[nysbirds-l] Staten Island, Sat. 20-Mar-2010 incl. Black Vultures
Date: Saturday, 20 March 2010 (11:55a-6:50p) Location: Great Kills Park, Wolfe's Pond Park & Lemon Creek Park Observers: Eve Levine, Ben Cacace Reported by: Ben Cacace Abundance categories for 'Spring' from 'The Birds of Staten Island' checklist last updated in 2000. Taxonomic order follows. Seeing a pair of *BLACK VULTURES* in the scope circling west of Great Kills Park and heading south was one of two highlights for the day. The other was an odd looking grebe spotted from Lemon Creek Park on Raritan Bay. After watching this darker faced Horned Grebe sized bird it was determined this was a *Horned Grebe* in transitional plumage and not the other 'small and dark headed winter' grebe. Weather for 20-Mar for Newark, NJ (11:51a-6:51p) < http://tinyurl.com/ylfd3ou >: - Conditions: Scattered Clouds to Mostly Cloudy - Temperature: 69.1 to 75.0 F (+20.6 to 23.9 C) - Wind direction: S / SW / WSW / W / WSW - Wind speed: 5 - 22 mph (gusts to 25 mph) ** Total species - 38 ** Not listed for the 'Spring' season [2 spp]: - Great Cormorant - 5+ along Raritan Bay - Black Vulture - 2 circling & drifting S from Great Kills Park @ 2:10p 'Occasional' seen a few times per season [2 spp]: - Northern Shoveler - 5+ on Wolfe's Pond incl. 4 males & 1 female - Boat-tailed Grackle - 12+ along shore at N end of Great Kills Park 'Uncommon' present but may not be seen [8 spp]: - Mute Swan - 1 on Wolfe's Pond - American Wigeon - 10+ on Wolfe's Pond - Ring-necked Duck - Pair (m/f) on Wolfe's Pond - Long-tailed Duck - 4 on Raritan Bay - Red-throated Loon - 2+ on Raritan Bay - Horned Grebe - 24+ on Raritan Bay incl. 1 transitional plumage - Turkey Vulture - 2+ over Great Kills Park - American Oystercatcher - 5 incl. 3 @ Great Kills Park & 2 @ Wolfe's Pond Park along Raritan Bay 'Common' certain in proper habitat [6 spp]: - Gadwall - 4 on Raritan Bay - Red-breasted Merganser - 12+ on Raritan Bay - Killdeer - 4, 2 @ Great Kills Park & 2 @ Lemon Creek Park along Raritan Bay - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ seen & heard - Northern Mockingbird - 6+ - Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 male at Great Kills Park 'Abundant' sure to see [20 spp]: - Brant - 2000+ mainly at Great Kills Park on the shore - Canada Goose - 6+ - American Black Duck - 6+ on Raritan Bay from Wolfe's Pond Park - Mallard - 12+ - Greater Scaup - 40+ incl. Raritan Bay & Wolfe's Pond - Bufflehead - 24+ on Raritan Bay - Ring-billed Gull - Herring Gull - Great Black-backed Gull - Rock Pigeon - 12+ - Mourning Dove - 6+ - American Crow - 4+ - American Robin - 6+ - European Starling - 24+ - Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3+ at Great Kills Park - Song Sparrow - 6+ - Northern Cardinal - 4+ - Red-winged Blackbird - 1 female at Great Kills Park - Common Grackle - 40+ at Wolfe's Pond Park - House Sparrow - 12+ Taxonomic order: - Brant - 2000+ mainly at Great Kills Park on the shore - Canada Goose - 6+ - Mute Swan - 1 on Wolfe's Pond - Gadwall - 4 on Raritan Bay - American Wigeon - 10+ on Wolfe's Pond - American Black Duck - 6+ on Raritan Bay from Wolfe's Pond Park - Mallard - 12+ - Northern Shoveler - 5+ on Wolfe's Pond incl. 4 males & 1 female - Ring-necked Duck - Pair (m/f) on Wolfe's Pond - Greater Scaup - 40+ incl. Raritan Bay & Wolfe's Pond - Long-tailed Duck - 4 on Raritan Bay - Bufflehead - 24+ on Raritan Bay - Red-breasted Merganser - 12+ on Raritan Bay - Red-throated Loon - 2+ on Raritan Bay - Horned Grebe - 24+ on Raritan Bay incl. 1 transitional plumage - Great Cormorant - 5+ along Raritan Bay - Black Vulture - 2 circling & drifting S from Great Kills Park @ 2:10p - Turkey