[nysbirds-l] Is the Old Field Point Bird a Euro Herring Gull or a Hybrid LBBG x HERG?

[Shaibal Mitra]

Hi all,

The breeding biology of Larus gulls is very well studied. Large and noisy, they 
often breed abundantly in large, conspicuous colonies where it is relatively 
easy to observe their strictly socially-monogamous mating systems: the members 
of pairs share elaborate display patterns exclusively with each other (and not 
with the members of other pairs) over a period of many weeks as they cooperate 
in raising their young. In most places, whatever the species, the individuals 
within a colony are very uniform in appearance, and one almost never observes a 
pair in which the partners are of different species, or even where one partner 
appears intermediate toward a different species. Over more than forty years 
watching tens of thousands of breeding pairs of ten-plus species of gulls and 
terns, I have only once witnessed strongly pair-bonded behavior and copulation 
between individuals of different species (a Roseate Tern x Common Tern). Among 
non-breeding birds, I have found a larger, but still small, number of 
individuals that I concluded were likely hybrids (LBBG x HERG, GBBG x HERG, 
GLGU x HERG, COTE x ROST). Meanwhile, in the course of being out there on the 
outer coast, I have found a considerably larger number of extralimital gulls 
and terns of varying degrees of rarity, including some very rare.
I was going to begin this essay with a statement like, “We simply don’t 
know how frequently hybridization occurs in Larus gulls”—but this is 
insufficient, because we actually DO know how rarely it is observed in most 
contexts. Most of what little we know about hybridization in these birds comes 
from genetic data revealing that, here and there, the genes of one species are 
present in a typical-looking individual of another species, implying past 
hybridization (let’s ponder the WEGU that turned out to have RBGU mtDNA). The 
rest of what we actually know about it comes from a very small number of 
observed hybrid pairings and an even smaller number of marked offspring of such 
pairings, whose appearance and behavior were available for study as they 
matured and reached adult-hood.
These facts are sufficient to imply that we might expect to see hybrid 
Larus from time to time; to support the tentative identification of 
intermediate-looking individuals as potential hybrids, and to factor this 
possibility into the identification of potential vagrants. After, all Larus is 
such a grab-bag of mix and match combinations of leg color, eye color, mantle 
color, etc., and also so basically similar ecologically and anatomically, that 
appearing intermediate between species A and species B will often result in 
resemblance to species C. For instance, the various taxa of Kelp Gulls were 
initially described as subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull because they 
share a combination of color values; California Gull and Armenian Gull share a 
combo; Yellow-legged Gull and omissus-type European Herring Gull share a combo; 
etc.
The Old Field Point Larus has inspired a lot of interest and at least a 
moderate amount of public discussion. I have made what I regard as a strong 
case for European Herring Gull because every observable characteristic of the 
bird matches trait values that are common in northern (and possibly eastern) 
breeding populations of L a. argentatus. This conclusion has received, in what 
has reached me so far, a lot of mostly quiet support and no explicit 
contradiction. The main obstacle is natural caution, the perceived 
improbability of a European Herring Gull appearing on Long Island, and the 
perception that hybrid LBBG x HERG are common enough that one might match this 
bird’s appearance. I believe the question of European Herring Gull vs. LBBG x 
HERG hybrid can be settled with a reasonable amount of confidence, by a careful 
logical critique of both hypotheses.
On the one hand, I hear people say, “It’s reasonable to identify birds 
that are intermediate in multiple characters between Herring and Lesser 
Black-backed Gulls as hybrids.” And on the other, I’ve heard things like this, 
“Given that hybrids are often variable and in some cases are known to deviate 
from both parents in some respects, it’s difficult to be sure that a hybrid 
could NOT match the appearance of the Old Field Point bird.” Both these 
statements (I’ll call them #1 and #2) might sound reasonable, but they are not. 
The first should be qualified, “It is reasonable to regard the birds that are 
intermediate in multiple characters as likely including actual hybrids, at 
least in some cases—and records of such birds should be studied closely for 
patterns such as timing, spacing, and unimodality (do they show a single body 
of variation or more than one tendency?).” The second statement is deceiving 
because it accepts the weaker part, and abandons the stronger part, of the 
first: i.e., it assumes that hybrid LBBG x HERG are common, but it no longer 
expects them to be 

[nysbirds-l] Is the Old Field Point Bird a Euro Herring Gull or a Hybrid LBBG x HERG?

