[cayugabirds-l] Southern Highlands
I spent yesterday touring the so-called Southern Highlands, starting at the Tioughnioga WMA outside Woodstock (S. of Cazenovia) and moving south through a number of hilltop State Forest conifer plantations, ending in the Pharsalia area. Looked for birds and cones in Norway and white spruce, white and red pines, and larch. I found a few cones at the top of 1 (one) Norway spruce and no cones anywhere else. I heard 1 red squirrel. No finches of any kind. Birds seen/heard include 6 CHICKADEES, 5 BLUE JAYS, 1 each RED WHITE NUTHATCHES, a few CROWS.But it was a fine day as I discovered several areas I had not been before and that will require further study. Mostly, the only sounds were the winds in the various species of trees, which I found interesting. Steve FastBrooktondale -- 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] Southern Highlands
Hi all, I've been really bad at posting. Sorry. Just a few brief highlights from past 10 days. EVENING GROSBEAKS persists in numbers at just about every feeder I've visited in Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, Cortland and Cayuga counties: Morgan Hill SF Shackham Rd, Coon Tree Drive DeRuyter Reservoir, Paradise Hill outside DeRuyter, Hunt Rd south end of DeRuyter Reservoir, Carpenter Rd Madison County, Jones Rds in both Georgetown and Erieville, Lake Rd down in Chenango County. In the Summerhill area they've been sporadically visiting Hovel Chalet on Fillmore Rd, the yellow house on Salt Rd, Eaton Rd feeders, and a new spot, East Lake Rd on east side of Lake Como. They've been most regular at the East Lake Rd location--lots of sumac and box elders in that area too, which are favorite E. Grosbeak munchies. They've also been seen up in Bear Swamp area and at feeders at south end of Skaneateles Lake. Definitely the largest irruption since 2000-01. They are visiting some feeder locations I haven't seen them at in 10+ years. There is surely a Dryden Highlands flock somewhere! PINE GROSBEAK: 5 on Damon Rd Tioghnioga WMA Madison County. There's not a lot of food there this year, but this species can also take up winter residence in state lands feeding on spruce buds. I would look for the same at Summerhill. Most of the finches at Summerhill this year seem to be more down near Lake Como area feeders, except for the usual state forest feeders like Hovel Chalet. COMMON REDPOLLS: singles at Fire Ln E Lake Como (last weekend), Carpenter Rd Madison County, 2 at the yellow house Salt Rd Summerhill, and 25 on Smith Rd outside of Sheds Madison County. PINE SISKIN: 2 at East Lake Rd Lake Como, a few at Dr Coon Tree Ln DeRuyter Reservoir, and one Carpenter Rd. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL: a few at Morgan Hill SF on Shackham Rd. I've also had some COMMON RAVENS here and there, an IMMATURE NORTHERN SHRIKE at the xmas tree plantation on Lick St Summerhill, and a dark morph ROUGHY on Lick St near the seasonal use Rd. As for tips for looking for crossbills this year, I'd focus mostly on red pine plantations in state lands, and any ornamental conifers in residential areas of cities, villages and cemeteries. cheers, Matt mail2web LIVE Free email based on Microsoft® Exchange technology - http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE -- 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] Southern Highlands
Hello all, At Summerhill yesterday with Tomrod Amundsen and Elin Taranger of Biotope were 30+ EVENING GROSBEAKS(Hovel and Eaton Rd), scattered SISKINS and a MALE PURPLE FINCH (Eaton Rd feeders, Fire Ln E feeders and Hovel Chalet). Cedar Waxwings, 6 Ravens, 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD(Hovel), FOX SPARROW(Hovel), 40+ AMERICAN PIPITS(Eaton Rd) and more from Summerhill yesterday too. Both crossbill species have been reported from Summerhill in recent days too. I did a trip on Saturday through the Southern Highlands and had EVENING GROSBEAKS at 6 of my 7 stops. This is the best year for them in this area since at least 2000-01 or perhaps the 1997-98 finch superflight. Shackham Rd in Fabius was one of the stops as was the Paradise Hill Rd feeders about 2 miles outside of downtown DeRuyter. I had a flock of 50+ in Chenango County along with scattered SISKINS and 1 flyover WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. Siskins were in DeRuyter too. Immature NORTHERN SHRIKE in Pharsalia. It's going to be a very interesting finch wintera superflight not seen since 1997-98. Lets hope many stop to stay. It could get really interesting at feederscrossbills will very likely visit feeders this year! Stock up. cheers, Matt mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange -- 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] Southern Highlands-Evening Grosbeaks