Vulture - 2+ over Great Kills Park - Killdeer - 4, 2 @ Great Kills Park & 2 @ Lemon Creek Park along Raritan Bay - American Oystercatcher - 5 incl. 3 @ Great Kills Park & 2 @ Wolfe's Pond Park along Raritan Bay - Ring-billed Gull - Herring Gull - Great Black-backed Gull - Rock Pigeon - 12+ - Mourning Dove - 6+ - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ seen & heard - American Crow - 4+ - American Robin - 6+ - Northern Mockingbird - 6+ - European Starling - 24+ - Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3+ at Great Kills Park - Song Sparrow - 6+ - Northern Cardinal - 4+ - Red-winged Blackbird - 1 female at Great Kills Park - Common Grackle - 40+ at Wolfe's Pond Park - Boat-tailed Grackle - 12+ along shore at N end of Great Kills Park - Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 male at Great Kills Park - House Sparrow - 12+ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Teatown Reserve Birds
Took a walk w/ my wife around the lake at Teatown Reserve in Westchester, mostly just to get out. Birding was extremely casual, as in whatever chose to present itself, rather than actively searching. Mostly, it was about enjoying the chorus of frogs and enjoying the beginning of spring. Some species I counted. Others were too numerous to bother with. Also, I was "lucky" enough to find a tick crawling on my arm. Just a heads up. It's that time of year again. 1 osprey 2 e. bluebirds (m/f) 9 ring-necked ducks 2 buffleheads 4 mallards 2 mute swans 10-12 turkey vultures 1 n. cardinal 1 w.b. nuthatch 2 red-bellied woodpeckers juncos robins titmouse chickadee canada geese a. crows -- "The test of us as a society is not necessarily how we treat the best among us but how we treat the most questionable." - Ben Loeterman -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Connetquot State Park Birds
3/21/10 - Connetquot State Park & Preserve, Oakdale, Suffolk Co., NY Time: 2:15pm to 4pm Observers: Andrew Block, Mark & Zachary Schwartz 3 Pied-billed Grebes 2 Double-crested cormorants 1 Great Blue Heron 40+ Canada Geese 5 Mute Swans many Gadwalls several American Black Ducks several Mallards 20+ Ring-necked Ducks 40+ Greater Scaups 2 Hooded Mergansers 1 Osprey 1 Cooper's Hawk 4 American Coots 3 Ring-billed Gulls 30+ Herring Gulls 2 Great Black-backed Gulls 7 Rock Pigeons 2 Mourning Doves 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Eastern Phoebes 5 Blue Jays 2 American Crows 1 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 8 American Robins 1 Northern Mockingbird 3 Dark-eyed Juncos 3 White-throated Sparrows Andrew Andrew v. F. Block Consulting Field Biologist & Eco-tour Leader 37 Tanglewylde Avenue Bronxville, Westchester Co., New York 10708-3131 Phone: (914) 337-1229; Cell: (914) 886-5124; Fax: (914) 771-8036 "When the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again..." - William Beebe, first Curator of Birds, Bronx Zoo "Crikey! Have a look at that!" - Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter "Just like the white winged dove sings a song, sounds like she's singing whoo, baby...whoo...said whoo" - Stephanie L. Nicks, Edge of 17, Bella Donna -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Barnacle Goose - Iroquois NWR