[Shaibal Mitra]

Hi all,

The breeding biology of Larus gulls is very well studied. Large and noisy, they 
often breed abundantly in large, conspicuous colonies where it is relatively 
easy to observe their strictly socially-monogamous mating systems: the members 
of pairs share elaborate display patterns exclusively with each other (and not 
with the members of other pairs) over a period of many weeks as they cooperate 
in raising their young. In most places, whatever the species, the individuals 
within a colony are very uniform in appearance, and one almost never observes a 
pair in which the partners are of different species, or even where one partner 
appears intermediate toward a different species. Over more than forty years 
watching tens of thousands of breeding pairs of ten-plus species of gulls and 
terns, I have only once witnessed strongly pair-bonded behavior and copulation 
between individuals of different species (a Roseate Tern x Common Tern). Among 
non-breeding birds, I have found a larger, but still small, number of 
individuals that I concluded were likely hybrids (LBBG x HERG, GBBG x HERG, 
GLGU x HERG, COTE x ROST). Meanwhile, in the course of being out there on the 
outer coast, I have found a considerably larger number of extralimital gulls 
and terns of varying degrees of rarity, including some very rare.
I was going to begin this essay with a statement like, “We simply don’t 
know how frequently hybridization occurs in Larus gulls”—but this is 
insufficient, because we actually DO know how rarely it is observed in most 
contexts. Most of what little we know about hybridization in these birds comes 
from genetic data revealing that, here and there, the genes of one species are 
present in a typical-looking individual of another species, implying past 
hybridization (let’s ponder the WEGU that turned out to have RBGU mtDNA). The 
rest of what we actually know about it comes from a very small number of 
observed hybrid pairings and an even smaller number of marked offspring of such 
pairings, whose appearance and behavior were available for study as they 
matured and reached adult-hood.
These facts are sufficient to imply that we might expect to see hybrid 
Larus from time to time; to support the tentative identification of 
intermediate-looking individuals as potential hybrids, and to factor this 
possibility into the identification of potential vagrants. After, all Larus is 
such a grab-bag of mix and match combinations of leg color, eye color, mantle 
color, etc., and also so basically similar ecologically and anatomically, that 
appearing intermediate between species A and species B will often result in 
resemblance to species C. For instance, the various taxa of Kelp Gulls were 
initially described as subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull because they 
share a combination of color values; California Gull and Armenian Gull share a 
combo; Yellow-legged Gull and omissus-type European Herring Gull share a combo; 
etc.
The Old Field Point Larus has inspired a lot of interest and at least a 
moderate amount of public discussion. I have made what I regard as a strong 
case for European Herring Gull because every observable characteristic of the 
bird matches trait values that are common in northern (and possibly eastern) 
breeding populations of L a. argentatus. This conclusion has received, in what 
has reached me so far, a lot of mostly quiet support and no explicit 
contradiction. The main obstacle is natural caution, the perceived 
improbability of a European Herring Gull appearing on Long Island, and the 
perception that hybrid LBBG x HERG are common enough that one might match this 
bird’s appearance. I believe the question of European Herring Gull vs. LBBG x 
HERG hybrid can be settled with a reasonable amount of confidence, by a careful 
logical critique of both hypotheses.
On the one hand, I hear people say, “It’s reasonable to identify birds 
that are intermediate in multiple characters between Herring and Lesser 
Black-backed Gulls as hybrids.” And on the other, I’ve heard things like this, 
“Given that hybrids are often variable and in some cases are known to deviate 
from both parents in some respects, it’s difficult to be sure that a hybrid 
could NOT match the appearance of the Old Field Point bird.” Both these 
statements (I’ll call them #1 and #2) might sound reasonable, but they are not. 
The first should be qualified, “It is reasonable to regard the birds that are 
intermediate in multiple characters as likely including actual hybrids, at 
least in some cases—and records of such birds should be studied closely for 
patterns such as timing, spacing, and unimodality (do they show a single body 
of variation or more than one tendency?).” The second statement is deceiving 
because it accepts the weaker part, and abandons the stronger part, of the 
first: i.e., it assumes that hybrid LBBG x HERG are common, but it no longer 
expects them to be 

[nysbirds-l] Snow geese at Montezuma and guided tours!

