Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Cayuga Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Sunday, May 11 at 01:19 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Marsh Sandpiper,©Jan Wilczur

11 May CNC Hooded Warbler, etc. ["Nancy W Dickinson" ] 11 May Hawthorn Orchard & Renwick Sanctuary - 11 May 2008 ["Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes" ] 11 May Re: Lindsay-Parsons/Jetty Woods [Susan Danskin ] 11 May Beam Hill - Swainson's thrush, hooded warbler ["sfast" ] 11 May Saturday Beginner Bird Walk and Lindsay Parsons today [Larry ] 11 May Pine Siskins ["Marie P Read" ] 11 May Lindsay-Parsons/Jetty Woods ["Ryan Douglas" ] 11 May Salmon Creek and FYI on Cayuga Bird Club Meeting [Meena Haribal ] 10 May Cayuga Bird Club Field Trip [Gladys Birdsall ] 10 May sandhill crane colts? [Susan Danskin ] 10 May O.O.B. Sandhill Crane report in Spencer. ["J. Gary Kohlenberg" ] 10 May Dorothy McIlroy and Baldwin Preserve misc. birds ["J. Gary Kohlenberg" ] 10 May WC Sparrows ["MJ Thomas" ] 10 May Hooded Warblers, R-T Hummer [Geo Kloppel ] 10 May Birding my way home ["Mickey Scilingo" ] 10 May Birding my way home ["Mickey Scilingo" ] 10 May baby Hooded Mergansers [Elaina McCartney ] 10 May migrating bird decline noted by UN [Regi Teasley ] 10 May Sapsucker Woods ["Ryan Douglas" ] 10 May Bald Hill Sch. Rd. = Mourning & Hooded warblers ["sfast" ] 10 May More migration radar ["Nicholas David Sly" ] 10 May More migration radar ["Nicholas David Sly" ] 9 May Plantations: Brown Thrasher ["Floris van Breugel" ] 9 May Wood duck stag club ["sfast" ] 9 May migrant birds ["grosbeak AT clarityconnect.com" ] 9 May OOB Pharsalia NY- Warblers Galore 5/9/08 [david nicosia ] 9 May Re: Sapsucker Woods , 5/9/08 ["Tom Hoebbel" ] 9 May Sapsucker Woods, Genung Nature Preserve, Fri 5/9 [Mark Chao ] 9 May Re: Sapsucker Woods , 5/9/08 ["Holly C. Adams" ] 9 May Sapsucker Woods , 5/9/08 [] 09 May Park Preserve/Baldwin Tract--Prairie Warblers [Anne Marie Johnson ] 9 May birding Mother's Day [Nancy Dickinson ] 9 May Mercury in raptors [Stefan Hames ] 9 May Blue-wings [Nancy Dickinson ] 09 May N. Parula today-Fri [Laura Stenzler ] 8 May Sapsucker Woods ["Ryan Douglas" ] 08 May Pewee Wannabe - thoughts? [Chris Tessaglia-Hymes ] 8 May FW: MWC sandhill crane colts! ["Michael R. Morgan" ] 8 May Re: Orchard Oriole @ Farmers' Market, etc. ["J. Gary Kohlenberg" ] 08 May seeking first Eastern Wood-Pewee [Dave Nutter ] 08 May Hawthorn Orchard - 5/8/2008 (6:30am-9:00am) - 12 Warblers [Chris Tessaglia-Hymes ] 08 May Orchard Oriole @ Farmers' Market, etc. [Dave Nutter ] 8 May Re: Sapsucker Woods 5/8 [] 8 May Prairie and Nashville Warblers et al. Near So. Hill Trail - Wed AM [Stuart Krasnoff ] 8 May Sapsucker Woods, Th 5/8 [Mark Chao ] 8 May Re: N Parula ["Floris van Breugel" ] 8 May Orchard Oriole E. Miller Rd in Danby [Eric Banford ] 08 May Sapsucker Woods Bay-breasted Warbler [Anne Marie Johnson ] 08 May Scramble for Africa again [Regi Teasley ] 8 May Re: N Parula [Geo Kloppel ] 08 May Wilson Trail at Sapsucker Thurs am [Laura Stenzler ] 08 May Black-billed cuckoo at East Recreation Way [Patrizia Sione ] Subject: CNC Hooded Warbler, etc. From: "Nancy W Dickinson" <nwd1 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 14:18:57 -0400 (EDT) A pleasant group and a good variety of birds on a sunny morning made for a great walk at Cayuga Nature Center today. Among the birds we were able to watch closely were singing Wood Thrush, Hooded Warbler (on his usual territory, in the scrubby woods north of the big bridge), Chestnut-sided Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, E Bluebird, and Baltimore Oriole. We also heard several Scarlet Tanagers, Red-eyed Vireos, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Magnolia Warbler, Carolina Wren, and got glimpses of Black-throated Blue Warbler, Veery, and Ruffed Grouse, among others. Happy Mother's Day indeed! Nancy Dickinson Subject: Hawthorn Orchard & Renwick Sanctuary - 11 May 2008 From: "Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes" <cth4 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 13:01:54 -0400 (EDT) I may provide a more detailed report later, but wanted to let those interested know that the Hawthorn Orchard was fairly quiet this morning with the exception of a nice male HOODED WARBLER. This bird was located in the northern section of the Hawthorn Orchard, about half-way between the Western and Eastern edges. Other birds seen or heard include: Northern Parulas, Nashville Warblers, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstarts, Common Yellowthroats, Yellow Warblers, a fly-by Northern Harrier and a fly-over COMMON RAVEN being followed by two American Crows. Then, down at Renwick Sanctuary (located just South of Stewart Park) held an actively singing CERULEAN WARBLER (just west of the East trail, nearest Route 13) and a single HOODED WARBLER (whisper singing) just south of the Cerulean spot. More details later. Good birding! Sincerely, Chris T-H -- ============================================= Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes TARU Product Line Manager and Field Application Engineer Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 Voice: 607-254-2418, FAX: 607-254-2460 ============================================= Subject: Re: Lindsay-Parsons/Jetty Woods From: Susan Danskin <danskin AT twcny.rr.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 12:10:59 -0400 I had the exact same experience with the Cerulean at Jetty Woods yesterday. Also had Cerulean at May's Point yesterday afternoon. Couldn't remember if anyone had posted one there yet. Susan > On the way home I stopped by Jetty Woods and heard a CERULEAN WARBLER > above the trail as soon as I walked in. It immediately flew east, so I > took the little trail south of the swampy lake after it and was > rewarded with good, but brief, views at the far east end of the little > trail. An OSPREY flew up the canal and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was > walking down the main trail. > > Some photos from today can be seen at the link in my signature. > > Good birding, > Ryan > Subject: Beam Hill - Swainson's thrush, hooded warbler From: "sfast" <sfast AT lightlink.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:52:19 -0400 It was fairly quiet on Beam Hill (east) this morning, but a HOODED WARBLER and a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER sang for a long time in adjacent trees. I also heard, close by, about 6 songs of a SWAINSON'S THRUSH, although I never saw it. Steve Fast Brooktondale Subject: Saturday Beginner Bird Walk and Lindsay Parsons today From: Larry <lorkin1 AT twcny.rr.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:41:59 -0400 I led two beginner bird walks Saturday morning at Sapsucker, along with Erin McKinney and Jessica Orkin. We are all Volunteer Docents at the Lab of O. Highlights for people included Warblng Vireo, Female Redwings a new sighting for many people, successfully hunting Great Blue Heron, many American Redstarts, Yellow Warblers, good view of Common Yellowthroat along marshy little stream after the Sherwood Observation platform, Northern Waterthrush singing and a brief great view right by the Sherwood, Least Flycatcher, many singing Baltimore Orioles, got to hear much variation, a skulking and quiet Veery, singing Woodthrush, House Wren that we managed to pish out, Tree Swallows, Belted Kingfisher, singing White Crowned at the feeders, muskrat (s) along with all the usual suspects, Song Sparrow, White Throated, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadees etc. A good time for us all. A mother's day walk today at Lindsay Parsons was great with good views and singings of Prairie Warbler, Blue Winged, Eastern Towhee, Common Yellowthroat, a hovering Female Kestrel, a beautifully soaring female Northern Harrier and lots and lots of Yellow Warblers. Good birding to all. Linda Orkin Subject: Pine Siskins From: "Marie P Read" <mpr5 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:32:10 -0400 (EDT) Hi all, Six Pine Siskins made an appearance at my nyjer feeders this morning around 10:30. Marie Marie Read Wildlife Photography 452 Ringwood Road Freeville NY 13068 USA Phone 607-539-6608 