5/3/10 Southeastern St. Lawrence Co. (Town of Colton)
Today, during a drive from Potsdam to Tupper Lake, at ~4:30 p.m., a Sandhill Crane was observed flying over Route 56 (east to west). The location was approx. 5 miles north of the Route 56-Route 3 intersection in the Town of Colton. Very exciting! (Several years ago, a pair had been observed in Tupper Lake - about 15 miles from today's sighting.) I did not have a chance to search for the 2 birds singing Golden-winged Warbler songs yesterday (5/2/10). I took our dogs out early this morning for a walk and once again found 2 birds singing Golden-winged songs. I chose to search for the one I didn't try for yesterday, and it led me deep into WET brushy habitat. I was soaked to the knees with water and mud from my wet bushwhack. Every time I caught up to the bird, it moved. After it had led me a long way, it stopped singing. I imagined it laughing at me from some hidden perch. I gave up the stubborn pursuit. Fortunately, the other bird I tried to find yesterday was at the shrubland edge farther down the trail. Unfortunately, it was a first generation male Brewster's Warbler. I've observed Blue-winged Warblers move into, and increase in number, in the area behind our Potsdam home during the past 5 years. It was distressing to see this area transition so quickly from a Golden-winged Warbler only area, to an area with Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers, and now evidence of hybridization. The only FOS species today was a singing Field Sparrow. It was attacked twice by the Brewster's Warbler! Joan Collins Potsdam & Long Lake -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/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/ --