[Johnson, Alyssa]

I have not been in the Montezuma area since Saturday, so I've been missing the 
show! I've been getting almost hour by hour updates though from many birders 
who have been out that way and...

It sounds like the Snow Geese have ARRIVED! The muck flats on Route 31 between 
Savannah and Montezuma (town) are packed with Snow Geese, swans, ducks, and 
Canadas! Many people have been enjoying them the last few days, don't delay 
until next week because it very well could be too late, and I can't predict how 
long they'll be around.

If you go to look for them:

-The gravel "pull offs" (which are used for loading/unloading equipment by the 
farmer) on 31 itself are privately owned, and I have no authority to grant 
people access to park there, however they've been used for a long time and the 
owners don't seem to mind.
-please do not stop on route 31 or walk across! The traffic goes very fast 
through there and there is no safe place to get out of the way.
-please look around before you leave, to make sure no litter, masks, bottles, 
etc. fell out of your vehicle when getting in and out
-the fields along 31 are primarily private lands, although there is a strip of 
refuge owned land closer to the canal on the west side. There is no public 
access for people to be out in the fields either on refuge or private lands here
-hunting may occur on these fields. Usually, decoys are set on the south side 
of 31. This is legal, the landowners can hunt or allow anyone to hunt there if 
they like, and snow geese are a well populated species that needs management.

I have guided tours on the schedule this week, and Wednesday's tour has no one 
registered yet! It's going to be great birding; I can't believe it hasn't sold 
out yet.

Here are links for more info and to register for upcoming tours:

3/9/22 https://act.audubon.org/a/montezuma-birding-tour-030922

3/12/22 https://act.audubon.org/a/montezuma-birding-tour-31222

The full schedule of Montezuma Audubon Center events is listed at: Programs & 
Events 

And lastly, I am offering my All About Snow Geese presentation virtually 
Thursday evening! I have recently given this presentation, so if you already 
attended, this will be very similar. I do record them and if you can't make it 
Thursday night, if you register, I will send the recording to you afterwards.

https://act.audubon.org/a/all-about-snow-geese-031022

If you use Facebook, give us a 
follow- I'm trying to keep it updated over there and I posted a map of how to 
find the muck flats recently, it may be buried in the pics of the last day or 
so.

Good luck!

--
Alyssa Johnson
Environmental Educator
315.365.3588

Montezuma Audubon Center
PO Box 187
2295 State Route 89
Savannah, NY 13146
Click here to see upcoming programs and 
events!
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers


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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Snow geese at Montezuma and guided tours!

[Johnson, Alyssa]

I have not been in the Montezuma area since Saturday, so I've been missing the 
show! I've been getting almost hour by hour updates though from many birders 
who have been out that way and...

It sounds like the Snow Geese have ARRIVED! The muck flats on Route 31 between 
Savannah and Montezuma (town) are packed with Snow Geese, swans, ducks, and 
Canadas! Many people have been enjoying them the last few days, don't delay 
until next week because it very well could be too late, and I can't predict how 
long they'll be around.

If you go to look for them:

-The gravel "pull offs" (which are used for loading/unloading equipment by the 
farmer) on 31 itself are privately owned, and I have no authority to grant 
people access to park there, however they've been used for a long time and the 
owners don't seem to mind.
-please do not stop on route 31 or walk across! The traffic goes very fast 
through there and there is no safe place to get out of the way.
-please look around before you leave, to make sure no litter, masks, bottles, 
etc. fell out of your vehicle when getting in and out
-the fields along 31 are primarily private lands, although there is a strip of 
refuge owned land closer to the canal on the west side. There is no public 
access for people to be out in the fields either on refuge or private lands here
-hunting may occur on these fields. Usually, decoys are set on the south side 
of 31. This is legal, the landowners can hunt or allow anyone to hunt there if 
they like, and snow geese are a well populated species that needs management.

I have guided tours on the schedule this week, and Wednesday's tour has no one 
registered yet! It's going to be great birding; I can't believe it hasn't sold 
out yet.

