RE: [cayugabirds-l] Color change without molt

[Deb Grantham]

I read about that, too, although can’t remember where.

Deb


From: bounce-125404995-83565...@list.cornell.edu 
 On Behalf Of Peter Saracino
Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2021 4:44 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Color change without molt

I recently read a curious account in "Naturally Curious Day by Day" (Mary 
Holland) concerning the plumage of snow buntings. According to Ms. Holland, the 
totally white head and belly and jet-black head of a breeding plumage male is 
not the product of a Spring molt. Evidently snow buntings molt their feathers 
once/year in late summer. The breeding change in the Male's plumage is due to 
the fact that beneath the colored feather tips, the back feathers are pure 
black and the body feathers are all white. The male wears off all of the 
feather tips by actively rubbing them on snow, which reveals his 
black-and-white breeding plumage. So says the book.
Today I was watching a huge flock of snow buntings on Fort Hill Rd on the 
boundary between the Phelps/Seneca Townline, north of Geneva, NY. They were 
working a manure spread that was sandwiched between 2 strips of snowy field. To 
my surprise and amazement, many of the birds were rubbing their bellies in the 
snow! Some of the birds simply rubbed their bellies while other rubbed their 
bellies and also tossed some snow around with their head and beak. This time of 
year their heads are brownish but will be all white come time to breed.
Anyway it was a cool thing to observe so hot on the heels of having read about 
it.
The things we see when we look!
Pete Sar
P.S. I see that Sibley actually has a nice drawing of this in his "Birds East" 
book, pg. 333.
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Color change without molt

[Rachel Lodder]

Very interesting, Pete.
Bob, Diane, Ken and I watched Snow Buntings "digging" and rubbing in the snow 
today, too. One was practically flinging snow around cartoon style. In Lansing.


From: bounce-125404995-81221...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Peter Saracino 

Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2021 4:43 PM
To: Cayuga birds 
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Color change without molt

I recently read a curious account in "Naturally Curious Day by Day" (Mary 
Holland) concerning the plumage of snow buntings. According to Ms. Holland, the 
totally white head and belly and jet-black head of a breeding plumage male is 
not the product of a Spring molt. Evidently snow buntings molt their feathers 
once/year in late summer. The breeding change in the Male's plumage is due to 
the fact that beneath the colored feather tips, the back feathers are pure 
black and the body feathers are all white. The male wears off all of the 
feather tips by actively rubbing them on snow, which reveals his 
black-and-white breeding plumage. So says the book.
Today I was watching a huge flock of snow buntings on Fort Hill Rd on the 
boundary between the Phelps/Seneca Townline, north of Geneva, NY. They were 
working a manure spread that was sandwiched between 2 strips of snowy field. To 
my surprise and amazement, many of the birds were rubbing their bellies in the 
snow! Some of the birds simply rubbed their bellies while other rubbed their 
bellies and also tossed some snow around with their head and beak. This time of 
year their heads are brownish but will be all white come time to breed.
Anyway it was a cool thing to observe so hot on the heels of having read about 
it.
The things we see when we look!
Pete Sar
P.S. I see that Sibley actually has a nice drawing of this in his "Birds East" 
book, pg. 333.
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[cayugabirds-l] Color change without molt (cont'd.)

[Peter Saracino]

My apologies. In describing the breeding plumage of the bunting male I
meant to write " white head and belly and jet-black BACK".
SAR

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[cayugabirds-l] Color change without molt

[Peter Saracino]

I recently read a curious account in "Naturally Curious Day by Day" (Mary
Holland) concerning the plumage of snow buntings. According to Ms. Holland,
the totally white head and belly and jet-black head of a breeding plumage
male is not the product of a Spring molt. Evidently snow buntings molt
their feathers once/year in late summer. The breeding change in the Male's
plumage is due to the fact that beneath the colored feather tips, the back
feathers are pure black and the body feathers are all white. The male wears
off all of the feather tips by actively rubbing them on snow, which reveals
his black-and-white breeding plumage. So says the book.
Today I was watching a huge flock of snow buntings on Fort Hill Rd on the
boundary between the Phelps/Seneca Townline, north of Geneva, NY. They were
working a manure spread that was sandwiched between 2 strips of snowy
field. To my surprise and amazement, many of the birds were rubbing their
bellies in the snow! Some of the birds simply rubbed their bellies while
other rubbed their bellies and also tossed some snow around with their head
and beak. This time of year their heads are brownish but will be all white
come time to breed.
Anyway it was a cool thing to observe so hot on the heels of having read
about it.
The things we see when we look!
Pete Sar
P.S. I see that Sibley actually has a nice drawing of this in his "Birds
East" book, pg. 333.

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Surprises at Salt Point

[Paul Anderson]

I see that Pipits are tail-bobbers too, so that's likely what I saw. Sorry
for the false alarm!

