


http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/584/tern2.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7478/tern3.jpg

Please reply with your much appreciated thoughts by e-mail. Thanks.

Jeff Nadler
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull
From: "TomG" <tomdonna AT primelink1.net>
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:27:44 -0000
We have been unable to locate the Ivory Gull for the past 2 days despite 8-10 
hrs. of trying.We will be checking tomorrow. Tom & Donna 

Subject: RE: NNYBirds: Tern ID help
From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <chris.bennett AT state.de.us>
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 11:05:54 -0500
In addition to the lack of dark in the primaries - the clean white breast and 
belly is an additional field mark of Forster's Tern - displayed quite nicely on 
this bird. 


Nice photo!

Chris Bennett
Natural Resource Management Specialist
Environmental Stewardship Program
Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 739-9230
Fax: (302) 739-3817

"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What 
good is it?'" 


Aldo Leopold   A Sand County Almanac
From: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com 
[mailto:Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of J 

Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 8:28 PM
To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: NNYBirds: Tern ID help



This was taken last April and I never got arround to concluding on the correct 
ID, breeding Common Tern or Forster's Tern. Location-Mohawk River so migrating. 


Thanks for any strong opinions on the ID.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3722/ternu.jpg

Jeff Nadler



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull today?
From: Hope Batcheller <hope.batcheller AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 21:42:37 -0500
Hi all,

Several birders from the Albany area are planning a trip for the Ivory
Gull tomorrow (Thursday). I've not seen any updates on the VT or NNY
lists, so please post (either positive or negative) about sightings
today.

Thank you, and good birding!
--Hope Batcheller
Petersburgh, NY
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Tern ID help
From: Brian McAllister <birder64 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 17:54:02 -0800 (PST)
Jeff,
I would agree with Dana on this ID. A common tern would have more black, dark 
gray in the primaries. 

Nice shot!

Brian McAllister

www.adirondackalmanack.com

www.adirondackexplorer.org/blogs.php

--- On Wed, 3/3/10, Dana Rohleder  wrote:

From: Dana Rohleder 
Subject: Re: NNYBirds:  Tern ID help
To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 8:46 PM







 



  


    
      
      
      Jeff,



I'm liking Forster's Tern because of the white wings, bright orange of 

the legs and bill tipped with a lot of black.



Dana Rohleder

Port Kent, NY



On 3/3/2010 8:28 PM, J wrote:

> This was taken last April and I never got arround to concluding on the 
correct ID, breeding Common Tern or Forster's Tern. Location-Mohawk River so 
migrating. 


>

> Thanks for any strong opinions on the ID.

>

> http://img4. imageshack. us/img4/3722/ ternu.jpg

>

> Jeff Nadler

>

>

>

> ------------ --------- --------- ------

>

> All postings to Northern_NY_ Birds are protected by copyright law.

> Yahoo! Groups Links

>

>

>

>

>





    
     

    
    


 



  






      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Tern ID help
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:46:56 -0500
Jeff,

I'm liking Forster's Tern because of the white wings, bright orange of 
the legs and bill tipped with a lot of black.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 3/3/2010 8:28 PM, J wrote:
> This was taken last April and I never got arround to concluding on the 
correct ID, breeding Common Tern or Forster's Tern. Location-Mohawk River so 
migrating. 

>
> Thanks for any strong opinions on the ID.
>
> http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3722/ternu.jpg
>
> Jeff Nadler
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
Subject: NNYBirds: Tern ID help
From: "J" <jnphotonet AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:28:21 -0000
This was taken last April and I never got arround to concluding on the correct 
ID, breeding Common Tern or Forster's Tern. Location-Mohawk River so migrating. 


Thanks for any strong opinions on the ID.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3722/ternu.jpg

Jeff Nadler
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Northern Hawk Owl
From: William Stahl <adkbunkhouse AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 10:40:51 -0800 (PST)
I'm planning on going to Rouse's Pt friday. I'll post what I see.
Bill StahlWilmington NY

--- On Wed, 3/3/10, Peter Relson  wrote:

From: Peter Relson 
Subject: NNYBirds:  Northern Hawk Owl
To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 10:54 AM















 
 



  


    
      
      
 Hoping that the Ivory Gull and Hawk Owl will still be there this weekend, 
could anyone provide further detail about on which part of Prospect Street in 
Champlain that the Hawk Owl has been seen? 


 

Thank you.