Here are links for more info and to register for upcoming tours:

3/9/22 https://act.audubon.org/a/montezuma-birding-tour-030922

3/12/22 https://act.audubon.org/a/montezuma-birding-tour-31222

The full schedule of Montezuma Audubon Center events is listed at: Programs & 
Events 

And lastly, I am offering my All About Snow Geese presentation virtually 
Thursday evening! I have recently given this presentation, so if you already 
attended, this will be very similar. I do record them and if you can't make it 
Thursday night, if you register, I will send the recording to you afterwards.

https://act.audubon.org/a/all-about-snow-geese-031022

If you use Facebook, give us a 
follow- I'm trying to keep it updated over there and I posted a map of how to 
find the muck flats recently, it may be buried in the pics of the last day or 
so.

Good luck!

--
Alyssa Johnson
Environmental Educator
315.365.3588

Montezuma Audubon Center
PO Box 187
2295 State Route 89
Savannah, NY 13146
Click here to see upcoming programs and 
events!
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers


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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] second thoughts on previous gulls

[Andrew Block]

I just took a look at my poor photos of the two gulls at Old Point mentioned in 
my previous post and still think the Herring isn't Shai's gull, but I may be 
wrong.  The black-backed gull is defintatley larger than the Herrings it's with 
but still not sure if it's a Lesser or not.  The back doesn't seem dark enough 
for a Great and the size seems to large for a Lesser.  Would anyone be willing 
to look at a few of my photos?  It'd be much appreciated.
Andrew
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] second thoughts on previous gulls

[Andrew Block]

I just took a look at my poor photos of the two gulls at Old Point mentioned in 
my previous post and still think the Herring isn't Shai's gull, but I may be 
wrong.  The black-backed gull is defintatley larger than the Herrings it's with 
but still not sure if it's a Lesser or not.  The back doesn't seem dark enough 
for a Great and the size seems to large for a Lesser.  Would anyone be willing 
to look at a few of my photos?  It'd be much appreciated.
Andrew
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--

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ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Old Point Lighthouse gulls

[Andrew Block]

Took a look this am for the unusual Herring Gull that's been reported here.  
When I got there I found on the rocks at the end of the road a Herring Gull 
with dull yellow legs, but the mantle looked to be the same color as the other 
few Herrings nearby.  I have seen yellow-legged Herrings a few times over the 
years so assume the bird I had was one of those.  >From Shai's photos it would 
seem his bird is obvious right away.  It really didn't seem right for Shai's 
gull.  I also had what looked like a yellow-legged Great Black-backed Gull on a 
rock off shore with some other gulls.  I had never seen a Great Black-backed 
with yellow legs before.  I at first thought Lesser Black-backed, but the 
posture and form was wrong plus it was not much smaller than the immature Great 
Black-backed near it.  It was also a little larger than the Herrings next to 
it.  Never seen a Lesser the size of a Herring let alone larger.  Interesting 
bird.  
As an aside, on the way home I stopped in Stony Brook and saw a heron colony on 
an island in the lake at T. Bayles Minuse Mill Pond Park.  The nests were small 
so not Great Blue.  I assume night-herons, but which one?  Will have to go back 
in a month to see.
Andrew
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Old Point Lighthouse gulls

[Andrew Block]

Took a look this am for the unusual Herring Gull that's been reported here.  
When I got there I found on the rocks at the end of the road a Herring Gull 
with dull yellow legs, but the mantle looked to be the same color as the other 
few Herrings nearby.  I have seen yellow-legged Herrings a few times over the 
years so assume the bird I had was one of those.  >From Shai's photos it would 
seem his bird is obvious right away.  It really didn't seem right for Shai's 
gull.  I also had what looked like a yellow-legged Great Black-backed Gull on a 
rock off shore with some other gulls.  I had never seen a Great Black-backed 
with yellow legs before.  I at first thought Lesser Black-backed, but the 
posture and form was wrong plus it was not much smaller than the immature Great 
Black-backed near it.  It was also a little larger than the Herrings next to 
it.  Never seen a Lesser the size of a Herring let alone larger.  Interesting 
bird.  
As an aside, on the way home I stopped in Stony Brook and saw a heron colony on 
an island in the lake at T. Bayles Minuse Mill Pond Park.  The nests were small 
so not Great Blue.  I assume night-herons, but which one?  Will have to go back 
in a month to see.
Andrew
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--

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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Syracuse area RBA

[Joseph Brin]

RBA

 

*  New York

*  Syracuse

* March 07, 2022

* NYSY  03. 07. 22

 

Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert

Dates(s): February 28, 2022 to March 07, 2022

to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com

covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County),

Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison & Cortland

compiled: March 07  AT 12:30 p.m. (DST)

compiler: Joseph Brin

Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org


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#793: Monday March 07, 2022 

 

Greetings. This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of 

February 28, 2022

 

Highlights:

---




GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE

CACKLING GOOSE

EURASIAN WIGEON

BLACK VULTURE

GOLDEN EAGLE

NORTHERN GOSHAWK

SANDHILL CRANE

EASTERN WOODCOCK

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

ICELAND GULL

GLAUCOUS GULL

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER

NORTHERN SHRIKE

BOHEMIAN WAXWING

RED CROSSBILL










Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)






     3/2: 3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen at Carncross Road.