-Paul

On Sun, Feb 21, 2021 at 4:02 PM bob mcguire 
wrote:

> Diane, Rachel, Ken, and I were at Myers mid-morning as five American
> Pipits flew in front the direction of Salt Point (north shoreline) to
> forage for ten minutes along the edge of Salmon Creek directly in front of
> us. Although the field marks you describe do fit PIWA, you might consider
> pipit as well.
>
> While we were there a pair of White-winged Scoters flew in from the south
> and landed in the cove just north of Salt Point. And there was the
> continuing Killdeer across the creek from us, hunkered down at first, then
> foraging in the gravel.
>
> Bob McGuire
>
> On Feb 21, 2021, at 3:08 PM, Paul Anderson  wrote:
>
> I just got back from a walk around Salt Point. The first surprise was a
> Killdeer.
>
> The second surprise was what I am 90% sure was a Palm Warbler, possibly
> even two. I heard flight calls and followed the bird in flight to where it
> perched in a tree. It was backlit, so I was not able to make out many field
> marks, but I did get a strong impression of the yellow undertail coverts,
> and it was bobbing its tail vigorously. As I was watching that one, I could
> hear another in flight, but the sun was in my eyes so I never picked that
> one up. This was right on the north shore near where the Little Free
> Library is.
>
> In the water, amongst the usual suspects were two White-winged Scoters,
> and three Red-breasted Mergansers. Further to the north was a large
> spread-out raft of probable Canada Geese, but I didn't have my scope so I
> couldn't confirm.
>
> Visibility and wind conditions are excellent. I wouldn't be surprised if
> there were more interesting waterfowl further out. If only I had brought
> that scope
>
> -Paul
>
>
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Surprises at Salt Point

[bob mcguire]

Diane, Rachel, Ken, and I were at Myers mid-morning as five American Pipits 
flew in front the direction of Salt Point (north shoreline) to forage for ten 
minutes along the edge of Salmon Creek directly in front of us. Although the 
field marks you describe do fit PIWA, you might consider pipit as well. 

While we were there a pair of White-winged Scoters flew in from the south and 
landed in the cove just north of Salt Point. And there was the continuing 
Killdeer across the creek from us, hunkered down at first, then foraging in the 
gravel.

Bob McGuire

> On Feb 21, 2021, at 3:08 PM, Paul Anderson  wrote:
> 
> I just got back from a walk around Salt Point. The first surprise was a 
> Killdeer.
> 
> The second surprise was what I am 90% sure was a Palm Warbler, possibly even 
> two. I heard flight calls and followed the bird in flight to where it perched 
> in a tree. It was backlit, so I was not able to make out many field marks, 
> but I did get a strong impression of the yellow undertail coverts, and it was 
> bobbing its tail vigorously. As I was watching that one, I could hear another 
> in flight, but the sun was in my eyes so I never picked that one up. This was 
> right on the north shore near where the Little Free Library is.
> 
> In the water, amongst the usual suspects were two White-winged Scoters, and 
> three Red-breasted Mergansers. Further to the north was a large spread-out 
> raft of probable Canada Geese, but I didn't have my scope so I couldn't 
> confirm.
> 
> Visibility and wind conditions are excellent. I wouldn't be surprised if 
> there were more interesting waterfowl further out. If only I had brought that 
> scope
> 
> -Paul
> 
> 
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[cayugabirds-l] Surprises at Salt Point

[Paul Anderson]

I just got back from a walk around Salt Point. The first surprise was a
Killdeer.

The second surprise was what I am 90% sure was a Palm Warbler, possibly
even two. I heard flight calls and followed the bird in flight to where it
perched in a tree. It was backlit, so I was not able to make out many field
marks, but I did get a strong impression of the yellow undertail coverts,
and it was bobbing its tail vigorously. As I was watching that one, I could
hear another in flight, but the sun was in my eyes so I never picked that
one up. This was right on the north shore near where the Little Free
Library is.

In the water, amongst the usual suspects were two White-winged Scoters, and
three Red-breasted Mergansers. Further to the north was a large spread-out
raft of probable Canada Geese, but I didn't have my scope so I couldn't
confirm.

Visibility and wind conditions are excellent. I wouldn't be surprised if
there were more interesting waterfowl further out. If only I had brought
that scope

-Paul

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Re:[cayugabirds-l] Massive Solar Farm coming to Cayuga County

[Bill Evans]

There are 60+ solar projects in various stages of development across NY. The 
big one in Cayuga County is call the Garnet Energy Center. The siting approval 
process can be followed at: 
http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/MatterManagement/CaseMaster.aspx?MatterSeq=61792=20-F-0043

The solar panels and facility will be built on 1300 of the 2000 acre project. 
There is an Intervenor group formally involved in the proceeding called the 
Rural Preservation and Net Conservation Benefit Coalition.  They are not trying 
to stop the project, but trying to encourage pollinator friendly planting and 
get some mitigation land set aside. I haven’t seen any sign that the developer 
is consenting.

