[cayugabirds-l] Etna, NY: Dickcissel (4 October 2011)
For the past few nights, I've been recording from my rooftop in Etna, NY, and either listening real-time or doing a quick browse-through the following morning, using Raven Pro. If I hear (or see, as is the case when browsing after the fact) a good clear or interesting flight call, I'll grab it and save it as a selection for future reference. Last night, I recorded from about 8:30pm until just after the start of Civil Twilight this morning (around 6:40am). While I was recording, I listened live from about 9:00pm to midnight, at which point I allowed the computer to continue recording, while I went to bed. This morning, upon reviewing the recording files (browsing), I was pleasantly surprised to find a DICKCISSEL flight note at 12:34am (only about 30 minutes after I went to bed, so I missed it, live!). It wasn't totally loud or directly overhead, but probably off to the side of my recording station somewhere, but still just loud enough to clearly ID the flight call note. This particular call note has 7 distinct segments to the call, with no inter-peak connections at the troughs (i.e., not modulated). This gives the call a distinctive frappy or flatulent and reedy quality and sounds like a fast: F-r-r-r-r-r-t. I've placed a 4-second clip of the call at this link: http://www.northeastbirding.com/111004.003417_DICKCISSEL_Modified_Shorter.wa v, as well as a frame grab of just the call at this link: http://www.northeastbirding.com/111004.003417_Dickcissel_Etna_NY.jpg. Again, it's not too faint, but it's also not right on top of the microphone. I filtered the clip slightly to help eliminate some LF noise. The Dickcissel only called once. Throughout the night, there were pretty much constant Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrush calls, as well as ample warbler flight notes. No definitive Bicknell's Thrush notes, although some that came pretty high and close to resembling Bicknell's (I was hoping for Bicknell's with the continued weather patterns and general direction of migration (NE to SW). During the night of 2 October to 3 October, Green Herons were on the move, with several individuals being heard flying by throughout the night. If anyone is interested in nocturnal migration and identification of Night Flight Calls, there is a Night Flight Call eList that was created a couple years ago to support this growing area of interest. Information about that eList is available at http://www.NortheastBirding.com. Good night listening! Sincerely, Chris T-H -- Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes TARU Product Line Manager and Field Applications Engineer Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 W: 607-254-2418 M: 607-351-5740 F: 607-254-1132 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods, Tues 10/4
I had a vastly entertaining visit to Sapsucker Woods on Tuesday morning - maybe the most satisfying birding outing I've ever had here in any October. Here are some highlights. * GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH near entrance to Wilson Trail south of the Lab building. I had much the same experience that Kevin shared yesterday -- a 10-minute view from about 7 feet, just a few steps into the woods from the open garden area. I could see every rictal bristle and every barb of every feather. It could hardly have been a more immediate viewing experience had I held the bird in my hand. As I watched, the thrush coughed up three berries and also defecated three times. Then it flew into the hedgerow at the edge of the open area, where I saw it glean some shrubs in flight, then rest again. Wow!!! Thanks, Kevin! * Two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES near this Gray-cheeked Thrush. * A fine mixed flock of songbirds in the power line cut on the Dryden side, near the entrance to the woods. I saw SCARLET TANAGER (apparent male with nice black wings), PHILADELPHIA VIREO (plainly seen, cautiously identified), BLUE-HEADED VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO (my total count of 3 seen on both sides of the road triggered the coveted eBird confirm prompt, as did the Philadelphia), NORTHERN PARULA, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, several EASTERN PHOEBES, and a lot of chickadees and titmice. * BROWN THRASHER, my first in the sanctuary for more than a year, between the far parking lot and the power line cut. * NORTHERN HARRIER migrating high overhead. * COMMON RAVEN over the main pond, confirmed by both sound and sight. I had another fortuitous bird encounter yesterday afternoon. At the intersection of Uptown and Warren Roads in northeast Ithaca, I saw three perfectly round flocks of starlings rising from the power line cut. As if at the flourish of a wand, the flocks stretched, instantaneously merged, and reformed into another flawless sphere. Then I saw the trigger for such animated collective aerobatics -- a MERLIN on the attack, speeding, diving, slicing through the flock like a triply-pointed blade, but ultimately emerging with nothing. Mark Chao -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods, Tues 10/4
