The Adirondack Birding Festival was held this past weekend (June 10, 11, & 12). The dinner cruise Friday night on the WW Durant on Raquette Lake was fun as usual! Nina Schoch gave a fascinating presentation on Common Loons at the Adirondack Museum on Saturday. Friday's weather was fine, but Saturday and Sunday were rainy - particularly on Saturday.
Mary Beth Warburton and I led a trip to Sabattis Circle Road, Sabattis Bog, and a hike on the Round Lake Trail on Friday. We found 54 species. Highlights included: Ruffed Grouse - standing in the Round Lake Trail Osprey - at its nest Broad-winged Hawk - pair interacting over Sabattis Bog Amer. Woodcock - flushed from the Round Lake Trail Olive-sided Flycatcher - heard at Sabattis Bog (they appear to be nesting again at Bog Stream) Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Gray Jay - pair that came out for food near the Round Lake Trail Hermit Thrush - feeding young at its nest at the edge of the road! 16 warbler species including Palm and Canada Pine Siskin Mary Beth Warburton and I led a trip to Ferd's Bog on Saturday in the rain (with temps in the mid 40s!). The rain was too heavy to be out on the boardwalk, so we stayed in the forest, but the trip was finally cut short by the weather. The trip on the rail bed along Brown's Tract Inlet was canceled since it was pouring rain. We were still able to observe warblers and other species through the rain drops! Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were vocal, as were Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens, and a Swainson's Thrush. Purple Finches and Pine Siskins were also heard. I led a trip to Moose River Plains on Sunday. We stopped at the Red River, hiked a short distance on the Mitchell Pond's Trail, hiked to Helldiver Pond, and hiked to Icehouse Pond. We had some rain and strong winds on this trip (with temps in the 40s again!), but not downpours. Highlights included: American Woodcock - adult in the road and then we spotted a young bird with it! Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - pair feeding young at a nest site Northern Flicker Merlin - heard by a likely nest location at camp site #74 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Boreal Chickadee - 6! (We found at least 4 Boreal Chickadees as we pulled up to our first stop of the morning by the Red River. We had nice views of the birds who were in a mixed flock with Black-capped Chickadees. We also found at least 2 Boreal Chickadees near the entrance to the short drive to the Helldiver Pond Trailhead. They were also in a mixed flock with Black-capped Chickadees.) Winter Wren Veery Hermit Thrush 13 warbler species including nice views of Canada Warblers Scarlet Tanager Purple Finch **Just a note about Hairy Woodpecker nesting - every year during the Adirondack Birding Festival (2nd weekend in June), we observe Hairy Woodpeckers feeding young at nest holes. This year, the young fledged long before the Festival. It appears they nested 1 to 2 weeks earlier this year. This year-round species seemed to take advantage of the warmer weather in early spring. On the other hand, (the migrant) Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers appear to be nesting on their usual dates. Nina Schoch noted that Common Loons are nesting much earlier this year with the record early ice-out. Canada Geese, Amer. Black Ducks, and Wood Ducks also appear to have nested much earlier than usual.** It was nice to see familiar faces at the Festival! Hopefully, the weather will work out better next year! Joan Collins President, NYS Ornithological Association 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/[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/ --
