Every once in a while, a birding day goes so well, you just can't believe how much you enjoy it. Arlene Borko and I started out early this morning, meeting a group of our friends at the Bashakill. Scott Baldinger, Ed Morse, Gary VanHouten, Ken McDermott, Steve Sckyler and a few others all got together to try for some of the birds seen over the last couple of days. We were not disappointed. At the Pine Boat Launch at the Bashakill we had PINE WARBLER and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. On the Birch Trail we added several PALM WARBLERS. All the usually expected ducks, Ring-necked, Black, Bufflehead, Common and Hooded Merganser etc were seen. The Barred Owl which has been at the launch the last couple of weeks did not call this mornging, but we still had it yesterday. The Snow Goose at the Main Boat Launch apparently headed out overnight. The drake CANVASBACK was still present just west of the Nature Trail. A flock of CHIPPING SPARROWS was a first of the year for all of us. From there we headed up-county to try for some things we have missed in the valley. A breeding plumaged HORNED GREBE was among the many Common Mergansers on Kiamesha Lake. Morningside Park had relatively few birds with a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT being the only bird of note. After a rest this afternoon, a few friends went out for dinner. Arlene and I then headed to Pine Kill Road to try for AMERICAN WOODCOCK, which Arlene didn't have yet. When we stepped out of the car, there were Woodcock peenting and fluttering all around. The sound that struck me however was quite different. I excitedly proclaimed NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL!! The owl called incessantly over the next half an hour. Scott and Paula Baldinger were able to come and hear the bird for fifteen minutes until we finally pulled ourselves away. A great day! John Haas
-- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