I also had a very good morning at Sapsucker Woods, seeing many of the same birds as Mark although we did not meet. I only have a few additions. I arrived at the parking lot along the Dryden Rd side midway along Sapsucker Woods at 8am and walked north along the trails of the Ithaca side toward the Podell Boardwalk. This is where I had seen at least 1 Swainson's Thrush last Saturday along with a couple of American Robins feeding on Spicebush fruits. Yesterday Kevin McGowan raised that to several SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and a WOOD THRUSH. Not only were they all still present this morning, but one Swainson's Thrush was giving "pit" calls and softly singing! Shortly after this serenade Wes Hochachka arrived on his walk to work. Together we quietly and slowly worked our way along the boardwalk, and he picked out the GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH resting on a dead branch about eye-level a few yards west near the south end of boardwalk. We watched it regurgitate a couple seeds as shown in Kevin's photo, and eventually it flew north toward where Kevin said he'd seen it. When we arrived there it flushed again because it had been in a spicebush overhanging the path but hidden from view by a tree trunk until we surprised each other. However I was able to follow its short flight, and we were able to watch it another couple of minutes close to the ground and only a few yards away. For me, too, this bird was perhaps my best view yet of the species. I also found the BROWN THRASHER, and again had the best extended view that I can recall. Initially it was giving call notes above a thicket along the powerline cut just north of where the trail cuts through the hedgerow toward the little wooden bridge over the ditch by the road. The Thrasher then dropped down into the bush but remained in view as it ate a Gray Dogwood fruit. What seemed to cause it to dive from view was a GRAY CATBIRD flying at it. I then saw at least 4 Gray Catbirds in the same bush where the Thrasher had been (plus there were at least 5 more along the mown trail further south). There were also several SWAMP SPARROWS in that same thicket.Other fun birds included:YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - 1 north of LabEASTERN PHOEBE - 1 on stick in pond from Sherwood Platform, 1 north of Lab, 1 eating fruit along power line cut BLUE-HEADED VIREO - 1 by Sherwood PlatformBROWN CREEPER - 2 on Dryden side in woodsRUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - 1 from Woodleton BoardwalkMAGNOLIA WARBLER - 1 by Podell BoardwalkBLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER - 1 by Podell Boardwalk, 2 by Sherwood PlatformYELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - 3 by Podell Boardwalk, 2 along power line cutCOMMON YELLOWTHROAT - 1 immature male by Fuller WetlandsTENNESSEE WARBLER - 1 by Fuller WetlandsNASHVILLE WARBLER - 1 by Fuller WetlandsBLACKPOLL WARBLER - 1 from Woodleton BoardwalkPerhaps the thrill of seeing many of these birds is increased by the possibility that it may be months until we meet again. --Dave NutterOn Oct 04, 2011, at 12:06 PM, Mark Chao markc...@imt.org wrote:I had a vastly entertaining visit to Sapsucker Woods on Tuesday morning - maybe the most satisfying birding outing I've ever had here in any October. Here are some highlights. * GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH near entrance to Wilson Trail south of the Lab building. I had much the same experience that Kevin shared yesterday -- a 10-minute view from about 7 feet, just a few steps into the woods from the open garden area. I could see every rictal bristle and every barb of every feather. It could hardly have been a more immediate viewing experience had I held the bird in my hand. As I watched, the thrush coughed up three berries and also defecated three times. Then it flew into the hedgerow at the edge of the open area, where I saw it glean some shrubs in flight, then rest again. Wow!!! Thanks, Kevin! * Two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES near this Gray-cheeked Thrush. * A fine mixed flock of songbirds in the power line cut on the Dryden side, near