Thanks to Celeste Morien for posting about the Barnacle Goose today to Geneseebirds. At least 16 birders saw the bird today also. The BARNACLE GOOSE was seen again this afternoon at Ring-necked Marsh at the Iroquois NWR. As yesterday, the bird was seen from the Oak Orchard Ridge Road overlook. Today, it flew in about 1:30 with a very large group of Canada Geese, first spotted by Dean DiTommaso. Most of the geese were on the water today, far to the left of the overlook (yesterday, they were on the dike). Finding the bird on the water at that distance, with heat distortion and through tree branches, was a challenge - even though we knew it was out there. If Dean had not seen it fly in, it is very possible that it would not have been found. For future searchers, note that the Barnacle Goose has always been seen with large numbers of Canada Geese. Checking Ring-necked Marsh in mid-afternoon may be the optimal time and location for finding it. At least it was for this weekend. You may also want to check large flocks of foraging geese in nearby fields, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sunken Meadow State Park, Suffolk County
I ventured to Sunken Meadow State Park today since yesterday I dipped on the arrival of the Ospreys. Well today I was lucky enough to spot four individuals along Sunken Meadow Creek. Also new from yesterday was several dozen Tree Swallows gliding above the Inner Marsh, 2 Turkey Vulture flyovers, a Great Egret wading in the tidal flats, 2 Brown Creeper, 6 Gray Catbirds, 2 Brown thrashers, and 4 Swamp sparrows. Birds that were not new but of interest was a total of 17 Wood ducks in the backwater of Sunken Meadow Creek, a pair of Green-winged Teal(A. crecca carolinensis), 2 adult Black-crowned Night-Herons, 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 5 Fish Crows, and 4 Eastern Towhee. Also on my four hour (8:00am-12:00pm) hike today, I heard several Spring Peepers vocalizing in a few of the vernal ponds that I passed, as well as a muskrat swimming in the backwater of the creek and dozens of Painted turtles sunning themselves at the edges of the phragmites. Vinny Pellegrino www.flickr.com/pellegrinov East Northport, NY "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." -Henry David Thoreau -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Caumsett State Park Birds (Suffolk Co.)
A walk this morning on the north shore of Long Island at Caumsett State Park was highlighted by six species of woodpecker, the best being the continued presence of a Red-headed Woodpecker, seen again in the woods west of Fresh Pond (north of the mansion). We first observed this bird in early February. Other species present included Osprey (3), Eastern Phoebe (5), Golden-crowned Kinglet (18), Tree Swallow (7), and Eastern Bluebird (2). Ken Feustel -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Sandhill Cranes Suffolk Co
No sign of the cranes when I looked at c.7:45 am. Plenty of other fields in the area and to the east to check. Angus Wilson, New York City & The Springs, NY http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Fwd: Jamaica Bay/LI
to the list-i was informed that my post of last night did not copy onto the list. it was just blank. so i am reposting it here. This morning there was an Eastern Phoebe singing in our yard here in Millbrook, Dutchess County. good birding,JPAJohn AskildsenMillbrook, New York Forwarded message From: John Askildsen Date: Mar 20, 2010Subject: Jamaica Bay/LITo: nysbirds-l@cornell.edumy wife Kirsten and i made a trip down to NYC/LI for the day today for birding. lots of great weather and some nice birds, which are sure signs of spring. Before departing for points south this AM, we heard two newly arrived woodcock in the swamp/meadow area behind our house, peenting and displaying here in millbrook, dutchess county. Jamaica Bay offered a good assortment of ducks (no barrow's) and other waterfowl, a peregrine in the marsh, no herons or egrets. we encountered the expected arrivals-osprey, tree swallow, oystercatcher. of particular note was a waterthrush species, presumably louisiana, given the date, chipping in the reeds very near the blind at big john's pond. we never were able to actually view the bird.off to jones beach west end typical and previously reported late winter waterfowl, plus several oystercatchers and three pairs of piping plovers (no leg bands) on the beachfront, and a single phoebe along the ocean parkway.it was great to be outside with such spectacular weather. JPA John AskildsenMillbrook, New York