 

Peter Relson

Ulster Park, NY



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





    
     

    
    


 



  











      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Northern Hawk Owl
From: Peter Relson <prelson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 07:54:30 -0800 (PST)
Hoping that the Ivory Gull and Hawk Owl will still be there this weekend, could 
anyone provide further detail about on which part of Prospect Street in 
Champlain that the Hawk Owl has been seen? 

 
Thank you.
 
Peter Relson
Ulster Park, NY


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull and Northern Hawk Owl
From: "TomG" <tomdonna AT primelink1.net>
Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:41:48 -0000
We observed the Ivory Gull and the Northern Hawk Owl today.The Hawk Owl is 
still at the same location on Prospect Street in Champlain and the Ivory Gull 
was observed early in the day at Kellys Bay in Vermont and later on at 
Lighthouse Point Marina on the New York side of the lake. Tom & Donna Gooley 

Champlain,NY
Subject: NNYBirds: Bird List
From: "Ellen Rathbone" <ejrathbo AT gw.dec.state.ny.us>
Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:22:36 -0500
We had some visitors in today who have been making the rounds and asked me to 
report that they had two grey jays along Oregon Plains Rd. and Bigelow Rd., as 
well as boreal chickadees. 

Additionally, they had pine siskins on Rte. 55 just north of the fork to Oregon 
Plains Road, and they heard a black-backed woodpecker along Rte. 55 at the 
entrance to Begelow Road. 


Ellen

Ellen Rathbone
Environmental Educator 1
Visitor Interpretive Center
5922 State Route 28N, PO Box 101
Newcomb, NY  12852


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Question on Grosbeaks and others
From: "Ellen Rathbone" <ejrathbo AT gw.dec.state.ny.us>
Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:16:23 -0500
Sorry, Alex - our internet was down part of Friday and all of Saturday, and we 
are closed Sundays and Mondays, so this mornign is the first I was able to get 
on-line. I hope you were able to find your birds, even though we were not here 
to fill our feeders. 


Ellen

Ellen Rathbone
Environmental Educator 1
Visitor Interpretive Center
5922 State Route 28N, PO Box 101
Newcomb, NY  12852
>>> Alexander Burdo 02/26/10 10:05 AM >>> 
Ellen, 

Fantastic! If I come on monday will they be full? 

Alex 

Alexander Burdo 
Fairfield, CT 
alexanderburdo AT mac.com 
http://floridascrubjay.wordpress.com/ 
On Feb 26, 2010, at 9:21 AM, Ellen Rathbone wrote: 

> Alex - so far this week the evening grosbeaks have been a sure thing 
> at 
> the Newcomb VIC. There are over 30 in the flock, and they have been 
> waiting for us to fill the feeders when we get here in the morning. 
> That's no guarantee, of course, that they will be here tomorrow or 
> Sunday, but today they are here. 
> 
> Ellen 
> 
> Ellen Rathbone 
> Environmental Educator 1 
> Visitor Interpretive Center 
> 5922 State Route 28N, PO Box 101 
> Newcomb, NY 12852 
> >>> Alexander Burdo 02/24/10 10:00 AM >>> 
> Hi all- 
> 
> I'm going up to NY and VT this weekend for the hawk owls and wondering 
> if there's anywhere in Northern NY that Evening Grosbeaks have been 
> seen or where they're a sure thing. Also any locations for Spruce 
> Grouse or other boreal species would be greatly appreciated. 
> 
> Thanks, 
> 
> Alex Burdo 
> Fairfield, CT 
> alexanderburdo AT mac.com 
> http://floridascrubjay.wordpress.com/ 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 
> 
> 





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



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

All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law. 
Yahoo! Groups Links 




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull
From: Bill Krueger <billkrueger AT hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 10:49:17 -0500
At 9:30 this morning the Ivory Gull was on the ice between fisherman on the VT 
side, south of the bridge. It gave every indication of settling in. 


