[nysbirds-l] Sullivan County Great Day
This morning after checking the bash (a lot of waterfowl), I headed to Neversink to see how the winter finches were faring. I was not disappointed. I ran into several flocks of PINE SISKINS. I also spotted a few PURPLE FINCHES on Hunter Road. When I reached Cooley Bog, as I stepped out of the car I heard Click-click calls all around me. I immediately found (8) WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in the tops of the trees in the same spot where they had bred in 2008. More calls could be heard all around and it was clear there were many many birds in the area. I had a total of 50-60 Pine Siskins there and at least (18) White-winged Crossbills. A Red-breasted Nuthatch and half a dozen Chickadees completed the count. I was able to view the birds and take some terrible pics over the next half hour. The birds then all moved into the vast stand of spruce, out of sight and eventually out of hearing range. I left and headed into Liberty and on Aden Hill Road found an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK. For anyone interested in coming for the birds, I would expect morning is best and a wait is to be expected as these birds are clearly moving around a lot. Also of note, an adult NORTHER SHRIKE continues on Zylstra Road in Fosterdale. Good luck if you come. John Haas -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sullivan County Great Day
This morning after checking the bash (a lot of waterfowl), I headed to Neversink to see how the winter finches were faring. I was not disappointed. I ran into several flocks of PINE SISKINS. I also spotted a few PURPLE FINCHES on Hunter Road. When I reached Cooley Bog, as I stepped out of the car I heard Click-click calls all around me. I immediately found (8) WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in the tops of the trees in the same spot where they had bred in 2008. More calls could be heard all around and it was clear there were many many birds in the area. I had a total of 50-60 Pine Siskins there and at least (18) White-winged Crossbills. A Red-breasted Nuthatch and half a dozen Chickadees completed the count. I was able to view the birds and take some terrible pics over the next half hour. The birds then all moved into the vast stand of spruce, out of sight and eventually out of hearing range. I left and headed into Liberty and on Aden Hill Road found an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK. For anyone interested in coming for the birds, I would expect morning is best and a wait is to be expected as these birds are clearly moving around a lot. Also of note, an adult NORTHER SHRIKE continues on Zylstra Road in Fosterdale. Good luck if you come. John Haas -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sullivan County - great day!
Following what has been the worst summer doldrums I can ever recall in the county, Lance Verderame, Arlene Borko and I had a great day today. The storms of the last two days really brought us some special birds. As Arlene and I were headed up-county, Lance called to inform us he had found a BLACK TERN in winter plumage on the Neversink Reservoir. We headed directly there and were all able to get good views of the bird as it circled the reservoir repeatedly. After about 15 minutes, the bird circled skyward and headed south out of sight. We then headed to several of our potential shorebird locations. Shorebirds had definitely come in overnight. Though there was nothing fantastic, it was nice to have the birds to sort through. Killdeer were the highest count species for the day, totalling well over 100. There were 82 at the college alone. We also had Great Egrets in three locations. Lance left us and headed up-county while Arlene and I headed south. Upon arriving at the Bashakill, we spotted several birds flying around. All typical things, with a Common Moorhen calling just off Haven Road. As I scanned the far end of the kill I spotted two large white birds flying in our direction. I told Arlene that I thought two more Great Egrets were headed our way. As the birds reached about half way up the kill toward us I told Arlene that both birds had black caps and that could only mean one thing, CASPIAN TERNS!! I ran for the camera, which had died as I took photos of the Black Tern. It would not work. As we waited, the terns flew directly toward us and slowed, checking us out at the height of the phone wires just 15 feet over our heads. They then moved on gradually working their way out the north east end of the kill and on up over the mountain. This is an accidental species in the county. What a great day! The list of the best birds of the day is below, there were at least several of each species. Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Bald Eagle American Kestrel Killdeer Semi-palmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull BLACK TERN - 1 CASPIAN TERN - 2 John Haas -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sullivan County - great day!
Following what has been the worst summer doldrums I can ever recall in the county, Lance Verderame, Arlene Borko and I had a great day today. The storms of the last two days really brought us some special birds. As Arlene and I were headed up-county, Lance called to inform us he had found a BLACK TERN in winter plumage on the Neversink Reservoir. We headed directly there and were all able to get good views of the bird as it circled the reservoir repeatedly. After about 15 minutes, the bird circled skyward and headed south out of sight. We then headed to several of our potential shorebird locations. Shorebirds had definitely come in overnight. Though there was nothing fantastic, it was nice to have the birds to sort through. Killdeer were the highest count species for the day, totalling well over 100. There were 82 at the college alone. We also had Great Egrets in three locations. Lance left us and headed up-county while Arlene and I headed south. Upon arriving at the Bashakill, we spotted several birds flying around. All typical things, with a Common Moorhen calling just off Haven Road. As I scanned the far end of the kill I spotted two large white birds flying in our direction. I told Arlene that I thought two more Great Egrets were headed our way. As the birds reached about half way up the kill toward us I told Arlene that both birds had black caps and that could only mean one thing, CASPIAN TERNS!! I ran for the camera, which had died as I took photos of the Black Tern. It would not work. As we waited, the terns flew directly toward us and slowed, checking us out at the height of the phone wires just 15 feet over our heads. They then moved on gradually working their way out the north east end of the kill and on up over the mountain. This is an accidental species in the county. What a great day! The list of the best birds of the day is below, there were at least several of each species. Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Bald Eagle American Kestrel Killdeer Semi-palmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Ring-billed Gull BLACK TERN - 1 CASPIAN TERN - 2 John Haas -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