the entrance to the woods. I saw SCARLET TANAGER (apparent male with nice black wings), PHILADELPHIA VIREO (plainly seen, cautiously identified), BLUE-HEADED VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO (my total count of 3 seen on both sides of the road triggered the coveted eBird "confirm" prompt, as did the Philadelphia), NORTHERN PARULA, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, several EASTERN PHOEBES, and a lot of chickadees and titmice. * BROWN THRASHER, my first in the sanctuary for more than a year, between the far parking lot and the power line cut. * NORTHERN HARRIER migrating high overhead. * COMMON RAVEN over the main pond, confirmed by both sound and sight. I had another fortuitous bird encounter yesterday afternoon. At the intersection of Uptown and Warren Roads in northeast Ithaca, I saw three perfectly round flocks of starlings rising from the power line cut. As if at the flourish of a wand, the flocks stretched, instantaneously merged, and reformed into another flawless sphere. Then I saw the trigger for such
[cayugabirds-l] Puddler's 4 Oct: Avocet yes; Hudsonian Godwits no
There were quite a few shorebirds at Pudder's and May's Point Pools this afternoon (4 Oct), but I didn't find any Hudsonian Godwits. I did find: AMERICAN AVOCET - a joy to watch feeding as I scanned for non-existant or at least invisible godwitsBLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 4 or more juveniles at Puddler'sSEMIPALMATED PLOVER - several at Puddler'sSPOTTED SANDPIPER - 2 at Puddler'sGREATER YELLOWLEGS - several at Puddler's sometimes wading to shoulder depthLESSER YELLOWLEGS - several at May'sSOLITARY SANDPIPER - 1 in small pond at corner of East Rd North May's Point RdPECTORAL SANDPIPER - at least 1 at Puddler's, 2 at May'sDUNLIN - 2 at May's STILT SANDPIPER - 4 at May's WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - several at Puddler's and May'sSEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - several at Puddler's and May'sLEAST SANDPIPER - 2 at Puddler'sThere may have been a couple of BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at Puddler's as well. Both at Puddler's and May's the shorebirds were often in among the vegetation and hard to see. Other goodies included an OSPREY and a NORTHERN HARRIER over Puddler's, a flock of 16 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS atop a couple of dead trees near the beginning of Towpath Rd., and a breeding plumage COMMON LOON on Cayuga Lake from somewhere along NYS 89--Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Puddler's 4 Oct: Avocet yes; Hudsonian Godwits no
PS - also 11 GREAT EGRETS at Mays (plus a few uncounted at K-M Puddlers), 3 SANDHILL CRANES together in Knox-Marsellus, and an adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW along EAST RD. It was a good day even without godwits. Now I'll shut up for a few hours.--Dave NutterOn Oct 04, 2011, at 09:05 PM, Dave Nutter nutter.d...@me.com wrote:There were quite a few shorebirds at Pudder's and May's Point Pools this afternoon (4 Oct), but I didn't find any Hudsonian Godwits. I did find: AMERICAN AVOCET - a joy to watch feeding as I scanned for non-existant or at least invisible godwitsBLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 4 or more juveniles at Puddler'sSEMIPALMATED PLOVER - several at Puddler'sSPOTTED SANDPIPER - 2 at Puddler'sGREATER YELLOWLEGS - several at Puddler's sometimes wading to shoulder depthLESSER YELLOWLEGS - several at May'sSOLITARY SANDPIPER - 1 in small pond at corner of East Rd North May's Point RdPECTORAL SANDPIPER - at least 1 at Puddler's, 2 at May'sDUNLIN - 2 at May's STILT SANDPIPER - 4 at May's WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - several at Puddler's and May'sSEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - several at Puddler's and May'sLEAST SANDPIPER - 2 at Puddler'sThere may have been a couple of BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at Puddler's as well. Both at Puddler's and May's the shorebirds were often in among the vegetation and hard to see. Other goodies included an OSPREY and a NORTHERN HARRIER over Puddler's, a flock of 16 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS atop a couple of dead trees near the beginning of Towpath Rd., and a breeding plumage COMMON LOON on Cayuga Lake from somewhere along NYS 89--Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --
[cayugabirds-l] Myers Horned Grebes
A pair of very handsome winter-plumage HORNED GREBES off the point at Myers at 7:45 am. Otherwise, the usual suspects. --John Greenly Ludlowville -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