 

Bill Krueger

Plattsb urgh, NY
 		 	   		  
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469227/direct/01/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Syracuse RBA
From: Joseph Brin <brinjoseph AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 10:11:01 -0800 (PST)
RBA
 
*  New York
*  Syracuse
*  March 01, 2010
*  NYSY 0103.10
 
Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert
Dates(s):
February 22, 2009 - March 01, 2010
to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com
covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County),
Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison & Cortland
compiled:March 01 AT 1:00 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Joseph Brin
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
 
 
#194 -Monday March 01, 2010
 
 
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of February 
22 , 2009 

 
Highlights:
-----------

PEREGRINE FALCON
IVORY GULL (Extralimital)
ICELAND GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
GLAUCOUS GULL
SNOWY OWL
NORTHERN HAWK OWL (Extralimital)
NORTHERN SHRIKE
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
FOX SPARROW


Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)
------------

 2/27: A SNOWY OWL was spotted from the Thruway at the eastern end of the 
Montezuma Complex. 



Onondaga County
------------

 2/22: 2 third year GLAUCOUS GULLS and a juvenile ICELAND GULL were seen in the 
Seneca River at Baldwinsville. Throughout the week up to 4 GLAUCOUS and 4 
ICELAND GULLS were seen, most in adult plumage. On the 26th. and the 27th. an 
adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen. Today, 3/01, a fourth year GLAUCOUS 
GULL was seen. The gulls are being seen from Cooper’s Marina well above the 
dam to spots below the dam. 

     2/23: A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen from Rt. 81 near Adams Street.


Oswego County
------------

 2/23: 3 NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen in Hastings. 2 adult birds were spotted on 
Cornell Road and an immature bird was seen on Baum Road. 



Herkimer County
------------

     2/27: A FOX SPARROW continues to overwinter at a feeder near Cedar Lake.


Cortland County
------------

 2/26: A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen with Horned Larks and Snow Buntings on a 
manure spread near the intersection of Rt.81 and Rt.281. 



Extralimital
------------

 2/28: The NORTHERN HAWK OWL and IVORY GULL continue to be seen in Clinton 
County. The Owl is being seen on Prospect Street in the village of Champlain. 
The Gull is being seen at Rouse’s Point on Lake Champlain a few miles to the 
east. 


   

 --end transcript
 
--
Joseph Brin
Region 5
Baldwinsville, N.Y.  13027  U.S.A.


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Black-backed Woodpecker, near Long Lake
From: Lewis Grove <zugunlew AT gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 11:38:19 -0500
Hey all,

Not quite as exciting as the Ivory Gull show up in the NE corner of the
state, but on Saturday morning, I spotted a Black-backed Woodpecker in a
small bog a few miles north of Long Lake, right along Rt 30.

A few miles north of that, a beautiful bobcat crossed the road in front of
my car.

Best,
Lewis

-- 
Lewis Grove
MS Candidate, Ecology
State University of New York
College of Environmental Science & Forestry
Department of Environmental and Forest Biology
244 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210
(814) 880-5667


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Essex County Birds
From: Matthew Medler <mdm2 AT cornell.edu>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 05:12:27 -0800 (PST)
Hi All,

Just a quick note to pass along a few selected sightings that Jay McGowan and I 
had in Essex County after heading south from the Ivory Gull on Saturday (27 Feb 
2010): 


Noblewood Park, Willsboro
2 Red-necked Grebe
1 White-winged Scoter
40+ Horned Grebe
12 Common Loon

Westport
1 Killdeer--this sighting is 2 days earlier than the early date listed in 
Carleton and Peterson's "Birds of Essex County." 


Crown Point
2 Ferries
1 Bald Eagle
No Bridge

Good birding,
Matt Medler
Ithaca, NY
Subject: RE: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos
From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <chris.bennett AT state.de.us>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 08:07:26 -0500
Larry,

Great photos! I was lucky enough to see the juvenile bird that showed up in 
Cape May back in November - but my photos didn't come out nearly as nice. I did 
have the bird fly within about 3 feet of my face however - which made the poor 
photos seem a little less of a disappointing. What a beautiful bird! 


Take Care.

Chris Bennett
Natural Resource Management Specialist
Environmental Stewardship Program
Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 739-9230
Fax: (302) 739-3817

"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What 
good is it?'" 


Aldo Leopold   A Sand County Almanac
From: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com 
[mailto:Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of larry master 

Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 5:08 PM
To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos



I wanted to share some photos from yesterday morning at Rouses Point where
one of the most subtly beautiful birds in the world put on a nice display
for morning visitors under mostly cloudy but calm skies. Low resolution
images are posted at
http://www.masterimages.org/Birds/Ivory%20Gull/index.html (images #4-37 are
the Rouses Point bird). The red orbital ring is barely visible in some of
the images. The delight in seeing this rare Arctic visitor is tempered by
the knowledge that monitored breeding colonies in Canada declined 80%
between the 1980s and 2005. One has to wonder if the increase in sightings
the last two winters in U.S. waters is related to degradation of its
foraging and wintering habitat in its normal winter haunts along the
southern edge of the thinning and shrinking Arctic pack ice.