e-mail mpr5 AT cornell.edu http://www.marieread.com http://www.agpix.com/mari Subject: Lindsay-Parsons/Jetty Woods From: "Ryan Douglas" <commonloon AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:05:08 -0400 I was at Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve around 6:40am this morning to scout for next week's Cayuga Bird Club field trip (meet at the south end of the Wegman's parking lot Saturday 17 May by 6:30am) and was greeted by BALTIMORE ORIOLES, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and EUROPEAN STARLINGS at the parking lot. When I dropped into the woods GRAY CATBIRDS and a NORTHERN PARULA were calling. As I exited the woods at the first field I heard a Blue-winged Warbler...but closer inspection revealed it to be a BREWSTER'S WARBLER. Several PRAIRIE WARBLERS were singing in this area when I left around 9:30am, but they weren't singing in the early morning frost. On the Blue Trail I heard at least two HOODED WARBLERS and saw one. With much patience I was also rewarded with excruciatingly close looks at four WORM-EATING WARBLERS. They silently flew in, landed right next to me, stayed for about 90 seconds, then silently left. I did not hear a single bird sing or so much as call, so I was feeling pretty fortunate! BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS were numerous. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS were less common, but very vocal. INDIGO BUNTINGS were singing here and there, and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK dropped into the woods and then wouldn't shut up for about three minutes. A few BOBOLINKS flew over head early in the morning. One or two RUFFED GROUSE drummed, but I couldn't pinpoint which direction the booms were coming from. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were around in small numbers, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER was on a log in Coleman Lake. On the way home I stopped by Jetty Woods and heard a CERULEAN WARBLER above the trail as soon as I walked in. It immediately flew east, so I took the little trail south of the swampy lake after it and was rewarded with good, but brief, views at the far east end of the little trail. An OSPREY flew up the canal and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was walking down the main trail. Some photos from today can be seen at the link in my signature. Good birding, Ryan -- Ryan Douglas Ithaca, NY commonloon AT gmail.com http://picasaweb.google.com/rndouglas/CayugaBasin2008 Subject: Salmon Creek and FYI on Cayuga Bird Club Meeting From: Meena Haribal <mmh3 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 07:15:11 -0400 Hi All, Yesterday I lead an SFO local trip to Salmon Creek Road. First stop just past Brooks Hill road produced a single singing CERULEAN WARBLER! I was happy t see one at least. Last year as I did not do trip to MNWR at right time I never saw a Cerulean Warbler for the basin. Other interesting things were several BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS, but one had a song which stumped many of us in the group. He reminded me of three possible species of birds (Cerulean, Prairie and Parula) put together but sounded like none. finally we tracked him down and saw him singing to get confirmation. Generally it was slow in the morning as it was still cold. Red-eyed did not start singing well past 10.00 am! Lots of Yellow-rumps were chitting around. We did not even hear a Veery or Wood Thrush, though one sang a reluctant song for a short time. Yet on the whole we had some 63 species of birds that class saw and I had a couple of non-class birds. Other interesting birds were two pairs BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS on the territory, several YELLOW Warblers and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, EASTERN KINGBIRDS (actually saw a cloud of flies around them when they were sitting way high on the pine tree in spite of cold temperatures), GREAT-CRESTED and LEAST FLYCATCHERS and other usual expected birds. Lastly, I am plugging in shamelessly an info about a talk on dragonflies and damselflies that I am giving to bird club tomorrow (see below) and the talk is open to public. Sorry for beating my own drums (is that what the expression is? Of course how can you beat somebody else's drum?). I hope to see some of you there! May 12 Monday 7:30 p.m. Cayuga Bird Club Meeting Johnson Center Auditorium Speaker: Meena Haribal Meena Haribal will present "Needles in the Haystack and Sparkling Gems Around the Ponds," an illustrated talk on Dragonflies and Damselflies (collectively known as odontaes) found around the Cayuga Lake Basin and other nearby areas. Meena PS; BTW, my HOUSE WREN, ORIOLES and CATBIRDS are back in my yard, they survived their migration! And Robin has built nice big nest but seems to have not yet furnished it, probably waiting for good weather! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Meena Haribal Cornell Lab Of Ornithology 159, Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca NY 14850 Phone: 607-254-2148, 607-254-4958 Fax: 607-254-2415, 607-254-2104 webpage: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mmh3/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/ http://birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/ Current Loc: 42o 25' 44.48" N, 76o 28' 16.90" W Elev 816 ft or 248.7 m Formerly: 19o 0' 39.22" N, 72o 51' 09.97" E Elev 33 ft or 10m Subject: Cayuga Bird Club Field Trip From: Gladys Birdsall <gjb5 AT twcny.rr.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 22:36:39 -0400 Subject: sandhill crane colts? From: Susan Danskin <danskin AT twcny.rr.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 20:49:28 -0400 Judy (last name unknown or forgotten, sorry) and I went up to the north end of the lake to beef up my cup numbers but also to look for the Sandhill Crane colts. Judy spotted both adults on the far side of the cornfield to the south of Carncross. We spent about 20 minutes watching them, but saw nothing of the colts mentioned in an earlier post. Other than the feeding by the adults and the occasional RWBB or crow, we were unable to detect any other movement in the area. So, we were wondering... 1) coyotes or foxes already got the colts? we hoped not 2) the parents left the colts unattended on the nest? we didn't think this likely, but we don't know a lot about crane parenting 3) the colts are so small we couldn't see them through the corn stalks? believe me we looked and looked but saw nothing 4) the colts were nestled on the adults' backs and we couldn't make them out due to heat shimmer? Judy thought she saw something, but I didn't even when one of them stretch its wings (Interestingly enough, when I got home the latest issue of Living Bird had a photo of Sandhill Crane colts sitting on the back of an adult on the nest.) If anyone knows which option or other possibility is most likely, please let us know. Susan Subject: O.O.B. Sandhill Crane report in Spencer. From: "J. Gary Kohlenberg" <jgk25 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 18:58:03 -0400 I wanted to give a late post for an out of basin sighting on Tuesday May 6th. James Myer saw a flock of 5 SANDHILL CRANES in the fields southwest of the intersection of RT-34/96 and Halsey Valley Road east of Spencer. James is an excellent photographer and I saw the pictures of the birds. Gary Subject: Dorothy McIlroy and Baldwin Preserve misc. birds From: "J. Gary Kohlenberg" <jgk25 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 18:49:11 -0400 Hi all, After clearing out of the area for the SFO class today I went back to the Baldwin preserve around 1PM. I was able to find a singing PRAIRIE WARBLER which was my most notable sighting. I also hear a RAVEN on almost every visit. The Dorothy McIlroy Preserve this morning wasn't exactly jumping with birds, but a patient walk was rewarded with breeding birds singing and foraging. OVENBIRDS were numerous along with BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS. I heard one HERMIT THRUSH and a VEERY. A small flock by the fen had one BLACK-THROATED BLUE, one NASHVILLE and several B.T.GREEN WARBLERS. The fen also hosts a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, KINGFISHER, SWAMP SPARROWS along with the TREE SWALLOWS. Finishing the complete loop adds the usual suspects along with BALTIMORE ORIOLE, HOUSE WREN, PURPLE FINCH, YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, WHITE-THROATED, SONG and CHIPPING SPARROWS. This is a very nice preserve and becoming one of my favorites. happy birding, Gary Subject: WC Sparrows From: "MJ Thomas" <mjbt AT jt-mj.