7/18/15 Long Lake (Hamilton County)
Twenty-seven people and one dog took part in the Annual Loon Census on Long Lake. There were 10 boating parties covering the 14-mile Long Lake. We tallied 11 Common Loons (all adults) this year (we usually tally 11 to 13 loons). Everyone enjoyed breakfast at Phil Terrie's boat-access only camp at the north end of the lake after the count - a beautiful, peaceful place! (Photo of the group on my Facebook page below.) On a 7/16/15 tour with a birder from eastern Long Island, NY, we visited Whiteface Mountain at dawn, River Road, Bloomingdale locations, and Sabattis Circle Road. This was one of my most memorable tours - one that I will always remember! We found a Bicknell's Thrush nest site at dawn, among many observed singing and calling Bicknell's Thrushes this day (plus a fabulous sunrise!). We ran into Pat and John Thaxton and told them where the nest site was located. We re-visited the location and Pat & John had just observed two young fledge! One of the fledgling Bicknell's Thrushes was in the road being fed by the adult -it was a remarkable sight! The fledgling had no tail and it was adorable! Its feet and toes were bright pink. It appeared to be quite tired and snuggled up against the rock wall to roost. We all observed this behavior from a great distance - I used my scope and iPhone attachment, and Canon Powershot SX 50 for photographs (the Canon did a much better job than the scope/iPhone, so I should have used it for all the photos). We also heard 3 more fledglings at another location along the road - so it appeared that 7/16 was the date when Bicknell's Thrush young were fledgling! (Photos of the fledgling Bicknell's Thrush on my Facebook page below.) We found the following 52 species: Turkey Vulture Broad-winged Hawk Mourning Dove Ruby-throated Hummingbird Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker - wonderful views of a male Northern Flicker - pair on Whiteface American Kestrel Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Gray Jay - 3 (2 adults and a juvenile) Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee - at least 4 including a begging fledgling Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Bicknell's Thrush - many singing and calling! And fledglings!!! Swainson's Thrush - several observed and many heard Hermit Thrush American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler - nice observation of a bird near its (still active) nest site! Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler - including females carrying food Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow - Sabattis Bog White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Indigo Bunting Purple Finch We also observed a large Black Bear along Sabattis Circle Road! 7/12/15 Long Lake I found a Ruffed Grouse with 3 chicks along Sabattis Circle Road. (Photo on my Facebook page below.) Joan Collins Editor, New York Birders Long Lake, NY (315) 244-7127 cell (518) 624-5528 home http://www.adirondackavianexpeditions.com/ http://www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian -- 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/ --