As always, if anyone would like high resolution versions of any of the
images on my web site, please email me off group.

Larry Master

Lake Placid

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



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: File - HelpFile - PLEASE READ & SAVE!!
From: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com
Date: 1 Mar 2010 11:55:02 -0000
PLEASE READ & SAVE!!!

Northern_NY_Birds (NNYBirds) Monthly Help & Information File

Please read the list guidelines (see below) before engaging in discussion. 
In addition, familiarize yourself with how the list operates, especially if 
you've never participated in an Internet email discussion group before.  
It's a good idea to SAVE THIS MESSAGE somewhere so you know how to 
unsubscribe and alter your subscription settings.

GUIDELINES:

A discussion area for amateur to expert birders to report rare, unusual, or 
simply interesting bird sightings in Northern NY. This would include the 
Adirondacks, St. Lawrence, Tug Hill, Eastern Lake Ontario, and Lake Champlain 
areas. Loosely, anywhere east of Lake Ontario/I-81 and north of I-90. Relevant 
cross-postings from neighboring groups are also encouraged. 


On the website, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds , events and 
trips relative to the group may be posted and/or placed on the group calendar. 
Birding-related photos, files, and polls may also be uploaded. Please feel free 
to use any of these features. 


This is an UNMONITORED list, which means that no one is monitoring messages 
before they are sent out to subscribers. Therefore, contributers should keep in 
mind the purpose of this list and should avoid discourteous and inappropriate 
messages. 


Group etiquette encourages members to state at least their first name and their 
location at the end of each post. 


The primary website for the group can be found at: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds 

I highly recommend you visit it regularly as content and features are added 
from time-to-time. 


To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, go to the website, at 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds 

and select the  link from the menu bar
at the top.  This menu will also let you change your subscription
between digest(one LONG message/day) and normal(separate email messages) mode.

EMail Only Access:

When dealing with a listserver, there are two types of messages, namely,  
COMMANDS and POSTS. 

EMAIL COMMANDS 

These e-mail messages are intended to cause some action to occur, such as
subscribing the FROM address to a mailing list.  Commands are usually one or
two word phrases which should be entered in the SUBJECT field of the message. 
Any other fields are ignored... it doesn't matter what you put in them.

The following commands are accepted:

To JOIN a group, send a blank message to:
Northern_NY_Birds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com 

To UNSUBSCRIBE from a group, send a blank message to:
Northern_NY_Birds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com 

To POST a message to a group, send your message to:
Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com 

To post a message to a group's owners and moderators, send a message to:
Northern_NY_Birds-owner AT yahoogroups.com 

To put your email message delivery on hold for a group, send a blank message 
to: 

Northern_NY_Birds-nomail AT yahoogroups.com 

To change your subscription to daily digest mode, send a blank message to:
Northern_NY_Birds-digest AT yahoogroups.com 

To change your subscription to individual emails, send a blank message to:
Northern_NY_Birds-normal AT yahoogroups.com 

To receive general help information, send a blank message to:
Northern_NY_Birds-help AT yahoogroups.com 


Thanks,
Dana C. Rohleder, O.D.
List Administrator
Northern_NY_Birds-owner AT yahoogroups.com 




Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull
From: "ConserveBirds" <conservebirds AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:04:30 -0500
To Donna and Tom Gooley, who continue to post updates for all of us who 
wanted so badly to see this bird...
To Bob from Long Island (sorry for never getting your last name) for 
discovering this well-camoflaged bird...
To all those who were scoping the area all day...
THANK YOU!  What a  lovely bird to have visit our state.