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 18:01:33 -0400 We've had up to seven WC Sparrows in our yard for the past week or ten days. Today I counted 8 - all under the feeder at one time. We've lived here 13 years and I don't recall ever seeing as many; it's been two or three at a time before. Is this an unusual year for them? MJ -- MJ Thomas mjbt AT jt-mj.net In the beautiful Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York State! Subject: Hooded Warblers, R-T Hummer From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 17:44:11 -0400 Another Ruby-throated Hummingbird here. Hooded Warblers appeared a week ago, but for a few cold days I heard nothing from them. This morning they happened to be singing when I walked through their nesting areas. -Geo Subject: Birding my way home From: "Mickey Scilingo" <mickey.scilingo AT gte.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 13:26:58 -0400 Here are a few notable birds I encountered while birding my way home from work this morning. CORTLAND COUNTY Tully Lake - 1 male RUDDY DUCK CAYUGA COUNTY Summerhill: Broad-winged Hawk Winter Wren Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat TOMPKINS COUNTY Genung Nature Preserve, Rt 38 Freeville: Wood Duck pair Great Crested Flycatcher Red-breasted Nuthatch Blue-winged Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Palm Warbler Common Yellowthroat Mickey Mickey Scilingo Yellow Barn Hill Dryden, Tompkins County, NY mickey.scilingo AT gte.net 607-280-2638 Subject: Birding my way home From: "Mickey Scilingo" <mickey.scilingo AT gte.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 13:26:58 -0400 Here are a few notable birds I encountered while birding my way home from work this morning. CORTLAND COUNTY Tully Lake - 1 male RUDDY DUCK CAYUGA COUNTY Summerhill: Broad-winged Hawk Winter Wren Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat TOMPKINS COUNTY Genung Nature Preserve, Rt 38 Freeville: Wood Duck pair Great Crested Flycatcher Red-breasted Nuthatch Blue-winged Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Palm Warbler Common Yellowthroat Mickey Mickey Scilingo Yellow Barn Hill Dryden, Tompkins County, NY mickey.scilingo AT gte.net 607-280-2638 Subject: baby Hooded Mergansers From: Elaina McCartney <Elaina.McCartney AT cornell.edu> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 12:45:25 -0400 A female Hooded Mergansers just led a line of babies across Rt. 89 by the Hanger Theater, heading for the ditch of water, last seen swimming north. Subject: migrating bird decline noted by UN From: Regi Teasley <rltcayuga AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 09:58:37 -0500 for your information http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jte0r-AI4Pi8IYOcs2yU-m8Fzo2g I hope we can get past the "canary in the coal mine" metaphor and enable people to understand that birds are important in their own right. Regi Subject: Sapsucker Woods From: "Ryan Douglas" <commonloon AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 09:48:51 -0400 I birded Sapsucker Woods from about 6:30-9:00am this morning. I didn't find a single big flock, but there were a lot of birds around. The highlight for me was finding a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD nest above the Sevringhaus Trail and then watching another hummingbird display just 10-20m away from the nest. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and RED-EYED VIREOS were around in good numbers. I saw a NORTHERN PARULA at the boardwalk on the Wilson Trail and on the East Trail. A MAGNOLIA WARBLER was at the Wilson boardwalk and one or two more were along the pond on Wilson North. My long-awaited first Sapsucker Woods LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was singing just east of the Woodleton Boardwalk. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES were singing all over Sapsucker Woods. Other birds seen/heard around the Woodleton Boardwalk include WILD TURKEY, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, VEERY, HERMIT THRUSH, BROWN CREEPER and several species of WOODPECKERS. A male NORTHERN HARRIER also flew south over the boardwalk. Several WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were at the feeders south of the Lab. An EASTERN KINGBIRD was perched on a stake in the pond. LEAST FLYCATCHERS were calling along the power line cut. WARBLING VIREOS and HOUSE WRENS were singing all over. The only other warblers I saw today were OVENBIRD, AMERICAN REDSTART, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and YELLOW WARBLER. A quick stop at Bomax Road turned up a couple hunters, a WILD TURKEY, HOUSE WREN, FIELD SPARROW, YELLOW WARBLER, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. Good birding, Ryan -- Ryan Douglas Ithaca, NY commonloon AT gmail.com http://picasaweb.google.com/rndouglas/CayugaBasin2008 Subject: Bald Hill Sch. Rd. = Mourning & Hooded warblers From: "sfast" <sfast AT lightlink.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 09:04:04 -0400 On a long walk this morning, partly along Bald Hill School Rd., I found 1 each MOURNING and HOODED WARBLERS. Alas, they were in a section of the road about 100' outside the Basin. Also tallied 31 OVENBIRDS. Turkey hunters are out in force; 4 nice pick-ups full of them passed me slowly along Leonard Rd. Maybe it was too cold for them to be out in the woods. Steve Fast Brooktondale Subject: More migration radar From: "Nicholas David Sly" <nds22 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 01:02:13 -0400 (EDT) There is another strong migration movement tonight on radar, this time concentrated up the central flyway. Thanks to Paul's advice, I uploaded a movie of tonights radar that dramatically shows the coast-to-coast wave of birds popping up after dark. Enjoy: slybird.blogspot.com/2008/05/more-migration.html Cheers, Nick Subject: More migration radar From: "Nicholas David Sly" <nds22 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 01:02:13 -0400 (EDT) There is another strong migration movement tonight on radar, this time concentrated up the central flyway. Thanks to Paul's advice, I uploaded a movie of tonights radar that dramatically shows the coast-to-coast wave of birds popping up after dark. Enjoy: slybird.blogspot.com/2008/05/more-migration.html Cheers, Nick _______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Plantations: Brown Thrasher From: "Floris van Breugel" <florisvb AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 23:17:15 -0400 I spent the last two afternoons photographing various birds in the wonderful flowers at the plantations, and was able to confirm my suspicions from yesterday that there's a Brown Thrasher hanging out there. Also lots of baltimore orioles, yellow warblers, common yellowthroat, white crowned sparrows, among the other usuals. I didn't get a good picture of the thrasher, but lots of good nice shots of the birds playing in the flowers - http://florisvanbreugel.smugmug.com/gallery/2689181_zwyt8#292096235_bgmh4 - Floris -- Floris van Breugel Cornell University Biological Engineering '08 Cornell Computational Synthesis Lab http://ccsl.mae.cornell.edu/ (925) 963 8280 Wildlife and Landscape Photography http://florisvanbreugel.smugmug.com/ Subject: Wood duck stag club From: "sfast" <sfast AT lightlink.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:32:06 -0400 Susie & I were driving down Cornell Lane this evening and stopped next to a newly worked-up (and probably planted) field. The sun shining on the E. STARLINGS made them look silver. In the center of the field were about 6 resting CANADA GEESE and walking among them were 11 male WOOD DUCKS in alternate (breeding) plumage. According to my sources, males will leave the females toward the end of incubation and gather in small groups, prior to their partial molt. Still, it was an odd place to see so many. S. & S. Fast Brooktondale Subject: migrant birds From: "grosbeak AT clarityconnect.com" <grosbeak@clarityconnect.