     3/4: 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in the mucklands along Rt. 31 west of the 
Seneca River.

     3/5: 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen at the Audubon Center on Rt. 89.

     3/6: An EURASIAN WIGEON was seen in the mucklands. 5 SANDHILL CRANES were 
seen from East Road. 2 AMERICAN WOODCOCK were heard fron the Rt. 89 Overlook. 







Onondaga County






     2/28: An apparent overwintering EASTERN TOWHEE was again seen at the 
corner of River Road and Haney Road west of Baldwinsville.

     3/2: A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the Marshy Spits area on the 
west shore of Onondaga Lake south of the Honeywell Center.

     3/3: A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the Inner Harbor south of Onondaga Lake.

     3/5: A GOLDEN EAGLE and a CACKLING GOOSE were seen at Beaver Lake Nature 
Center west of Baldwinsville. A GOLDEN EAGLE seen from Dunham Road near Beaver 
Lake may have been the same individual. An ICELAND GULL and a LESSER 
BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen at the Inner Harbor. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at 
Three Rivers WMA north of Baldwinsville. 4 RED CROSSBILLS were seen on Shackham 
Road in the Morgan Hill State Forest.

     3/6: A CACKLING GOOSE was seen from the West Shore Trail of Onondaga Lake. 
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen from Rt. 11 north of Cicero. An AMERICAN 
WOODCOCK was heard at Three Rivers WMA.







Oswego County






     The Hawkwatch at Derby Hill Bird Observatory started this week. Highlights 
were GOLDEN EAGLES seen on 4 days, BLACK VULTURE and NORTHERN GOSHAWK. 
Non-raptor highlights were COMMON REDPOLL, CACKLING GOOSE, NORTHERN SHRIKE and 
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. Away from Derby a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Tryon Road 
on 3/6.







Madison County






     3/5: A SANDHILL CRANE and 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen on 
Hardwood Island Road north of Canastota.

     3/6: A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the end of Lake Road ib 
Lakeport.







Oneida County






     3/1: 2 RED CROSSBILLS were seen at Woodgate south of Old Forge.

     3/2: A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in flight at Barneveld.







Herkimer County






     3/1: A RED CROSSBILL was seen in Old Forge.

     3/3: 2 RED CROSSBILLS and 16 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen on the 
Newport-Gray Road north of Newport.

     3/6: 3 RED CROSSBILLS were seen in Old Forge.







    

       

                       

                 

---end report




Region 5







Joseph Brin

Baldwinsville, NY

13027




  


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--

[nysbirds-l] Syracuse area RBA

[Joseph Brin]

RBA

 

*  New York

*  Syracuse

* March 07, 2022

* NYSY  03. 07. 22

 

Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert

Dates(s): February 28, 2022 to March 07, 2022

to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com

covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County),

Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer,  Madison & Cortland

compiled: March 07  AT 12:30 p.m. (DST)

compiler: Joseph Brin

Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org


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#793: Monday March 07, 2022 

 

Greetings. This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of 

February 28, 2022

 

Highlights:

---




GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE

CACKLING GOOSE

EURASIAN WIGEON

BLACK VULTURE

GOLDEN EAGLE

NORTHERN GOSHAWK

SANDHILL CRANE

EASTERN WOODCOCK

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

ICELAND GULL

GLAUCOUS GULL

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER

NORTHERN SHRIKE

BOHEMIAN WAXWING

RED CROSSBILL










Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC)






     3/2: 3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen at Carncross Road.

     3/4: 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in the mucklands along Rt. 31 west of the 
Seneca River.

     3/5: 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen at the Audubon Center on Rt. 89.