Mona Bearor
South Glens Falls
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos
From: "Sue Stewart" <stewart51 AT verizon.net>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:57:28 -0500
Larry Master,

I was privledged to see the Ivory Gull as well as the Tufted Duck..  Thanks 
to HMBC
for the means to get there and desire to share info and scopes!
am excited about your photos-? is the red orbital ring [as in 
SibleyGuide-the orbital feathers]?
Thanks,
Sue S.
Stewart51 AT verizon.net



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "larry master" 
To: 
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 5:08 PM
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos


>I wanted to share some photos from yesterday morning at Rouses Point where
> one of the most subtly beautiful birds in the world put on a nice display
> for morning visitors under mostly cloudy but calm skies.  Low resolution
> images are posted at
> http://www.masterimages.org/Birds/Ivory%20Gull/index.html (images #4-37 
> are
> the Rouses Point bird).  The red orbital ring is barely visible in some of
> the images.  The delight in seeing this rare Arctic visitor is tempered by
> the knowledge that monitored breeding colonies in Canada declined 80%
> between the 1980s and 2005.  One has to wonder if the increase in 
> sightings
> the last two winters in U.S. waters is related to degradation of its
> foraging and wintering habitat in its normal winter haunts along the
> southern edge of the thinning and shrinking Arctic pack ice.
>
>
>
> As always, if anyone would like high resolution versions of any of the
> images on my web site, please email me off group.
>
>
>
> Larry Master
>
> Lake Placid
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull
From: "Julie" <mcjbird AT charter.net>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:36:53 -0500
I will be trying again to find the Ivory Gull tomorrow (Monday morning). Do I 
need a scope? 


Wonderful pictures, Larry.  Thanks for the link.

Julie Lattrell
Keeseville, NY


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos
From: "Sue Stewart" <stewart51 AT verizon.net>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:06:12 -0500
sorry-- I see the 'orbital ring' in Sibley-- [bare parts of a birds head]
Sue S. previous inquirey..
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "larry master" 
To: 
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 5:08 PM
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos


>I wanted to share some photos from yesterday morning at Rouses Point where
> one of the most subtly beautiful birds in the world put on a nice display
> for morning visitors under mostly cloudy but calm skies.  Low resolution
> images are posted at
> http://www.masterimages.org/Birds/Ivory%20Gull/index.html (images #4-37 
> are
> the Rouses Point bird).  The red orbital ring is barely visible in some of
> the images.  The delight in seeing this rare Arctic visitor is tempered by
> the knowledge that monitored breeding colonies in Canada declined 80%
> between the 1980s and 2005.  One has to wonder if the increase in 
> sightings
> the last two winters in U.S. waters is related to degradation of its
> foraging and wintering habitat in its normal winter haunts along the
> southern edge of the thinning and shrinking Arctic pack ice.
>
>
>
> As always, if anyone would like high resolution versions of any of the
> images on my web site, please email me off group.
>
>
>
> Larry Master
>
> Lake Placid
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull & Hawk Owl
From: "TomG" <tomdonna AT primelink1.net>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:24:13 -0000
The Ivory gull was on the south side of the breakwater on the edge of the ice 
about 3:30 pm. this afternoon. Also the Northern Hawk Owl was on Prospect 
Street in Champlain this afternoon. 

Tom & Donna Gooley
Champlain NY
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos
From: "tom" <tomdonna AT primelink1.net>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:18:18 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time)
Nice to see you yesterday. You got some great photos. 
Tom & Donna Gooley
Champlain NY

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull photos
From: "larry master" <lawrencemaster AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:08:16 -0500
I wanted to share some photos from yesterday morning at Rouses Point where
one of the most subtly beautiful birds in the world put on a nice display
for morning visitors under mostly cloudy but calm skies.  Low resolution
images are posted at
http://www.masterimages.org/Birds/Ivory%20Gull/index.html (images #4-37 are
the Rouses Point bird).  The red orbital ring is barely visible in some of
the images.  The delight in seeing this rare Arctic visitor is tempered by
the knowledge that monitored breeding colonies in Canada declined 80%
between the 1980s and 2005.  One has to wonder if the increase in sightings
the last two winters in U.S. waters is related to degradation of its
foraging and wintering habitat in its normal winter haunts along the
southern edge of the thinning and shrinking Arctic pack ice.

 

As always, if anyone would like high resolution versions of any of the
images on my web site, please email me off group.

 

Larry Master

Lake Placid



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Thanks to U.S. birders
From: "Sheldon H" <ve2shw AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:04:18 -0000
My wife and I would like to thank all the U.S. birders for their hospitality 
this past week. I had the chance to see the Ivory Gull twice, first on Monday 
morning and then again yesterday with my wife, adding this excellent lifer to 
our list. 


To add to the excitement, we also added the Tufted Duck late yesterday morning, 
another lifer. 