[nysbirds-l] Sunken Meadow State Park, Suffolk County
I ventured to Sunken Meadow State Park today since yesterday I dipped on the arrival of the Ospreys. Well today I was lucky enough to spot four individuals along Sunken Meadow Creek. Also new from yesterday was several dozen Tree Swallows gliding above the Inner Marsh, 2 Turkey Vulture flyovers, a Great Egret wading in the tidal flats, 2 Brown Creeper, 6 Gray Catbirds, 2 Brown thrashers, and 4 Swamp sparrows. Birds that were not new but of interest was a total of 17 Wood ducks in the backwater of Sunken Meadow Creek, a pair of Green-winged Teal(A. crecca carolinensis), 2 adult Black-crowned Night-Herons, 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 5 Fish Crows, and 4 Eastern Towhee. Also on my four hour (8:00am-12:00pm) hike today, I heard several Spring Peepers vocalizing in a few of the vernal ponds that I passed, as well as a muskrat swimming in the backwater of the creek and dozens of Painted turtles sunning themselves at the edges of the phragmites. Vinny Pellegrino www.flickr.com/pellegrinov East Northport, NY Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined. -Henry David Thoreau -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Barnacle Goose - Iroquois NWR
Thanks to Celeste Morien for posting about the Barnacle Goose today to Geneseebirds. At least 16 birders saw the bird today also. The BARNACLE GOOSE was seen again this afternoon at Ring-necked Marsh at the Iroquois NWR. As yesterday, the bird was seen from the Oak Orchard Ridge Road overlook. Today, it flew in about 1:30 with a very large group of Canada Geese, first spotted by Dean DiTommaso. Most of the geese were on the water today, far to the left of the overlook (yesterday, they were on the dike). Finding the bird on the water at that distance, with heat distortion and through tree branches, was a challenge - even though we knew it was out there. If Dean had not seen it fly in, it is very possible that it would not have been found. For future searchers, note that the Barnacle Goose has always been seen with large numbers of Canada Geese. Checking Ring-necked Marsh in mid-afternoon may be the optimal time and location for finding it. At least it was for this weekend. You may also want to check large flocks of foraging geese in nearby fields, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Good birding! Willie Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Staten Island, Sat. 20-Mar-2010 incl. Black Vultures
Date: Saturday, 20 March 2010 (11:55a-6:50p) Location: Great Kills Park, Wolfe's Pond Park Lemon Creek Park Observers: Eve Levine, Ben Cacace Reported by: Ben Cacace Abundance categories for 'Spring' from 'The Birds of Staten Island' checklist last updated in 2000. Taxonomic order follows. Seeing a pair of *BLACK VULTURES* in the scope circling west of Great Kills Park and heading south was one of two highlights for the day. The other was an odd looking grebe spotted from Lemon Creek Park on Raritan Bay. After watching this darker faced Horned Grebe sized bird it was determined this was a *Horned Grebe* in transitional plumage and not the other 'small and dark headed winter' grebe. Weather for 20-Mar for Newark, NJ (11:51a-6:51p) http://tinyurl.com/ylfd3ou : - Conditions: Scattered