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:20:25 -0400 Hello all, Some odds and ends from the week. First RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD at house in Scott on Wed-- Several ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, 1 SCARLET TANAGER, SEVERAL CHSTNUT-SIDEDS, HOUSE and CAROLINA WRENS, HERMIT THRUSHES, 1 WOOD THRUSH and 1 PINE SISKIN in with flock of Goldfinches also at house. Here at work AT LEAST 2 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS continue. Matt -------------------------------------------------------------------- myhosting.com - Premium Microsoft® Windows® and Linux web and application hosting - http://link.myhosting.com/myhosting Subject: OOB Pharsalia NY- Warblers Galore 5/9/08 From: david nicosia <daven1024 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 13:05:17 -0700 (PDT) Sorry for the out of basin report but I had a phenomenal day in New Michigan State Forest Land, Pharsalia, NY, Chenango County. I know some of you venture out there. The number of warblers was excellent. This is heartening to me since many people talk of how there are so few warblers anymore. This is not true at New Michigan at least!! For example, the first 1/2 mile of road in the state land I had 12 blackburnians, 10 black-throated greens and 5 magnolias singing! At one point I was watching one blackburnian foraging and listening to 3 others!!! My summary is below.... Total 13 warbler species: Yellow-rumped- 50+ mostly in migrating flocks. Had 14 or so singing males Ovenbird- 34 all over Magnolia- 31 all over Black-throated Green- 30 all over Blackburnian- 29 mostly in tall norway spruce plantations throughout the state forest lands. a few were in a maple dominated part of forest with just scattered spruces. Black-throated Blue- 15 (mostly on Coy Street) Chestnut-sided- 15 mostly in tornado damaged clearing and off the end of Coy Street Nashville- 4 in tornado damaged clearing and off the end of Coy Street Northern Waterthrush - 2 Black and White- 2 Yellow- 2 CANADA- 2 (first of season for me on Coy Street) Common Yellowthroat - 2 CAPE MAY- 1 (first of season for me singing in Norway Spruce mixed in with a bunch of yellow-rumps, great looks in upper canopy area ) I also had: 13 blue-headed vireos, one red-eyed vireo, 14 golden-crowned kinglets, 4 least flycatchers, 15+ purple finches, 10+ yellow-bellied sapsuckers, 12 red-breasted nuthatches, 5 rose-breasted grosbeaks, 2 ruby crowned kinglets, 4 common ravens, 1 ruffed grouse drumming, at least 10 white-throated sparrows, 3 brown creepers, hairy woodpecker, several downy woodpeckers, many juncos, robins, several blue jays, 2 flickers,1 field sparrow, a couple eastern towhees, eastern pheobe, several cowbirds, 1 gray catbird and one broad-winged hawk. Mourning Warblers apparently have not arrived yet. Also thrushes were largely absent as there were only hermit thrushes apparent. At least 6 hermit thrushes were present, as only one was singing (I was there at midday). The others were just calling sporadically. The wood thrush, veery and swainson's thrush apparently have not arrived yet. There were also no scarlet tanagers or orioles. Since New Michigan State Forest is at high elevation around 1600-1800 feet, these migrants probably won't arrive for another few days or until the next good south wind day. Good birding to all!! Dave Nicosia ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Re: Sapsucker Woods , 5/9/08 From: "Tom Hoebbel" <tomhoebbel AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 14:20:06 -0400 I spent the AM at Sapsucker as well and can add BROWN CREEPERs, BLACK THROATED BLUE Warbler and a Probable YELLOW BELLIED FLYCATCHER. Tom On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 12:28 PM, Holly C. Adams wrote: > Good afternoon! > We also had 2 Eastern Kingbirds and one Spotted Sandpiper, visible from > the big Lab windows this morning. > > Happy Birding > holly > > > I wandered around Sapsucker woods for about an hour and 45 min this > > morning > > finding things fairly quiet. A complete list is below. > > > > The most fun observation of the morning took place on the Hoyt Pileated > > trail right after I had politely asked a doe White-tailed Deer to move > out > > of the middle of the path. As the doe moved off an Ovenbird landed on the > > path about 10 feet from me and began picking through the wood chips and > > leaf litter. I watched it for perhaps 2 minutes and then when I coughed > it > > flew up to a tree a few feet off the path. It hadn't seemed to mind my > > moving slowly. The whole time the doe was still close by watch, and > when > > I looked back at her she gave me what appeared to be this rather > > reproachful look as if to say "you didn't ask the bird to move..." > > > > Bill Baker > > > >> > >>Location: Sapsucker Woods > >>Observation date: 5/9/08 > >>Number of species: 38 > >> > >>Canada Goose X > >>Mallard 1 > >>Mourning Dove 4 > >>Belted Kingfisher 1 > >>Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 > >>Downy Woodpecker 1 > >>Least Flycatcher 1 > >>Eastern Phoebe 2 > >>Blue-headed Vireo 4 > >>Warbling Vireo 2 > >>Red-eyed Vireo 1 > >>Blue Jay 2 > >>American Crow 6 > >>Tree Swallow 4 > >>House Wren 3 > >>Wood Thrush 3 > >>American Robin 10 > >>Gray Catbird 4 > >>European Starling X > >>Yellow Warbler 8 > >>Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 > >>Magnolia Warbler 1 > >>Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 > >>Black-throated Green Warbler 1 > >>American Redstart 9 > >>Ovenbird 5 > >>Northern Waterthrush 3 > >>Common Yellowthroat 2 > >>Eastern Towhee 1 > >>Chipping Sparrow 1 > >>Song Sparrow 3 > >>Northern Cardinal 2 > >>Red-winged Blackbird X > >>Common Grackle X > >>Brown-headed Cowbird 2 > >>Baltimore Oriole 4 > >>Purple Finch 1 > >>American Goldfinch 6 > >> > >>This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) > > > > Plum Creek Designs > > Custom Furniture and Woodworking > > 68 N. Van Dorn Rd. > > Ithaca, NY 14850 > > 607-275-0540 > > > > > > > > > > > > -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thomas Hoebbel Photography www.TH-Photo.com 607-539-6121 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Sapsucker Woods, Genung Nature Preserve, Fri 5/9 From: Mark Chao <markchao AT imt.org> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:53:05 -0400 (EDT) The LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH again was singing and singing in Sapsucker Woods on Friday. The bird has moved a bit northwest to the center of the Hoyt-Pileated Trail. Alan Poole and I saw at least four OVENBIRDS chasing each other in this area, but found no Pine Warbler or other unusual birds. At the Genung Nature Preserve in Freeville, I found two BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS and two CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, plus a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH across the road. I expected Pine Warbler and Brown Thrasher, but didn't find them. The most dramatic and enlightening moment of my visit here was a glimpse of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers copulating on a horizontal branch. The male mounted the female's back and slid down near her left wing. Then the two birds twisted their tails so that his undertail area faced right and hers faced left at the moment of contact. I suppose that the sapsuckers' stiff tails prevent the copulation position I've seen other birds use, in which the female bends her tail up against her back to expose her cloaca upward. This was the second sapsucker highlight of the week for me. A few days ago, my kids and I found a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that had hit a window. We stayed and watched as the bird's eyelids shut and its breathing became very rapid and alarmingly shallow. Half an hour passed. We had nearly lost hope when suddenly the bird turned on its belly, opened its eyes, and turned its head a few times. We fed him drops of diluted maple syrup through a straw. Then he spread his wings, perched briefly on our porch step, and flew across