We'd like to particularly thank three local birders (unfortunately we didn't 
get their names) who we spotted on Route 9 near the Au Sable campgrounds. Their 
excellent spotting skills and knowledge of the area help us to not only add the 
Tufted Duck to our life list, but helped pull out a number of Redheads and a 
great male Canvasback from the thousands of ducks seen at the location. 


We had a great time with them, taking in the birds and comparing notes on 
birding in the "your" version of the North Country, and our birding areas in 
southern Quebec. 


Thank you to everyone in your birding community who helped out visitors from 
other parts. We hope that we can return the favour in the near future. 


Sheldon and Darlene Harvey
Greenfield Park, Quebec
Subject: NNYBirds: recent birds in Essex
From: <edticknor AT sympatico.ca>
Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:01:59 +0000

This morning, just before 10 am, a Northern Shrike was hunting along Middle Rd 
where the School Rd meets Middle. Further along, before Whallons Bay Rd a small 
flock of Snow Buntings.Continuing along on my way to Elizabethtown on 22, there 
is a horse farm on the left, and more than 22 Wild Turkeys in the field across 
the road, more because some were already disappearing into the treed 
area.Coming back along Lakeshore Rd the usual Common Goldeneye and a few 
grebes. Then, by South Farm, a large flock of American Robins, then a smaller 
one of Cedar Waxwings.Nice day.......... 

Eve Ticknor Peregrine Falcon Watch Coordinator Ottawa Field Naturalists Club 
38-9 Gillespie Cres 

Ottawa, Ontario
K1V 9T5 613-859-9545
613-737-7551

The road to the future is always under construction.

 		 	   		  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Champlain Northern Hawk Owl
From: "TomG" <tomdonna AT primelink1.net>
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:04:59 -0000
The Northern Hawk Owl was on Prospect Street in Champlain this afternoon.
Tom & Donna Gooley
Champlain NY

Subject: NNYBirds: tufted duck and others
From: Tom Armstrong <bustedstuff55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:57:41 -0800 (PST)
On my way back from ice fishing today, I thought I'd try for the Tufted Duck 
again at Ausable Point after having tried since it was first spotted.  Seeing a 
single woman with a scope  was enough to make me turn around at the Ausable 
Point Campground and set up my scope on Route 9.  The duck was in with a group 
Scaup about 200 yards from shore and feeding actively.  I got several great 
views and added it to my life list after having gotten the Ivory Gull in Rouses 
Point earlier this week.  By the time I left there were ten more scopes set up 
and everyone was able to see the bird.  And now for my next nemesis bird. . . 
Tom Armstrong, Peru 



      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: tufted duck and others
From: mruddyduck AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:59:51 -0500
Hello all,

Since I know a lot of birders will be out and about in the north country today 
I thought I'd post this early. This morning I checked Ausable Point with Matt 
Medler and Jay McGowan from Ithaca for the TUFTED DUCK, and found it easy to 
spot from rte 9 just before the campground entrance. The duck moved often but 
stayed away from the large rafts of Scaup and instead spent its time in smaller 
groups of 5-20 Scaup and Goldeneye, closer to shore than the larger rafts were. 
The water is nice and calm and great visibility allowed us to find a CANVASBACK 
and a REDHEAD among a raft of ~1000 mixed SCAUP as well. 

With that I've had two life birds in one week without leaving Clinton 
county--its been a great week for birding! 


Melanie McCormack
Plattsburgh





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull
From: Larry Master <lawrencemaster AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:24:38 -0500
Watching the Ivory Gull now (10:35 pm). It's been feasting on two  
provided fish right beside the breakwater. Images will be posted  
tonight.

Larry Master (518-645-1545)
Lake Placid
Sent from my iPhone

On 2010-02-27, at 9:37 AM, "TomG"  wrote:

> The Ivory Gull was still at the breakwater in Rouses Point this  
> morning.We found him around 7am and he was still there when we left  
> at 9:30. Tom & Donna Gooley
>
> 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull
From: "TomG" <tomdonna AT primelink1.net>
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:37:52 -0000
The Ivory Gull was still at the breakwater in Rouses Point this morning.We 
found him around 7am and he was still there when we left at 9:30. Tom & Donna 
Gooley 

Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Re: NNYBirds:
From: "mary beth warburton" <mbwarburton AT verizon.net>
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:56:47 -0500
 As Joan Howlett and I arrived at the jetty at the end of Stony Point Rd. 
today, (around 3:00) a student from Syracuse University named Chris and a nice 
gentleman from Burlington, VT. (forgot his name) had just spotted the Ivory 
Gull. Chris was kind enough to hold the scope from blowing away as we took 
turns looking at the bird. We watched the IVGU chase 2-3 Great Black-Backed 
gulls that kept trying to steal it's food. We were not able to identify what it 
was eating but it was not intimidated one bit by it's much larger relatives. A 
very beautiful bird and worth the trip. 