     3/6: An EURASIAN WIGEON was seen in the mucklands. 5 SANDHILL CRANES were 
seen from East Road. 2 AMERICAN WOODCOCK were heard fron the Rt. 89 Overlook. 







Onondaga County






     2/28: An apparent overwintering EASTERN TOWHEE was again seen at the 
corner of River Road and Haney Road west of Baldwinsville.

     3/2: A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the Marshy Spits area on the 
west shore of Onondaga Lake south of the Honeywell Center.

     3/3: A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the Inner Harbor south of Onondaga Lake.

     3/5: A GOLDEN EAGLE and a CACKLING GOOSE were seen at Beaver Lake Nature 
Center west of Baldwinsville. A GOLDEN EAGLE seen from Dunham Road near Beaver 
Lake may have been the same individual. An ICELAND GULL and a LESSER 
BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen at the Inner Harbor. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at 
Three Rivers WMA north of Baldwinsville. 4 RED CROSSBILLS were seen on Shackham 
Road in the Morgan Hill State Forest.

     3/6: A CACKLING GOOSE was seen from the West Shore Trail of Onondaga Lake. 
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen from Rt. 11 north of Cicero. An AMERICAN 
WOODCOCK was heard at Three Rivers WMA.







Oswego County






     The Hawkwatch at Derby Hill Bird Observatory started this week. Highlights 
were GOLDEN EAGLES seen on 4 days, BLACK VULTURE and NORTHERN GOSHAWK. 
Non-raptor highlights were COMMON REDPOLL, CACKLING GOOSE, NORTHERN SHRIKE and 
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. Away from Derby a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Tryon Road 
on 3/6.







Madison County






     3/5: A SANDHILL CRANE and 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen on 
Hardwood Island Road north of Canastota.

     3/6: A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the end of Lake Road ib 
Lakeport.







Oneida County






     3/1: 2 RED CROSSBILLS were seen at Woodgate south of Old Forge.

     3/2: A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in flight at Barneveld.







Herkimer County






     3/1: A RED CROSSBILL was seen in Old Forge.

     3/3: 2 RED CROSSBILLS and 16 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen on the 
Newport-Gray Road north of Newport.

     3/6: 3 RED CROSSBILLS were seen in Old Forge.







    

       

                       

                 

---end report




Region 5







Joseph Brin

Baldwinsville, NY

13027




  


--

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ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Short-eared owls at Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

[Bruce Horwith]

This small (less than 600 acres) grassland is an oasis in our
grassland-depauperate NYS, and always rewards visitors with some cool
birds. Having been reminded in a recent post of this being a magnet for
short-eared owls for a few weeks during their migration, we stopped there
Saturday afternoon enroute to see friends and family in the Albany area.

Arriving late afternoon, we watched the dozen or so harriers that frequent
this spot. I was struck by the roughly 50:50 male:female ratio encountered,
because it seems to me that on LI females typically far outnumber the
males. No rough-legs, but several red-tails and 2 bald eagles. A small
flock of 5 or 6 bluebird showed, and close to 2 dozen meadowlark.

At dusk, on cue, the owls started appearing, hunting, interacting with one
another and occasionally with a harrier.  Beautiful to watch. According to
a Park Ranger, he thought that they might not be around much longer,
especially with the warmer temperatures. In fact, I saw 3 leave the
reserve, climbing fairly high before I lost sight of them,
whether migrating or just seeking neighboring grasslands to forage, I don't
know.


*Bruce Horwith*
*16 Salt Marsh Path*
*East Hampton, NY 11937*
*(631) 599-0040 cell phone*

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Short-eared owls at Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

[Bruce Horwith]

This small (less than 600 acres) grassland is an oasis in our
grassland-depauperate NYS, and always rewards visitors with some cool
birds. Having been reminded in a recent post of this being a magnet for
short-eared owls for a few weeks during their migration, we stopped there
Saturday afternoon enroute to see friends and family in the Albany area.

Arriving late afternoon, we watched the dozen or so harriers that frequent
this spot. I was struck by the roughly 50:50 male:female ratio encountered,
because it seems to me that on LI females typically far outnumber the
males. No rough-legs, but several red-tails and 2 bald eagles. A small
flock of 5 or 6 bluebird showed, and close to 2 dozen meadowlark.