the street, turning the kids' whispers and tears into great leaps and shouts of joy. We spread a tablecloth that night to turn our regular weeknight supper into a celebration. Mark Chao Subject: Re: Sapsucker Woods , 5/9/08 From: "Holly C. Adams" <hca3 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:28:02 -0400 (EDT) Good afternoon! We also had 2 Eastern Kingbirds and one Spotted Sandpiper, visible from the big Lab windows this morning. Happy Birding holly > I wandered around Sapsucker woods for about an hour and 45 min this > morning > finding things fairly quiet. A complete list is below. > > The most fun observation of the morning took place on the Hoyt Pileated > trail right after I had politely asked a doe White-tailed Deer to move out > of the middle of the path. As the doe moved off an Ovenbird landed on the > path about 10 feet from me and began picking through the wood chips and > leaf litter. I watched it for perhaps 2 minutes and then when I coughed it > flew up to a tree a few feet off the path. It hadn't seemed to mind my > moving slowly. The whole time the doe was still close by watch, and when > I looked back at her she gave me what appeared to be this rather > reproachful look as if to say "you didn't ask the bird to move..." > > Bill Baker > >> >>Location: Sapsucker Woods >>Observation date: 5/9/08 >>Number of species: 38 >> >>Canada Goose X >>Mallard 1 >>Mourning Dove 4 >>Belted Kingfisher 1 >>Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 >>Downy Woodpecker 1 >>Least Flycatcher 1 >>Eastern Phoebe 2 >>Blue-headed Vireo 4 >>Warbling Vireo 2 >>Red-eyed Vireo 1 >>Blue Jay 2 >>American Crow 6 >>Tree Swallow 4 >>House Wren 3 >>Wood Thrush 3 >>American Robin 10 >>Gray Catbird 4 >>European Starling X >>Yellow Warbler 8 >>Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 >>Magnolia Warbler 1 >>Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 >>Black-throated Green Warbler 1 >>American Redstart 9 >>Ovenbird 5 >>Northern Waterthrush 3 >>Common Yellowthroat 2 >>Eastern Towhee 1 >>Chipping Sparrow 1 >>Song Sparrow 3 >>Northern Cardinal 2 >>Red-winged Blackbird X >>Common Grackle X >>Brown-headed Cowbird 2 >>Baltimore Oriole 4 >>Purple Finch 1 >>American Goldfinch 6 >> >>This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) > > Plum Creek Designs > Custom Furniture and Woodworking > 68 N. Van Dorn Rd. > Ithaca, NY 14850 > 607-275-0540 > > > > Subject: Sapsucker Woods , 5/9/08 From: bilbaker AT lightlink.com (Bill Baker) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:36:59 -0400 I wandered around Sapsucker woods for about an hour and 45 min this morning finding things fairly quiet. A complete list is below. The most fun observation of the morning took place on the Hoyt Pileated trail right after I had politely asked a doe White-tailed Deer to move out of the middle of the path. As the doe moved off an Ovenbird landed on the path about 10 feet from me and began picking through the wood chips and leaf litter. I watched it for perhaps 2 minutes and then when I coughed it flew up to a tree a few feet off the path. It hadn't seemed to mind my moving slowly. The whole time the doe was still close by watch, and when I looked back at her she gave me what appeared to be this rather reproachful look as if to say "you didn't ask the bird to move..." Bill Baker > >Location: Sapsucker Woods >Observation date: 5/9/08 >Number of species: 38 > >Canada Goose X >Mallard 1 >Mourning Dove 4 >Belted Kingfisher 1 >Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 >Downy Woodpecker 1 >Least Flycatcher 1 >Eastern Phoebe 2 >Blue-headed Vireo 4 >Warbling Vireo 2 >Red-eyed Vireo 1 >Blue Jay 2 >American Crow 6 >Tree Swallow 4 >House Wren 3 >Wood Thrush 3 >American Robin 10 >Gray Catbird 4 >European Starling X >Yellow Warbler 8 >Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 >Magnolia Warbler 1 >Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 >Black-throated Green Warbler 1 >American Redstart 9 >Ovenbird 5 >Northern Waterthrush 3 >Common Yellowthroat 2 >Eastern Towhee 1 >Chipping Sparrow 1 >Song Sparrow 3 >Northern Cardinal 2 >Red-winged Blackbird X >Common Grackle X >Brown-headed Cowbird 2 >Baltimore Oriole 4 >Purple Finch 1 >American Goldfinch 6 > >This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Plum Creek Designs Custom Furniture and Woodworking 68 N. Van Dorn Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-275-0540 Subject: Park Preserve/Baldwin Tract--Prairie Warblers From: Anne Marie Johnson <annemariejohnson AT frontiernet.net> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 11:32:08 -0400 Tim and I took a mid-morning walk through the Baldwin Tract of the new Park Nature Preserve on Irish Settlement Road. We heard two PRAIRIE WARBLERS singing as well as several MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, NASHVILLE WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, OVENBIRDS, and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS. One LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was singing in the bottom of the gorge. We heard two dueling HERMIT THRUSHES and saw an AMERICAN KESTREL and an OSPREY overhead (the second time I've seen an Osprey over this preserve this week). Anne Marie Johnson Subject: birding Mother's Day From: Nancy Dickinson <nwd1 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:25:10 -0400 I'll be leading a bird walk at Cayuga Nature Center on Sunday, May 11, from 7:30 to 9:30. This is a nice walk for moms who want a little birding escape while the family makes brunch, or to bring the kids along on, or for anyone who's ever had a mother. The birds (and wildflowers) should be at their best, and the weather promises to be cool and cloudy but not rainy. Meet in the lower parking lot. For directions and more information on the Cayuga Nature Center: http://www.cayuganaturecenter.org/ -- Nancy Dickinson 'Summer is coming,summer is coming, I know it, I know it, I know it. Light again, leaf again, life again, love again,' Yes, my wild little poet... Tennyson The Throstle Subject: Mercury in raptors From: Stefan Hames <rsh5 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:24:04 -0400 Hi All, As a part of our research into the effects of acid rain and mercury deposition, both byproducts of burning coal for electricity, on forest birds we are looking for nests of Red-shouldered Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, and Sharp-shinned Hawks. We are beginning to see low level mercury in forest birds across the state and while the amount we see in a Black-capped Chickadee (or in herps), is still below the level at which negative effects appear, these levels of mercury may mean trouble for hawks that eat these songbirds or herps. If you know of a nest of one of these three species (or any forest-nesting hawks) or an occupied territory, please contact me off-list to let me know about it. You don't have to know exactly where the nest is located, but if you see the hawk frequently in your yard or wood-lot pleas let me know so we can follow up. Thanks in advance for your help! Best, Stefan -- ======================================================================== Stefan Hames, PhD Research Associate Conservation Science Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: 607-254-2496 (lab) 607-254-2104 (fax) 607-273-4915 (home) ======================================================================== Subject: Blue-wings From: Nancy Dickinson <nwd1 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:14:15 -0400 Two Blue-wing Warblers added their bee-buzz to the morning chorus on our little hillside this morning. -- Nancy Dickinson Mecklenburg Make a little birdhouse in your soul. Subject: N. Parula today-Fri From: Laura Stenzler <lms9 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 09:00:20 -0400 Hi all, This morning on our property on Hunt Hill Rd. we had two NORTHERN PARULAS, INDIGO BUNTING, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER as new -for -the-year birds. The Parula warblers, both males, stayed in the area for about 1.5 hours, singing away. Other birds seen and heard on the property were: Scarlet Tanager Baltimore Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Common Yellowthroat Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Ovenbird (two, having a singing war) Bluebird Phoebe Robin Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow - about 10 birds. They were not there yesterday! Blue Jay Ruby-crowned Kinglet Catbird Quite a birdy morning! Laura Laura Stenzler Lab Manager Evolutionary Biology Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, New York 14850 Office: (607) 254 2141 Lab: (607) 254 1128 Fax: (607) 254 2486 lms9 AT cornell.edu Subject: Sapsucker Woods From: "Ryan Douglas" <commonloon AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 17:45:36 -0400 Diana and I took a nice walk around the East Trail at Sapsucker Woods this evening. Birds weren't too numerous, and the highlights were a very cooperative VEERY, a singing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH on the ground within 10 ft. of the Woodleton Boardwalk (a second was singing to the south) and several singing BROWN CREEPERS. Other birds seen/heard were AMERICAN ROBIN, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, OVENBIRD, LEAST FLYCATCHER and EASTERN PHOEBE. Good birding, Ryan -- Ryan Douglas Ithaca, NY commonloon AT gmail.com http://picasaweb.google.com/rndouglas/CayugaBasin2008 Subject: Pewee Wannabe - thoughts? From: Chris Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 16:58:54 -0400 I've uploaded the video clip which documents an occurrence of a Brown-headed Cowbird producing a call nearly identical to the “pwee” call of an Eastern Wood-Pewee. The video clip may be viewed at this URL; click on the thumbnail to initiate the video clip: http://picasaweb.google.com/cth4th/Pewee_Wannabe?authkey=Hdm35reTvfs I've also uploaded a series of "pwee" calls in the form of a wave file at this URL: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/cth4/BHCO-EAWP-BHCO-EAWP-BHCO.wav As the title above suggests, the calls are in this order: Recorded Brown-headed Cowbird "pwee" Known Eastern Wood-Pewee "pwee" Repeat of Brown-headed Cowbird "pwee" Different Known Eastern Wood-Pewee "pwee" Repeat of Brown-headed Cowbird "pwee" It is very interesting how similar this call is. I wonder if this is not accidental and perhaps this was a learned call from the host nest site of the Brown-headed Cowbird when it was a nestling. Perhaps the host parents were indeed Eastern Wood-Pewees? I would appreciate any comments on this suggestion. Sincerely, Chris T-H -- ============================================= Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes TARU Product Line Manager and Field Application Engineer Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 Voice: 607-254-2418, FAX: 607-254-2460 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp mailto:cth4 AT cornell.edu ============================================= Subject: FW: MWC sandhill crane colts! From: "Michael R. Morgan" <mrm66 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 16:19:09 -0400 Sounds like a proud "papa"! Mike Morgan -----Original Message----- From: Frank Morlock [mailto:fmmorloc AT gw.dec.state.ny.us] Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:13 PM To: mrm66 AT cornell.edu Subject: sandhill cranes Mike, Just a quick note to let you know that the sandhills are once again proud parents of 2 new colts. I spotted them earlier this afternoon from Carncross. They're holding fairly tight to the road at the moment. This is the earliest I've seen them, and they are tiny! We'll try to keep the coyotes off them. Feel free to post if you like. If you do, please let folks know that we're looking for nest location info. regarding our birds. You would think we would have been able to find it by now, but we've been looking for 3 years now without any luck. I have some ideas where it might be, but any info. people might have would be welcome. Thanks! Frank Morlock NYSDEC Northern Montezuma WMA 1385 Morgan Rd. Savannah, NY 13146 315-365-2371 or 315-365-2134 fmmorloc AT gw.dec.state.ny.us Subject: Re: Orchard Oriole @ Farmers' Market, etc. From: "J. Gary Kohlenberg" <jgk25 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 15:32:48 -0400 I was walking along Newman golf course by the sailboat docks at noon today with 3 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS leapfrogging ahead. I found one adult ORCHARD ORIOLE feeding high up to the right of the little pond at Jetty Woods. A Cerulean Warbler was singing for me too. Gary On May 8, 2008, at 1:37 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > I walked with my son to Boynton Middle School and at 0800 continued to > Stewart Park, the Cornell Biological Field Station (Jetty Woods > between Newman Golf Course and the white lighthouse jetty), Renwick > Sanctuary, and the Ithaca Farmers' Market on my way home, which pretty > well shot the morning. > > Either there were many SPOTTED SANDPIPERS or I was repeatedly herding > the same 2 from the southeast corner of the lake all the way to Treman > Marina. > The lake hosted a male RING-NECKED DUCK as well as CANADA GEESE, > MALLARDS, COMMON MERGANSERS, and BUFFLEHEADS (females or young > males?). Later I saw several northbound flying DOUBLE-CRESTED > CORMORANTS. > I found zero warblers at the swan pond. > A CERULEAN WARBLER continues to sing in the Jetty Woods, occasionally > coming within view of the road near the entrance. Also present: > AMERICAN REDSTARTS (lots, including a pair nest-building close to the > road), YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, > LEAST FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO (lots), GRAY CATBIRD, HOUSE WREN, > BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, INDIGO BUNTING (1 male flew toward Renwick), > WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON (1 female), plus the > usual suspects. > Swallows of 4 species foraged low over the mouth of Cayuga Inlet. > In Renwick an AMERICAN REDSTART stayed within 10' at eye level among > the bushes for a surprising distance along the trail south from the > suspension bridge. I also saw a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER there earlier > and heard a possible ROSE-BREASTED GROWBEAK chink. > At the Farmers' Market I found an immature male ORCHARD ORIOLE among > the colorful shrubs around the tiny pond and the shed by the entrance. > --Dave Nutter > Subject: seeking first Eastern Wood-Pewee From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 11:27:30 -0700 Now that a deceitful Brown-headed Cowbird has thrown Chris T-H's early heard-only Eastern Wood-Pewee into doubt, I'm looking for the new first of season report. Unfortunately I've deleted lots of posts and can't recall other reports besides from Mark Chao this morning (8 May). Has anybody seen an earlier Eastern Wood-Pewee in the Cayuga Lake Basin this year? Thanks. --Dave Nutter Subject: Hawthorn Orchard - 5/8/2008 (6:30am-9:00am) - 12 Warblers From: Chris Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 14:09:24 -0400 This morning, Pedro Fernandes and my mom, Sara Jane Hymes, spent a couple hours walking around the Hawthorn Orchard and surrounding land, seeking possible new migrants. Later, we were joined by Tom Hoebbel, and my dad, Larry Hymes. It was a fairly quiet morning, more quiet than I had hoped for. Here are some of the notes on what birds we observed; these notes are not all-inclusive: 1 Solitary Sandpiper (foraging in the larger square water runoff impoundment, located well South of the Hawthorn Orchard) A very interesting Brown-headed Cowbird, doing a very near perfect imitation of an Eastern Wood-Pewee's "chuwee" call. This may have, in fact, been the bird responsible for the "Eastern Wood-Pewee" heard in the same area a few days earlier, on Saturday. When I get a chance, I'm going to upload this video recording of the call and will post a link. So, I may need to recant the Eastern Wood-Pewee from Saturday, since that bird was never seen. 3-4 Least Flycatchers 1-2 Great Crested Flycatchers 1 Eastern Kingbird (calling frequently, earlier in the AM, on the South side of the East Hill Plaza). 1 Warbling Vireo (on territory, tall trees just West of Spring Peeper Pond, and Northwest of the square water runoff impoundment) 1 Red-eyed Vireo (singing from tall oak trees just South of the Black Oak Lane townhouse property) 1 Carolina Wren (singing along EIRW, just Northwest of the Hawthorn Orchard) 5-6+ House Wrens (all over the place) 1-2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets 2-3 Wood Thrushes (on territory in the Hawthorn Orchard) 16++ Gray Catbirds (all over the place) 1 BROWN THRASHER (in habitat surrounding the path leading from the EIRW up to the South ball field) 3-4 Nashville Warblers (restricted to the Hawthorn Orchard) 2-3 Northern Parulas (one heard to Northwest of Hawthorn Orchard, just West of the old gravel pit/parking area, one seen at Southeast edge of Hawthorn Orchard, one singing repeatedly from same habitat as Warbling Vireo - tall trees just West of Spring Peeper Pond; Number two and three may have been the same bird) 10-15 Yellow Warblers (all over the place) 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler (fairly confident I heard this bird singing at a distance from us, probably in habitat just Southwest of the horse pasture to the South of the Hawthorn Orchard) 1 Magnolia Warbler (singing softly at a distance downstream and to the West of the old gravel pit/parking area, Northwest of the Hawthorn Orchard) 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler (whisper-singing at very Northwestern edge of Hawthorn Orchard, just South of large corner White Pine) 7+ Yellow-rumped Warblers (working East along the oak treetops just South of Black Oak Lane townhouse property) 1 Black-throated Green Warbler (heard singing early in the morning from the old gravel pit/parking area, Northwest of the Hawthorn Orchard 1 Pine Warbler (singing from tall White Pine at Northwest corner of the Hawthorn Orchard) 2-3 American Redstarts (mostly along the North ravine) 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (chipping while moving Northeast into ravine from Northwest portion of the Hawthorn Orchard) 5-6 Common Yellowthroats (various locations around the Hawthorn Orchard) 2 Scarlet Tanagers (one male sang once from top of a leafless deciduous tree near mid-Northern edge of Hawthorn Orchard; one female flew from Northwest into Hawthorn Orchard) 4-5 White-throated Sparrows 2-3 White-crowned Sparrows (banding area to South Southeast of Hawthorn Orchard) 8-10+ Northern Cardinals (everywhere) 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (singing and calling) 2 INDIGO BUNTINGS (2 males seen perched together, just Northeast of the Spring Peeper Pond - well South of the Hawthorn Orchard) 15+ BOBOLINKS (This was amazing. There were at least 10 Bobolinks clustered together - including one female - along the ditch which runs uphill to the East Southeast of the square water runoff impoundment; they were also actively singing and flying around the western portion of that field - alfalfa? - plus, very high migrants moving North and Northwest) 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK (singing from dead snag in the alfalfa (?) field to the East Southeast of the square water runoff impoundment) 6-7 Baltimore Orioles (singing and flying around) 1 Purple Finch (singing to Northwest of the Hawthorn Orchard) 15-20 American Goldfinches (all over the place) Good birding! Sincerely, Chris T-H PS - Below are some links with more information about the Hawthorn Orchard and various images: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/hawthorn.htm http://www.plantations.cornell.edu/collections/natareas/Public/Mitchell/Mitchell.htm http://picasaweb.google.com/cth4th/HawthornOrchardHistoricalAerials/ http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/cth4/Hawthorn%20Orchard/Birds/ http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/cth4/Hawthorn%20Orchard/Hawthorns/ -- ============================================= Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes TARU Product Line Manager and Field Application Engineer Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 Voice: 607-254-2418, FAX: 607-254-2460 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp mailto:cth4 AT cornell.edu ============================================= Subject: Orchard Oriole @ Farmers' Market, etc. From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 10:37:36 -0700 I walked with my son to Boynton Middle School and at 0800 continued to Stewart Park, the Cornell Biological Field Station (Jetty Woods between Newman Golf Course and the white lighthouse jetty), Renwick Sanctuary, and the Ithaca Farmers' Market on my way home, which pretty well shot the morning. Either there were many SPOTTED SANDPIPERS or I was repeatedly herding the same 2 from the southeast corner of the lake all the way to Treman Marina. The lake hosted a male RING-NECKED DUCK as well as CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS, COMMON MERGANSERS, and BUFFLEHEADS (females or young males?). Later I saw several northbound flying DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. I found zero warblers at the swan pond. A CERULEAN WARBLER continues to sing in the Jetty Woods, occasionally coming within view of the road near the entrance. Also present: AMERICAN REDSTARTS (lots, including a pair nest-building close to the road), YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO (lots), GRAY CATBIRD, HOUSE WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, INDIGO BUNTING (1 male flew toward Renwick), WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON (1 female), plus the usual suspects. Swallows of 4 species foraged low over the mouth of Cayuga Inlet. In Renwick an AMERICAN REDSTART stayed within 10' at eye level among the bushes for a surprising distance along the trail south from the suspension bridge. I also saw a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER there earlier and heard a possible ROSE-BREASTED GROWBEAK chink. At the Farmers' Market I found an immature male ORCHARD ORIOLE among the colorful shrubs around the tiny pond and the shed by the entrance. --Dave Nutter Subject: Re: Sapsucker Woods 5/8 From: bilbaker AT lightlink.com (Bill Baker) Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 11:57:35 -0400 I was in Sapsucker woods a bit later this AM than either Mark (who I ran into on his way out) or Anne Marie, and missed most of the warblers Anne Marie posted...oh well.. The only bird not already mentioned that I will add to the lists from today was a silent but visually cooperative HERMIT THRUSH on Hoyt-Pileated trail. Bill Baker Plum Creek Designs Custom Furniture and Woodworking 68 N. Van Dorn Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-275-0540 Subject: Prairie and Nashville Warblers et al. Near So. Hill Trail - Wed AM From: Stuart Krasnoff <sbk1 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 11:27:18 -0400 Apologies for the day-old post...Yesterday (Wed. 5/7/08) at about 0730 h there was a Prairie Warbler singing just off the So. Hill Rail Trail above the area of the old Northview gate. There was also a Nashville Warbler singing and foraging in the backyard bushes of one of the houses on Northview near the Juniper Rd. entrance to the trail. The woods, fields and hedgerows near the trail farther up were full of singing Common Yellowthroats, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, and Blue-winged warblers, as well as Towhees, Field Sparrows, Wood Thrushes, and Ovenbirds. I also picked out a Palm Warbler (Western race) flicking his tail in the tree tops. Good birding... Stuart Krasnoff Ithaca, NY Subject: Sapsucker Woods, Th 5/8 From: Mark Chao <markchao AT imt.org> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 10:23:59 -0400 (EDT) I missed many of the birds from Anne Marie's exciting report. To her list I can add only one or two EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES, a PINE WARBLER, and a NASHVILLE WARBLER singing along the Hoyt-Pileated Trail, plus BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER and NORTHERN PARULA singing behind the houses north of Sanctuary Drive. (Collective warbler species tally in Sapsucker Woods today is 19+.) The Pine Warbler could be quite a late migrant, or could be the first of his species that I've known to breed in Sapsucker Woods. Today I confirmed the Pine Warbler by sight as he sang (yellow throat, wing bars, long thin notched tail). I first saw him near the