With all the field parties now accounted for, here is the final report for this year's NYS Waterfowl Count from locations within Ulster County:
New York State January Waterfowl Count Ulster County - Saturday, 16 January 2010 Twelve observers in six field parties participated in this Ulster County segment of the annual New York State January Waterfowl Count, recording a total of 6,439 individuals of 11 species during an 8.5 hour effort on Saturday, 16 January 2010. Species diversity was the lowest in six years, while total number of individuals was comparable to some of our most productive recent counts. Canada Geese accounted for 82% of all waterfowl recorded. Count day temperatures ranged from 28° (F) at sunrise in Saugerties to a very pleasant 44° (F) by mid-afternoon in Kingston. Winds were calm throughout the day, under some initial early morning clouds that gave way to clear skies and brilliant sunshine for the remainder of the count day. Lakes and ponds were generally frozen, with occasional small pockets of open water. The Hudson River was a mix of solid ice and scattered areas of significant open water along the periphery, and a main channel congested with ice floes. Major creeks and the Wallkill River were generally frozen over still waters but open and flowing freely in areas of stronger currents. Ashokan Reservoir was 100% frozen, Stone Ridge Pond on Mill Dam Road retained approximately one-third open water in the vicinity of the far side underground inlet and contributed a relatively small number of individuals (629) in comparison to recent past years. Agricultural fields were covered with 1-3" of snow for the most part, and entirely devoid of waterfowl, perhaps an indicator of the affects of recent changes in farming practices that reduce or eliminate residual corn in the fields. Grazing pastures at Blue Chip Farm in southern Ulster County attracted a considerable concentration of 1,400 Canada Geese that were scrutinized for potentially rare species of geese by two of our field parties, to no avail. One lone GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was observed associating with a large flock of approximately 700+ Canada Geese in the Hudson River intertidal shallows north of the Saugerties Lighthouse spit, for what is likely our first Ulster County waterfowl count record for this county-wide and regionally uncommon inland species. An AMERICAN KESTREL was also observed perched briefly on a dead snag just southwest of the lighthouse at the confluence of Esopus Creek, where it was immediately harassed and driven off by a murder of crows. Bristol Beach State Park in extreme northern Ulster County provided a nice vantage point to view a sunrise flight of gulls that included one adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, all heading north up the river to points unknown. Seven Bald Eagles (3 adults, 4 juveniles) were observed during the count, all by Mark DeDea, five on the Hudson River from three locations: Post Park in the Town of Ulster (one adult), three juveniles from Kingston Point Beach, and one adult from Dock Street in Marlboro; one adult was observed over the Wallkill River below the dam in Wallkill; and one adult on the Esopus Creek from Clint Finger Road in the Town of Ulster. None of the field parties reported any Great Blue Herons, or neck-banded geese or swans. One Belted Kingfisher was heard vocalizing along the Hudson River from Malden Park in Saugerties. The following is the complete list of waterfowl species with total individuals: Greater White-fronted Goose - 1 Canada Goose - 5,288 Mute Swan - 8 American Black Duck - 79 Mallard - 904 Mallard X Black - 1 Ring-necked Duck - 1 Common Goldeneye - 54 Hooded Merganser - 2 Common Merganser - 99 Common Loon - 1 Double-crested Cormorant - 1 The Hudson River was surveyed from Bristol Beach State Park (Saugerties), Malden Park, Saugerties Lighthouse, Glasco Riverfront Park, Ulster Landing County Park, Rider Park, Ulster Town Park, Immigrant's Way, Kingston Point, Kingston Rotary Park, Sleightsburgh, Port Ewen Beach, River Road (Esopus), Esopus Meadows, Lamont Landing (Esopus), Black Creek confluence (Winding Brook Road, Esopus), Mariner's Restaurant (Highland), and Dock Street in Marlboro. Additional inland areas surveyed include The Great Vly in Saugerties; Esopus Creek from the Ashokan Reservoir outflow to confluence with Hudson River; Wallkill River from the Orange County line to confluence with Rondout Creek; Rondout Creek; Sawkill Creek; Plattekill Creek from the Ulster County line south; Ashokan Reservoir (upper and lower basin); Saugerties Reservoir; Kingston Reservoirs #1 and #4; Cooper Lake; Williams Lake; Binnewater Lakes; Kenozia Lake; Onteora Lake; Sturgeon Pool; New Salem Lake; Kingston Point Lagoon; Bennekill Pond; Harcourt Wildlife Sanctuary; Humpo Marsh; Stone Ridge Pond on Mill Dam Road; and several agricultural fields throughout the eastern half of the county. Thanks to the following field observers for providing comprehensive coverage of the county: Lynn & Allan Bowdery, Jayne Dean, Mark DeDea, Kyla Haber, Michelle Higgins, Evelyn & Bob Rifenburg, Wyatt Smith, Selden Spencer, and Charlie Woodruff. Steve M. Chorvas - compiler Saugerties, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