At dusk, on cue, the owls started appearing, hunting, interacting with one
another and occasionally with a harrier.  Beautiful to watch. According to
a Park Ranger, he thought that they might not be around much longer,
especially with the warmer temperatures. In fact, I saw 3 leave the
reserve, climbing fairly high before I lost sight of them,
whether migrating or just seeking neighboring grasslands to forage, I don't
know.


*Bruce Horwith*
*16 Salt Marsh Path*
*East Hampton, NY 11937*
*(631) 599-0040 cell phone*

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Sunday, 3/6 - E. Phoebe arrivals, etc.

[Tom Fiore]

Extra-limitally … Still quite-likely the rarest bird lingering anywhere in N. 
America, the Steller’s Sea Eagle has been noted at least to Saturday March 5th 
on the *Maine* mid-coast, the area where seen by many in the previous month; 
ongoing to this month, at least for now… The ongoing (1st U.S. record) Bat 
Falcon in Texas also is a most-notable species for all of this country.

---   -
At Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City), as in some other areas in the region 
just lately, Eastern Phoebes arrived by Sunday, March 6th.  One of the several 
there stayed around Turtle Pond for the day, into some of the sunny, mild, and 
insect-active afternoon, and was also photographed. (At least 2 more were noted 
in the areas both south and north of that site, which is roughly mid-park).
Ducks on the move (again) included Wood Ducks (with at least 9 present in 
Central Park on Sunday) & Hooded Mergansers (which appeared in at least 4 
locations in Manhattan on Sunday, more altogether than on prior days of this 
winter).  Other duck species were also moving - in general- through the region 
- as were Snow Geese, despite the lingering 2 non-adults at Central, which have 
been viewed by many hundreds of observers by now. And a pair of N. Pintails 
also remained at Sherman Creek just north of Swindler Cove Park on the Harlem 
River, in upper Manhattan off the e. end of Dyckman St. and to the north.  At 
least 5 American Woodcock were found in Central Park on Sunday.

In Central Park alone, at least 60 species of birds were found on March 6.  
Some flowers were starting to bud, and some (more) are blooming, with some 
insect-activity increasing as well.  Native mammal sightings in Manhattan 
included E. Chipmunk, Groundhog (a.k.a. ‘woodchuck’) , E. Raccoon, and the 
nearly-ubiquitous E. Gray Squirrel (all of these also seen prior to 3/6.) By 
far the most abundant on the warming day were the mammal of the genus Homo.

good birding to all,

Tom Fiore
manhattan



--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC - Sunday, 3/6 - E. Phoebe arrivals, etc.

[Tom Fiore]

Extra-limitally … Still quite-likely the rarest bird lingering anywhere in N. 
America, the Steller’s Sea Eagle has been noted at least to Saturday March 5th 
on the *Maine* mid-coast, the area where seen by many in the previous month; 
ongoing to this month, at least for now… The ongoing (1st U.S. record) Bat 
Falcon in Texas also is a most-notable species for all of this country.

---   -
At Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City), as in some other areas in the region 
just lately, Eastern Phoebes arrived by Sunday, March 6th.  One of the several 
there stayed around Turtle Pond for the day, into some of the sunny, mild, and 
insect-active afternoon, and was also photographed. (At least 2 more were noted 
in the areas both south and north of that site, which is roughly mid-park).
Ducks on the move (again) included Wood Ducks (with at least 9 present in 
Central Park on Sunday) & Hooded Mergansers (which appeared in at least 4 
locations in Manhattan on Sunday, more altogether than on prior days of this 
winter).  Other duck species were also moving - in general- through the region 
- as were Snow Geese, despite the lingering 2 non-adults at Central, which have 
been viewed by many hundreds of observers by now. And a pair of N. Pintails 
also remained at Sherman Creek just north of Swindler Cove Park on the Harlem 
River, in upper Manhattan off the e. end of Dyckman St. and to the north.  At 
least 5 American Woodcock were found in Central Park on Sunday.

In Central Park alone, at least 60 species of birds were found on March 6.  
Some flowers were starting to bud, and some (more) are blooming, with some 
insect-activity increasing as well.  Native mammal sightings in Manhattan 
included E. Chipmunk, Groundhog (a.k.a. ‘woodchuck’) , E. Raccoon, and the 
nearly-ubiquitous E. Gray Squirrel (all of these also seen prior to 3/6.) By 
far the most abundant on the warming day were the mammal of the genus Homo.

good birding to all,

Tom Fiore
manhattan



--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--