3/27/14 Minerva (western Essex Co.) and Long Lake (northern Hamilton Co.)
I spent a few hours birding this morning - calm, sunny, and very cold (3 degrees). Here are some of the species found: Wild Turkey - quite a few observed at several different feeder areas in Long Lake Bald Eagle - adult soaring over Route 30 in Long Lake Boreal Chickadee - at least 5 at a stop along Route 28N in Minerva. I watched them for a long time and took many photos, but none nice enough to post on Facebook! Brown Creeper - a non-stop singing bird near the Roosevelt Truck Trailhead in Minerva Purple Finch - many; found at every stop Red Crossbill - 4; Found at 3 different stops in Minerva (2 new locations) - one pair near the Boreal Chickadee location, a singing bird, and another bird (male) gritting in the road (I took one photo of this bird before a truck startled it from the road. Once again, Red Crossbills are nesting along the Route 28/28N corridor in Hamilton and Essex Counties as they did two winters ago. Evening Grosbeak - several heard vocalizing as they flew nearby while I was observing the Boreal Chickadees. Minerva is the only location where I have found Evening Grosbeaks this winter/spring. 3/26/14 Minerva (western Essex Co.) and Long Lake (northern Hamilton Co.) I spent a few hours birding mid-morning yesterday. It was a very windy, cold day. Here are some of the species: Red-shouldered Hawk - soaring down the road from our house - likely the same bird that I have been posting (the record early 3/6/14 arriving bird) Northern Shrike - last evening, I startled this bird from our back porch floor at 6:50 p.m. (it was watching for the many small rodents that have a network of tunnels under our bird feeders). I took over 90 photos of the bird since it only flew a short distance from the porch. I used my scope/iPhone adapter and photographed through the glass door. I was surprised that the photos came out since it was nearly sunset. I posted 4 photos to my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian . We also observed the bird around noon outside our kitchen window - it was immediately chased away by Blue Jays. Purple Finch - many - both at our feeders and everywhere I stopped in Minerva Red Crossbill - 4 at one stop in Minerva. As I got out of the car, I immediately heard a calling bird - a female that I briefly observed before it flew to an area that I believe is a likely nesting location. A bit later, a group of 3 calling Red Crossbills flew over me, and landed too far away for me to see them. Joan Collins Long Lake, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
