On Sunday May 23ed, I led a half day trip to Summerhill with the Cayuga
Bird Club. I was joined at the lab by Judy, Leigh, Klaus, Bob McGuire,
Bob Packard, Bruce, Paul, and Don. Later we met up with Bobbie and Linda
at the corner of Route 90 and Lick Street. The morning cloudiness turned
into sunshine and we had a great morning of birding. We first stopped at
the corner of Bone Plain Road and Sheldon Road. We watched Bobolinks,
Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbirds and Barn Swallows flying over the
field. There were also Tree Swallows, and Canada Geese out in the field,
the geese looking quite out of place. A home across from the field had
nest boxes and we observed a beautiful Eastern Bluebird in their yard.
We made stops along Lick Street when we got to the Summerhill area.
Highlights included Alder Flycatcher, Field Sparrow, Blue-Winged
Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Magnolia Warbler, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrows, Ovenbirds, Brown Creepers, and Raven.
We heard, but only got quick glimpses of Yellow-billed Cuckoos.
At the corner of Lick Street and Hoag Roads, we spent a good deal of
time. This is where patience paid off, and we finally got a look at the
Mourning Warbler Bob McGuire had heard out the car window. It took some
time but it finally sat up fairly high for us to watch. This corner was
busy with birds, including Chest-nut sided warblers, Blue-Winged
Warbler, Cedar Waxwings, Indigo Bunting, Veery, Wood Thrush, Purple
Finch and a more distant Scarlet Tanager.
As we continued up Hoag Road we encountered Black-throated Blue Warbler,
Hermit Thrush, and several more Brown Creepers. It was getting late so
we drove over to the the McIllroy Preserve and did a quick walk back to
the platform overlook. New birds we heard or saw included Black-throated
Green Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Great Crested Flycatcher and
Eastern Kingbirds. We watched the Kingbirds in a nest cavity right out
in front of the platform. The Grackles, many of them, were catching
dragonflies of some sort. They looked as if they just wanted to show off
their catches, sitting up on branches or snags, just holding on to their
treasures. On the way around the trail we saw many pink lady slippers in
one area. It was very nice morning to be out birding.
Good Birding!
Gladys
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