A dawn visit to the Shawangunk Grasslands in Ulster county yesterday (6/5) was rewarded with great looks at the continuing Henslow's Sparrow and Dickcissel, as well as numerous Bobolink and Grasshopper Sparrows. Upland Sandpipers were heard calling from the town park side of the grasslands. What was surprising to me was a Wilson's Snipe in flight over a wet area in the center of the grasslands. It is the only June record for the site in Ebird and only one of a small handful of "downstate" records for the month. A Purple Martin inspecting the nest house near the parking area was encouraging as well. A quick stop in Sterling Forest, Orange County turned up Golden-winged Warbler and Alder Flycatcher, both of which were very vocal.
Ebird checklists with documentation photos and some audio are at these links: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37397628 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37403565 Good birding! Sean Sime Brooklyn, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --