4/14/16 Long Lake (Hamilton Co.), Tupper Lake (Franklin Co.) & Massawepie Mire (St. Lawrence Co.)
I was able to drive to Massawepie Mire yesterday. There were some very deep, muddy sections, and I wouldn't attempt the drive without being in a high clearance, 4WD vehicle. The road likely won't be raked out until the end of the month. I hiked 5 miles round trip (to Silver Brook) from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I stopped at Sabattis Bog on the way and at the Tupper Lake/Raquette River/Simon Pond marshes on the way home. Here are some of the birds found: Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead - many locations Common Goldeneye - pair on Little Tupper Lake (in Long Lake) Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruffed Grouse - several drumming Wild Turkey Common Loon Northern Harrier - pair over Tupper Lake marshes and 1 female at Massawepie Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - several drumming Black-backed Woodpecker - I pulled up to Sabattis Bog and a pair was drumming and calling back and forth right outside my car! Northern Flicker Amer. Kestrel - at the mire Merlin - pair found at a nest site *Eastern Phoebe - Massawepie Road Gray Jay - 2 at the mire Common Raven Red-breasted Nuthatch - many with one at a nest site Brown Creeper - many singing Winter Wren - a few singing Golden-crowned Kinglet - singing Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch - many singing Pine Siskin - many It was terrific to hear huge numbers of Wood Frogs vocalizing in the vernal pools on my hike out of Massawepie! I found Moose tracks in two locations during the hike. I've found Palm Warblers as early at 4/12, so I was surprised that I didn't hear any yesterday. Joan Collins President, NYS Ornithological Association Editor, New York Birders Long Lake, NY (315) 244-7127 cell (518) 624-5528 home http://www.adirondackavianexpeditions.com/ http://www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian -- 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/ --