Hello all, Yesterday I went birding with Nat Taylor and Conor Jameson (author from UK who wrote book Silent Spring revisited and is now working on a book on Goshawks). At Heiberg ESF Environmental Forest in Tully: FOX SPARROW, 2 RB Kinglets, lost of GC Kinglets, 3 BALD EAGLES ( 1 adult and 2 immatures), Yellow-rumped Warbler, RAVEN, 2 Winter Wren, 8 PINE SISKINS (6,1,1) and a few Goshawk nests. At Coon Tree Ln on DeRuyter Reservoir: several PURPLE FINCHES DeRuyter Reservoir: MERLIN chasing sparrows and Raven calling in distance (not much of the reservoir other than geese) Hunt Rd near south end of DeRuyter Reservoir: 40+ PINE SISKINS, 6 PURPLE FINCHES, few HOuse Finches, 6 American Goldfinches, 1 EVENING GROSBEAK Paradise Hill outside of downtown DeRuyter: 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS and 1 Northern Harrier second hand reports from Bear Swamp: 2 flocks of RED CROSSBILLS downtown Cortland: 1 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, 1 SONG SPARROW, lots of Juncos, 1 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 2 American Goldfinches, 1 PURPLE FINCH, House FInches, Blue Jays, Cardinals, WB Nuthatch, BC Chickadees and more. Expect a big finch winter! cheers, Matt mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange -- 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] Southern Highlands -- Red Crossbills
Tried to send this last night. re-sending. Hello all, On Saturday I got out to some of my survey sites in the Pharsalia area. Highlights were 2 SHARP- SHINNED HAWKS, 1 juvy RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 3 COMMON RAVENS, and 4 Type 3 RED CROSSBILLS and one Type 1 RED CROSSBILL (the types were not associating with one another). The crossbills were 3 miles from where I had 20 Type 1s and one Type 10 two weeks ago. There's an unprecedented early and very large west to east irruptive flight of Red Crossbills (a good amount of the flight seems to be made up of type 3more recordings needed!) taking place right now. The upper Great Lakes has been experiencing large numbers, and some sightings have started to pop up in the northeast as well.Jay's 9 last Friday were likely Type 3. Hawk Ridge in Minnesota seems to be breaking state records every day...After 603 on Thursday, another 2000 moves the past two days. Small-billed Type 3 are squeaky sounding...and a bit weak sounding as well. Here's a couple links to some Macaulay Library recordings of type 3.poor recordings but diagnostic: http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/139452/loxia-curvirostra-united-states-new- york-matthew-young Type 1 calls first, then type 3. Type 1 is sounds like a chewt-chewt, the type 3 is squeaky and weak comparatively speaking. http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/161296/loxia-curvirostra-united-states-new- york-matthew-young A rough windy recording, but again, diagnostic. cheers, Matt mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange -- 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] Southern Highlands --IMMATURE GOLDEN EAGLE roadside
Hello all, Today Julie and I did a tour of the Southern Highlands. At Morgan Hill SF in Fabius/Truxton were 3 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, MANY PURPLE FINCHES, and many Brown Creepers and RB Nuthatches. At Muller Hill SF in DeRuyter/Georgetown were 2 BLUE-HEDED VIREOS, 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 1 PINE WARBLER, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, Chipping Sparrows, and many PURPLE FINCHES. In Pharsalia Chenango Co were 2 more BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, and several COMMON RAVENS which mostly clustered near the Chenango Co landfill --there was also at least two nesting pairs of Ravens in the area --one near the dump and another about mile away that took over a GB Heron nest. The highlight of the day by far was seeing an IMMATURE GOLDEN EAGLE on a carcass about 12 feet away on the side of Coy Rd (Coy runs near the landfill). The bird flushed from the side of this remote dirt road and flew about 20 feet away and perched in the lower branches of a spruce. When it perched you could see the golden nape glistening in the sun --what an awesome bird and amazing to see so close. Near the golf course in Taylor on Telephone Rd was a pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS and a TURKEY VULTURE. No crossbills were seen or heard, but this was not surprising given the low food availability in the area. cheers, Matt Young mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Southern Highlands/Glaucous Gulls
Hello all, Yesterday Julie and I did some birding in the Southern Highlands of Chenango County. We had a flock of 60 HORNED LARKS and 20 SNOW BUNTINGS off of McFairlane Rd in Cincinnatus. 6 COMMON RAVENS were at the dump in Pharsalia along with many crows. One Type 1 RED CROSSBILL (1 PURPLE FINCH as well) was in an area of red pine on County Rte 10 and another type 1 foraging on European Larch Rte 23. Turkeys were scattered about. A PILEATED WOODPECKER continues at our feeders here in Scott. Last Wednesday there was a COMMON RAVEN on Rte 13 near Hanshaw Rd in Dryden. Also, Bernie Carr and I had 2 third cycle GLAUCOUS GULLS in Baldwinsville. Congrats go out to the Canadians for the games and a great win. What a hockey game. Matt mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
