A few wildlife notes: the mouse population is exploding! Our neighbors are catching 5 mice a day in their camp, and we are catching about the same. Of course I view this as a positive, but my family is not amused! Barred Owls and Broad-winged Hawks nested near our home again, and we hear the owls each night and watch the Broad-winged Hawks hunt over our lawn during the day. I'm glad they have plenty of food!
I noticed that the White Pine cone crop is quite good. (I will take note of the other conifer tree species cone crops.) We have enjoyed hearing the Ovenbird's evening song throughout this breeding season with one nesting right outside our bedroom window. It often vocalizes during the night. I've posted many photos to my Facebook page from recent tours at: https://www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian . (Late Black-backed Woodpecker nest that I found on 7/9/14 with brand new young, another Black-backed Woodpecker nest that fledged a solo male bird, Bicknell's Thrush, Boreal Chickadee fledgling being fed in Minerva, Gray Jays, sunrise photos from dawn tours up Whiteface Mountain, Mountain Sandwort, Deer with fawn, and Bullfrog) Recent tour sightings: On a dawn tour up Whiteface Mountain (followed by a bit of lowland boreal birding) with a birder from Massachusetts on July 15, 2014: Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture American Woodcock - flushed from the side of the road on the nocturnal drive to Whiteface Mountain Barred Owl - 2 a few hundred feet from each other! (Likely a pair of adults hunting to feed young.) Hairy Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Gray Jay - two different family groups in the Bloomingdale area Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee - family group on Whiteface Mountain (with views!) and another family group in Bloomingdale Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Bicknell's Thrush - many heard calling and singing, and one nice view! Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow - many singing at Bloomingdale Bog Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch American Goldfinch On a July 14, 2014 field trip to Moose River Plains co-sponsored by the Long Lake Parks and Recreation Department and Northern NY Audubon, we found the following species: Ruffed Grouse - 2 different birds Wild Turkey Common Loon - heard Broad-winged Hawk - perched up high near the Red River Spotted Sandpiper - on a rock in Helldiver Pond Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker - calling near the Red River Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler - observed near the Red River Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler - nice views! Blackburnian Warbler - nice views! Chestnut-sided Warbler - nice views! Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler - nice views! Lincoln's Sparrow - several along the Mitchell Ponds Trail Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch American Goldfinch On a half day dawn tour up Whiteface Mountain with 5 birders from the Albany, NY area, we found the following birds: Broad-winged Hawk Black-backed Woodpecker - rattle call heard down the mountain from the ~3900' location Merlin Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Common Raven - family group Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee - vocalizing on Whiteface (~3850') Red-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Bicknell's Thrush - many heard calling and singing; a view of two birds flying across the road together Swainson's Thrush American Robin Ovenbird Nashville Warbler Magnolia Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch On a day and a half tour with two birders from western NY, we found the following species by birding in lowland boreal habitat and during a dawn tour up Whiteface Mountain: July 10, 2014 (Full day in boreal habitat - Minerva, Newcomb, Long Lake, Tupper Lake) Common Loon Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Ruby-throated Hummingbird - feeding at holes created by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker! Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker - adult male and female at their nest cavity Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Gray Jay - family Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee - family Boreal Chickadee - family! We observed a fledgling on a branch for ~15 minutes! (Photos on Facebook) Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Veery Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Purple Finch Red Crossbill -heard at Boreas River Bridge July 11, 2014 (Half day dawn tour up Whiteface with a bit of lowland boreal birding at Bloomingdale) Turkey Vulture Osprey Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Mourning Dove - at Bloomingdale Bog! Barred Owl - 2 (1 perched over Sabattis Circle Road and one heard on Route 30/3 by Corey's Road) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker - Bloomingdale Bog Northern Flicker American Kestrel - Bloomingdale Bog Merlin - on Whiteface! Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Gray Jay - adults and juveniles at Bloomingdale Bog! Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee - nice observation along the Whiteface Road on our drive down! Red-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Bicknell's Thrush - nice views of two different birds (photos on Facebook of both birds) Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Indigo Bunting Common Grackle American Goldfinch On a June 30 tour with 4 people from Long Island, NY, we found the following species at Moose River Plains and Ferd's Bog: Ruffed Grouse - female with chicks! Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture - perched in a tree after our car flushed it from eating a road-killed Painted Turtle Broad-winged Hawk Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - nest with loud young! Hairy Woodpecker - pair Northern Flicker Olive-sided Flycatcher - at Ferd's Bog Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - nice views! Alder Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Gray Jay - 3; one juvenile not far from the Mitchell Ponds Trailhead and an adult and juvenile at Helldiver Pond Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee - 2 family groups - 1 near the Mitchell Ponds Trailhead and the other on the trail to Lost Ponds Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Veery Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler - nice views of a 1st year singing male! Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow - singing Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Rose-breasted Grosbeak Common Grackle Purple Finch During a dawn tour up Whiteface Mountain followed by lowland boreal birding on June 29, 2014 with a birder from Virginia, we found the following species: Ruffed Grouse - standing on River Road! Broad-winged Hawk - with a dead Red Squirrel in its talons! Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker - 1 in flight Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - nice views! Least Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Gray Jay - 2 Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee - heard Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Veery Bicknell's Thrush - nice views of this elusive bird! Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler - nice views of a singing male! Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow - feeding young! Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Scarlet Tanager Indigo Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Purple Finch During a dawn tour up Whiteface Mountain followed by lowland birding (for Ruffed Grouse) with a birder from Florida/Connecticut, we found the following species: Ruffed Grouse - 2 different females with chicks at Spring Pond Bog Common Loon - family of 3 Turkey Vulture Broad-winged Hawk Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker - nest with young male and the adult female on River Road, and 2 adults (female in the nest hole) in the Bloomingdale area Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Gray Jay - 4 at Spring Pond Bog Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Veery Bicknell's Thrush - fantastic visual! (Photos on Facebook) Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Ovenbird Black-and-white Warbler Nashville Warbler Mourning Warbler - heard Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler - lovely views! Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Scarlet Tanager Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Purple Finch American Goldfinch This birder is photographing as many North American bird species as possible. His goal was to photograph Bicknell's Thrush and Ruffed Grouse, which he accomplished during our trip. He wrote a lovely blog about our outing at: http://www.birdspix.com/ . Joan Collins 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/[email protected]/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/ --