Louisiana Waterthrush at the intersection of the Hoyt-Pileated and East Trails. Then he flew to the same group of eight tall white pines where I heard him yesterday, north of the little pond, where he sang incessantly. Alas, if he stays to breed here, he might not strictly count as a Sapsucker Woods nesting species, as the stand of pines is just outside the sanctuary fence. But if he's staying, then his foraging range, as well as the territory defined by his song, would seem clearly to include Sapsucker Woods. Mark Chao Subject: Re: N Parula From: "Floris van Breugel" <florisvb AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 10:04:30 -0400 David Winkler and I were at Hawthorn this morning, two N PARULA's - one singing up high (tree near the marshy pond), and one singing very meekly lower down near the baseball field. Also lots of yellow's, yellowthroats, a few yellow rumped warblers, baltimore orioles, redstart, warblering vireo, among other usuals. The flowers look lovely, but not too many birds active :( - Floris On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 9:04 AM, Geo Kloppel wrote: > > On May 8, 2008, at 8:32 AM, Nancy Dickinson wrote: > > (Should hawthorn have an e on the end?) >> > > No. "Hawthorne" is an English surname, but even in Britain the trees or > bushes are "hawthorns" (no "e"). Curiously, the Middle English version did > have an "e", but it was in the center of the word: hawethorn, hawe being an > old word for hedge. > > I have more apple trees than hawthorns around my house. The flowers are > just opening now. Gotta get out and see who's up there! > > On a further botanical note; I'm seeing what looks to my inexperienced eye > like RRD (Rose Rosette Disease) on a Rosa multiflora (pernicious non-native > invasive shrub) near my shop. I wonder if anyone else is seeing this: > densely clustered stunted red foliage (witch's broom) surmounted by dead > canes? > > -Geo > > > > Yesterday late afternoon, at home, I found a N Parula Warbler silently but >> frantically combing the unopened buds of our little hawthorn grove; I got >> great looks at it. This morning, after a night of rain, the blossoms are >> beginning to open but I only found an influx of more Common Yellowthroats. >> I'll bet if the sun comes out, there will be lots more hungry warblers in >> hawthorns. (Should hawthorn have an e on the end?) >> >> -- >> Nancy Dickinson >> Mecklenburg >> >> Make a little birdhouse in your soul. >> >> > Geo Kloppel > Bowmaker & Restorer > 227 Tupper Road > Spencer NY 14883 > > 607 564 7026 > gek2 AT cornell.edu > geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com > > > > > > > -- Floris van Breugel Cornell University Biological Engineering '08 Cornell Computational Synthesis Lab http://ccsl.mae.cornell.edu/ (925) 963 8280 Wildlife and Landscape Photography http://florisvanbreugel.smugmug.com/ Subject: Orchard Oriole E. Miller Rd in Danby From: Eric Banford <brew_bird AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 06:46:22 -0700 (PDT) Walking to the bus this morning, I was treated to excellent looks at an ORCHARD ORIOLE singing along E Miller Rd, just east of the intersection with Troy Rd. Lots of new birds this morning, and Bobolinks galore near our house (corner of E Miller and Nelson Rds). Other new arrivals: Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Baltimore Oriole Bird! Eric ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Sapsucker Woods Bay-breasted Warbler From: Anne Marie Johnson <aj47 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 09:38:10 -0400 David Bonter and I took visitors Steve and Kerrie Wilcox from Bird Studies Canada around Sapsucker Woods starting at 7:30 this morning. We started on the access trail to the Hoyt-Pileated Trail. Shortly past the cairn egg on the west leg of the H-P trail, we came across a flock of warblers that included NORTHERN PARULA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BAY-BREASTED, CAPE MAY, OVENBIRD, and a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. Along the Woodleton Boardwalk close to the road we saw another warbler flock fairly far to the east that included BAY-BREASTED and BLACKBURNIAN warblers along with several Yellow-rumped Warblers. The LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH continues to sing near the cairn egg as well as NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHS along the boardwalk. We ended with a quick trip around the Wilson Trail where we saw a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, multiple WOOD THRUSHES and BALTIMORE ORIOLES as well as other birds already reported. There were MANY YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS on the north leg of the Wilson Trail. I am probably forgetting something, but those were the highlights. Anne Marie -- Project FeederWatch Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 254-2416 http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw Subject: Scramble for Africa again From: Regi Teasley <rltcayuga AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 09:02:31 -0500 Good People, I thought you might be interested in this article about planned bird habitat destruction. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/pollution-in-paradise-flamingos-vs-the-factory-822172.html Words fail me. Regi Subject: Re: N Parula From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 09:04:34 -0400 On May 8, 2008, at 8:32 AM, Nancy Dickinson wrote: > (Should hawthorn have an e on the end?) No. "Hawthorne" is an English surname, but even in Britain the trees or bushes are "hawthorns" (no "e"). Curiously, the Middle English version did have an "e", but it was in the center of the word: hawethorn, hawe being an old word for hedge. I have more apple trees than hawthorns around my house. The flowers are just opening now. Gotta get out and see who's up there! On a further botanical note; I'm seeing what looks to my inexperienced eye like RRD (Rose Rosette Disease) on a Rosa multiflora (pernicious non-native invasive shrub) near my shop. I wonder if anyone else is seeing this: densely clustered stunted red foliage (witch's broom) surmounted by dead canes? -Geo > Yesterday late afternoon, at home, I found a N Parula Warbler > silently but frantically combing the unopened buds of our little > hawthorn grove; I got great looks at it. This morning, after a > night of rain, the blossoms are beginning to open but I only found > an influx of more Common Yellowthroats. I'll bet if the sun comes > out, there will be lots more hungry warblers in hawthorns. (Should > hawthorn have an e on the end?) > > -- > Nancy Dickinson > Mecklenburg > > Make a little birdhouse in your soul. > Geo Kloppel Bowmaker & Restorer 227 Tupper Road Spencer NY 14883 607 564 7026 gek2 AT cornell.edu geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com Subject: Wilson Trail at Sapsucker Thurs am From: Laura Stenzler <lms9 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 08:53:11 -0400 Good morning, I walked along the first part of the Wilson Trail North this morning from 7:30 - 8:30 am. Not many migrants but loads of birds. Location: Sapsucker Woods, CLO 7:30 am - 8:30 am Observation date: 5/8/08 Number of species: 29 Canada Goose X Great Blue Heron X Mourning Dove X Belted Kingfisher X Blue-headed Vireo X Warbling Vireo X Blue Jay X American Crow X Black-capped Chickadee X White-breasted Nuthatch X House Wren X Ruby-crowned Kinglet X American Robin X Gray Catbird 5 Yellow Warbler 9 Magnolia Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 15 Black-and-white Warbler 1 American Redstart 6 Ovenbird 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Song Sparrow X White-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco X Northern Cardinal X Red-winged Blackbird X Common Grackle X Baltimore Oriole X American Goldfinch X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Laura Stenzler Lab Manager Evolutionary Biology Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, New York 14850 Office: (607) 254 2141 Lab: (607) 254 1128 Fax: (607) 254 2486 lms9 AT cornell.edu Subject: Black-billed cuckoo at East Recreation Way From: Patrizia Sione <ps39 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 08:42:18 -0400