Thanks to Bill Stahl who joined us on the jetty for the directions to the 
Northern Hawk Owl location even though we did not see it. 


Mary Beth Warburton
Potsdam,NY




From: Dana Rohleder 
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 8:44 PM
To: Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com 
Subject: NNYBirds: Re: NNYBirds:


  
Bill/all,

FWIW, when I saw the TUDU on Thursday, it was with a small group of
about 20 Ringneck Ducks just N of Ausable Point entrance about 100 yds.
offshore. The scaup at the time were ~1/4 mile offshore.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 2/26/2010 8:34 PM, wpurcell AT twcny.rr.com wrote:
> As already reported the Ivory Gull was seen from the end of Stony
> Point Road at the south end of the village of Rouses Point and was
> apparently there for a good part of the day on Friday. I was on
> Prospect St. in Champlain around 3 PM and did not see the Northern
> Hawk Owl while 2 other birders I talked to had not seen the owl in
> several visits today. Our theory (or hope) was that the strong winds
> kept the owl low today. North of Ausable Point State Park 2 of us did
> not find the Tufted Duck with the rafts of Scaup but the birds were
> bobbing in the waves caused by the northeast winds. Saturday's
> forecast is for lower winds.
>
> Bill Purcell Hastings NY
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Re: NNYBirds:
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:44:42 -0500
Bill/all,

FWIW, when I saw the TUDU on Thursday, it was with a small group of
about 20 Ringneck Ducks just N of Ausable Point entrance about 100 yds.
offshore. The scaup at the time were ~1/4 mile offshore.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 2/26/2010 8:34 PM, wpurcell AT twcny.rr.com wrote:
> As already reported the Ivory Gull was seen from the end of Stony
> Point Road at the south end of the village of Rouses Point and was
> apparently there for a good part of the day on Friday. I was on
> Prospect St. in Champlain around 3 PM and did not see the Northern
> Hawk Owl while 2 other birders I talked to had not seen the owl in
> several visits today. Our theory (or hope) was that the strong winds
> kept the owl low today. North of Ausable Point State Park 2 of us did
> not find the Tufted Duck with the rafts of Scaup but the birds were
> bobbing in the waves caused by the northeast winds. Saturday's
> forecast is for lower winds.
>
> Bill Purcell Hastings NY
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull...Yes!
From: "birder64" <birder64 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:30:36 -0000
All, just saw this posting on NYS Birds listserve.
Brian McAllister

NYSbirders,
Matt Medler and Jay McGowan just called to report the adult Ivory Gull
in Rouses Point, NY at 4:15 pm.  The bird is being seen on the ice
edge from the end of Stony Point Rd. which, according to Google Maps,
is here:  44.966309,-73.358785
They haven't tried for the Northern Hawk Owl or the Tufted Duck yet,
but they might post later tonight depending on web access.  Roads are
clear and the ground is mainly snowless in the area of Rouses Point.

Hasta mañana,
Tom
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory gull
From: "Julie" <mcjbird AT charter.net>
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:21:29 -0500
Made a trip up to Rouses Point today in hopes of seeing the Ivory Gull.  

Checked everywhere to no avail. Did anyone see it in the morning? I didn't get 

there until noon. Two women had been on the ice with their scope, but they had 
not 

seen it either.

Julie Lattrell,
Keeseville, NY

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Lesser Black-back Gull--not present 2/26
From: Raven Watcher <ravenwatcher AT gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:03:55 -0500
Hello All,

Checked Westport again today around 8 AM for Lesser Black-backed Gull.
About 400 gulls but no Lesser.  One eagle flyby.  With winds from the east
the ice is reduced 50% from yesterday.  No Scaup from Camp Dudley Road.

One Horned Lark on Stevenson Road.