Clouds to Mostly Cloudy - Temperature: 69.1 to 75.0 F (+20.6 to 23.9 C) - Wind direction: S / SW / WSW / W / WSW - Wind speed: 5 - 22 mph (gusts to 25 mph) ** Total species - 38 ** Not listed for the 'Spring' season [2 spp]: - Great Cormorant - 5+ along Raritan Bay - Black Vulture - 2 circling drifting S from Great Kills Park @ 2:10p 'Occasional' seen a few times per season [2 spp]: - Northern Shoveler - 5+ on Wolfe's Pond incl. 4 males 1 female - Boat-tailed Grackle - 12+ along shore at N end of Great Kills Park 'Uncommon' present but may not be seen [8 spp]: - Mute Swan - 1 on Wolfe's Pond - American Wigeon - 10+ on Wolfe's Pond - Ring-necked Duck - Pair (m/f) on Wolfe's Pond - Long-tailed Duck - 4 on Raritan Bay - Red-throated Loon - 2+ on Raritan Bay - Horned Grebe - 24+ on Raritan Bay incl. 1 transitional plumage - Turkey Vulture - 2+ over Great Kills Park - American Oystercatcher - 5 incl. 3 @ Great Kills Park 2 @ Wolfe's Pond Park along Raritan Bay 'Common' certain in proper habitat [6 spp]: - Gadwall - 4 on Raritan Bay - Red-breasted Merganser - 12+ on Raritan Bay - Killdeer - 4, 2 @ Great Kills Park 2 @ Lemon Creek Park along Raritan Bay - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ seen heard - Northern Mockingbird - 6+ - Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 male at Great Kills Park 'Abundant' sure to see [20 spp]: - Brant - 2000+ mainly at Great Kills Park on the shore - Canada Goose - 6+ - American Black Duck - 6+ on Raritan Bay from Wolfe's Pond Park - Mallard - 12+ - Greater Scaup - 40+ incl. Raritan Bay Wolfe's Pond - Bufflehead - 24+ on Raritan Bay - Ring-billed Gull - Herring Gull - Great Black-backed Gull - Rock Pigeon - 12+ - Mourning Dove - 6+ - American Crow - 4+ - American Robin - 6+ - European Starling - 24+ - Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3+ at Great Kills Park - Song Sparrow - 6+ - Northern Cardinal - 4+ - Red-winged Blackbird - 1 female at Great Kills Park - Common Grackle - 40+ at Wolfe's Pond Park - House Sparrow - 12+ Taxonomic order: - Brant - 2000+ mainly at Great Kills Park on the shore - Canada Goose - 6+ - Mute Swan - 1 on Wolfe's Pond - Gadwall - 4 on Raritan Bay - American Wigeon - 10+ on Wolfe's Pond - American Black Duck - 6+ on Raritan Bay from Wolfe's Pond Park - Mallard - 12+ - Northern Shoveler - 5+ on Wolfe's Pond incl. 4 males 1 female - Ring-necked Duck - Pair (m/f) on Wolfe's Pond - Greater Scaup - 40+ incl. Raritan Bay Wolfe's Pond - Long-tailed Duck - 4 on Raritan Bay - Bufflehead - 24+ on Raritan Bay - Red-breasted Merganser - 12+ on Raritan Bay - Red-throated Loon - 2+ on Raritan Bay - Horned Grebe - 24+ on Raritan Bay incl. 1 transitional plumage - Great Cormorant - 5+ along Raritan Bay - Black Vulture - 2 circling drifting S from Great Kills Park @ 2:10p - Turkey Vulture - 2+ over Great Kills Park - Killdeer - 4, 2 @ Great Kills Park 2 @ Lemon Creek Park along Raritan Bay - American Oystercatcher - 5 incl. 3 @ Great Kills Park 2 @ Wolfe's Pond Park along Raritan Bay - Ring-billed Gull - Herring Gull - Great Black-backed Gull - Rock Pigeon - 12+ - Mourning Dove - 6+ - Downy Woodpecker - 2+ seen heard - American Crow - 4+ - American Robin - 6+ - Northern Mockingbird - 6+ - European Starling - 24+ - Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3+ at Great Kills Park - Song Sparrow - 6+ - Northern Cardinal - 4+ - Red-winged Blackbird - 1 female at Great Kills Park - Common Grackle - 40+ at Wolfe's Pond Park - Boat-tailed Grackle - 12+ along shore at N end of Great Kills Park - Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 male at Great Kills Park - House Sparrow - 12+ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
