Bill Howard and I made three attempts today between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM to
locate the Scissor-tailed flycatcher that was reported on Van Dyne Spoor Road,
outside of Savannah, New York. The first two attempts were made before noon
and the on both occasions, there was a strong wind blowing, keeping most birds
down. After lunch, the wind greatly abated and many birds were flying about,
as were several kinds of insects. Active flycatchers are typically in the open
and are obvious, but we did NOT see one during the hours that we were there.
There was NO Northern Shrike but there was a Northern Mockingbird.
There were NO shorebirds at all on Van Dyne Spoor Road.
Two Sandhill Cranes flew across Van Dyne Spoor Road and landed in the fields on
the same side of the road as the pond.
There was a Field Sparrow near the pond at the end of the road.
From the junction of Van Dyne Spoor Road and Wright Road southeast to the end
of the woods there were huge flocks of Redwing Blackbirds, Grackles, and
Starlings. Several Brown-headed Cowbirds mixed in with the other birds.
Also, there were sizable groupings of American Robins and Northern Flickers.
There was also a flock of 8 Rusty Blackbirds.
In the field just SE of the junction of Van Dyne Spoor Road and Wright Road
were two Trumpeter Swans with 4 young ones.
On Tow Path Road we spotted Gray-cheeked / Bicknell Thrush species coming down
to the road to bathe in a puddle.
There were also huge flocks of Canada and Snow Geese in and around the main
part of the Montezuma Complex.
We felt that there were both Short-billed as well as Long-billed Dowitchers in
the pool near the headquarters, based on flank marks, vocal calls, and body
shape.
At first light, hundreds upon hundreds of American Crows were leaving their
roost and flying over the town of Aurora.
- Robert Grosek
Binghamton, New York
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