Dan Nickerson

-- 
Dan's Natural History Blog:
Ravenwatcher
"An Eye on the Natural World"
http://ravenwatcher.blogspot.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Question on Grosbeaks and others
From: Alexander Burdo <alexanderburdo AT mac.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:55:14 -0500
Ellen,

Fantastic! If I come on monday will they be full?

Alex

Alexander Burdo
Fairfield, CT
alexanderburdo AT mac.com
http://floridascrubjay.wordpress.com/
On Feb 26, 2010, at 9:21 AM, Ellen Rathbone wrote:

> Alex - so far this week the evening grosbeaks have been a sure thing  
> at
> the Newcomb VIC. There are over 30 in the flock, and they have been
> waiting for us to fill the feeders when we get here in the morning.
> That's no guarantee, of course, that they will be here tomorrow or
> Sunday, but today they are here.
>
> Ellen
>
> Ellen Rathbone
> Environmental Educator 1
> Visitor Interpretive Center
> 5922 State Route 28N, PO Box 101
> Newcomb, NY 12852
> >>> Alexander Burdo 02/24/10 10:00 AM >>>
> Hi all-
>
> I'm going up to NY and VT this weekend for the hawk owls and wondering
> if there's anywhere in Northern NY that Evening Grosbeaks have been
> seen or where they're a sure thing. Also any locations for Spruce
> Grouse or other boreal species would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alex Burdo
> Fairfield, CT
> alexanderburdo AT mac.com
> http://floridascrubjay.wordpress.com/
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> 





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



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

All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    Northern_NY_Birds-digest AT yahoogroups.com 
    Northern_NY_Birds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Northern_NY_Birds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Question on Grosbeaks and others
From: "Ellen Rathbone" <ejrathbo AT gw.dec.state.ny.us>
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:21:25 -0500
Alex - so far this week the evening grosbeaks have been a sure thing at
the Newcomb VIC. There are over 30 in the flock, and they have been
waiting for us to fill the feeders when we get here in the morning.
That's no guarantee, of course, that they will be here tomorrow or
Sunday, but today they are here.

Ellen


Ellen Rathbone
Environmental Educator 1
Visitor Interpretive Center
5922 State Route 28N, PO Box 101
Newcomb, NY  12852
>>> Alexander Burdo 02/24/10 10:00 AM >>>
Hi all-

I'm going up to NY and VT this weekend for the hawk owls and wondering 
if there's anywhere in Northern NY that Evening Grosbeaks have been 
seen or where they're a sure thing. Also any locations for Spruce 
Grouse or other boreal species would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Alex Burdo
Fairfield, CT
alexanderburdo AT mac.com
http://floridascrubjay.wordpress.com/






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NNYBirds: Ivory Gull
From: "ConserveBirds" <conservebirds AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:30:38 -0500
Like Mark from CT, I am in agony that I can't just chuck everything on my 
schedule, and head up to see this bird.  My first opportunity will be 
Sunday, so please continue to post any positive or negative sightings.
Thanks to all for the posts, directions, etc.
Mona Bearor
South Glens Falls

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dana Rohleder" 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 5:25 PM
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Other Champlain spots to check out


: It ain't bad up here today - just raining now. Port Kent got about 18
: inches of wet snow, but there is not as much farther north.
:
: I got the Ivory Gull and Tufted Duck today, but the Hawk Owl was not
: present that I could see.
:
: Dana Rohleder
: Port Kent, NY
:
: On 2/25/2010 12:51 PM, J wrote:
: >
: >
: > Thank you kindly Dana for sharing this comprehensive list.  Now if it 
would just stop snowing.
: >
: >
: > --- In Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com, Dana Rohleder 
wrote:
:
:
:
: ------------------------------------
:
: All postings to Northern_NY_Birds are protected by copyright law.
: Yahoo! Groups Links
:
:
:
Subject: Re: NNYBirds: Other Champlain spots to check out
From: Dana Rohleder <dcrohleder AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:25:59 -0500
It ain't bad up here today - just raining now. Port Kent got about 18 
inches of wet snow, but there is not as much farther north.

I got the Ivory Gull and Tufted Duck today, but the Hawk Owl was not 
present that I could see.

Dana Rohleder
Port Kent, NY

On 2/25/2010 12:51 PM, J wrote:
>
>
> Thank you kindly Dana for sharing this comprehensive list. Now if it would 
just stop snowing. 

>
>
> --- In Northern_NY_Birds AT yahoogroups.com, Dana Rohleder 
wrote: