The John Burroughs Natural History Society Ulster County segmentof the annual
NYSOA New York State January Waterfowl Count was conducted thispast Saturday,
January 13, 2024. Thirteenparticipants in eight field parties encountered
4,789individuals representing 16species of waterfowl. Aboveaverage diversity,
but relatively low abundance due in large part to an atypicallysmall number of
Canada Geese and Mallards that greatly influence our totalabundance from
year-to-year. Last yearwe tallied 8,727 individuals and 19 species. Our most
recent ten-year average for this countywide effort is 14 species and 6,638
individuals/year.
Similar to last year, several weeks ofmild weather prior to count day resulted
in an abundance of open water with littleice, and exposed fields and pastures
with no snow cover. Count day conditions were more challenging again this
year,with dense fog and light rain through mid-morning, followed by cloudy
skies andintermittent rain showers throughout the remainder of the day. High
water levels with rapid flows createdinhospitable conditions on most of the
larger creeks and rivers. Air temperatures were mild for a mid-Januarycensus,
ranging from 44-54° F with relatively calm winds inland, moderate tostrong on
the Hudson River and Ashokan Reservoir, creating whitecaps on the surface.
Two distinct female Barrow’s Goldeneyes were observed in the Hudson River, one
from Freer Beach in Port Ewen, and one from a River Road pull-off in the Town
of Esopus, representing our second all-time count record following last year’s
inaugural sighting of one hen. Both birds have persisted in the same general
area of the river since the first of the year.
A Greater White-fronted Goose was observed and photographed in a large flock of
600 Canada Geese, along with two Cackling Geese and two Green-winged teal, in a
flooded farm field and pond on Denniston Road in Gardiner. The Greater
White-fronted Goose was our third count record over the past twenty years,
previously recorded in 2016 and 2010. Cackling Goose has become more regular
in recent years (typically one to three individuals), appearing on six of our
last ten counts. Green-winged Teal were previously encountered in small
numbers two of the last ten years, and four of the past twenty years.
Gadwall established a new high count with a total of 43 individuals in two
locations, 32 on Stone Ridge Pond and 11 in the Sawyer Kill at HITS in
Saugerties, more than double our previous high count of 16 in 2016 and
well-above our ten-year average of four/year. Ring-necked Ducks were also
encountered in record high numbers, 14 on Binnewater Lake, 3 on Williams Lake,
and an impressive raft of 145 in the upper basin of Ashokan Reservoir,
eclipsing our previous high count of 55 in 2022. A large raft of 40 Horned
Grebes was also observed on Ashokan Reservoir, fueling speculation this migrant
unit might be comprised of members of last year’s raft of 47.
A total of nine Mute Swans were observed in three locations, a good showing for
this past decade, but far fewer than the 33, 48, 20, and 53 that we recorded
from 2005-2008, prior to state-wide eradication efforts. Typical for this
census, Canada Geese were the most abundant species, accounting for 3,729
individuals (78%), down from last year’s 7,688 and our ten-year average of
5,049. Mallards are typically our second-most abundant species on this count,
encountered this year in significantly fewer number, with a total of 283
compared to our previous low count of 277 in 2013 and a 1,018 ten-year average.
Additional water-dependent birds observed during the waterfowl count include 23
Bald Eagles (twenty adults), three Great Blue Herons, and two Belted
Kingfishers. There were also several noteworthy observations of bird species
utilizing open fields. An Iceland Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull were
seen and photographed on the flats south of Rte. 299 in New Paltz, a remarkable
six Killdeer were observed off Denniston Road, an American Kestrel was out on
the Rte. 209 flats, and a single flock of twenty Northern Flickers were
observed foraging on the ground at Bristol Beach State Park.
Two species of waterfowl present in the county just prior to the census were
missed on count day. A Double-crested Cormorant loyal to Sturgeon Pool for
several weeks and seen three days before the count, and a Wood Duck in the
Beaverkill a week earlier, but not found on count day. An additional Cackling
Goose on Stone Ridge Pond two days before the count was also missing on
Saturday.
Appended below is the species list. A complete report with a table summarizing
the 2024 Ulster County effort by area will be published by the John Burroughs
Natural History Society at a later date. Thanks to Alan Beebe, Allan Bowdery,
Lynn Bowdery, Mark Damian, Patrick Dechon, Mark DeDea, Jessica Prockup, Loren
Quinby, Peter Schoenberger, Dan Spencer, Wendy