The documentation of the impact to breeding Horned Lark and Vesper Sparrow 
appears like it will be limited, so folks birding in the proposed project area 
(not far from Montezuma NWR) can contribute by looking for these two species 
and submitting sitings to eBird, especially this May and June. The project area 
has recently grown and maps can be found at the link above.

Besides the renewable energy benefit, taking fields of neonic-laden corn and 
soy seeds and their associated herbicides out of production is a good thing.

As far as we know, solar is more friendly to migratory birds than big wind 
regarding direct impacts, however no follow-up fatality studies are currently 
planned for ANY solar projects in NY.  Substantial avian impacts from solar 
have apparently been a well-kept secret in California, so we need to keep an 
eye on it and push for some NY solar fatality studies.  How could a grebe 
mistake a solar field for water? I don’t know, but it happens. 

In my current understanding, a 200 MW solar project in NY would have much less 
avian impact than the equivalent energy production from 70 600-ft high wind 
turbines in the same location.

Bill Evans
Danby

From: david nicosia 
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2021 8:31 AM
Subject: Massive Solar Farm coming to Cayuga County

All, 

see 
https://www.syracuse.com/news/2020/02/monster-cny-solar-farm-would-replace-corn-and-soybeans-with-power-for-3-homes.html


Does anyone have any more details on this? If it is done with wildlife in mind 
this could be a good thing. If they plant pollinator friendly and native 
grasses this could be a positive. But if it is just plain grass it could be at 
best just a trade-off and at worse a negative. These solar farms could be good 
for birds and pollinators. see
https://www.audubon.org/news/can-solar-plants-make-good-bird-habitat 


Maybe you are all aware of this but the big renewable energy push through solar 
farms could be an opportunity to improve bird and pollinator habitats. Anyway, 
just wondering if any folks have information on this or have contacted solar 
farm companies on this. 

Best,
Dave  





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[cayugabirds-l] Snow geese

[Donna Lee Scott]

~300 in raft near west shore Cayuga Lake, opposite lansing Station Rd.

Swam north, then flew north out of sight.

Donna Scott
Lansing
Sent from my iPhone

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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Seneca Lake Tufted duck and Aythya hybrids

[jimnorwalk]

If it matters the Seneca Yacht Club is different than the Geneva Boat and Beach 
Club. The Yacht Club is off 96a at the mouth of the Seneca Canal across from 
the far end of the state park and the Boat and Beach Club is I'm guessing 3 
miles south of Geneva on 14 on the west side of the lake. Excellent sightings. 
Sent from my Galaxy
 Original message From: Jay McGowan  Date: 
2/20/21  7:17 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: Cayugabirds-L , 
nysbird...@cornell.edu Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Seneca Lake Tufted duck and 
Aythya hybrids After an absence of over two weeks, an adult male TUFTED DUCK 
reappeared on Seneca Lake yesterday, found at the Seneca Yacht Club at the 
northeast corner of the lake by Dave Kennedy. It was not there this morning, 
but presumably the same bird was refound by Tim Lenz down along the west side 
of the lake south of Geneva. My checklist with photos and the exact location 
here:https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S82004482While I was searching for the 
Tufted earlier in the morning, I came across a nice variety of Aythya hybrids 
in the several thousand ducks at the north end of the lake. First, a 
RING-NECKED DUCK x SCAUP SP. HYBRID in the large flock off the middle of Seneca 
Lake State Park. I didn't get a photo, but it looked likely to be the same bird 
that had been in the flocks on the west side of the lake. Some poor photos of 
that bird from two weeks ago 
here:https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S80410040Then at Long Pier at the west 
end of the Geneva Lakefront Park area, the smaller Aythya flock close to shore 
contained a REDHEAD x SCAUP SP. HYBRID, a REDHEAD x RING-NECKED DUCK HYBRID, 
and most notably, an apparent CANVASBACK x REDHEAD HYBRID that Tim had noticed 
earlier. This cross is one of the tougher to pick out in my experience, looking 
mostly like a dingy Canvasback at first glance. The headshape is indeed 
intermediate between the two species, but with a sloping enough forehead it 
doesn't immediately stand out as not being a Canvasback. On this individual, 
the blue markings on the bill are perhaps the most noticeable feature, along 
with overall slightly grayer body color. The eye is also subtly more orange 
than Canvasbacks, although still much darker red than Redhead. They always 
recall Common Pochard, but the bill pattern is usually distinctly 
different.Photos of these three hybrids 
here:https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S82005647Meanwhile, here in Ithaca we 
still have a decent sized Aythya flock in the southwest corner of the lake, but 
the only birds of note there lately have been two more REDHEAD x SCAUP SP. 
HYBRIDS. Photos of both (nearly identical) individuals 
here:https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S80888034Good birding,Jay-- Jay 
McGowanIthaca, nyjw...@cornell.edu

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