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3 Jul RE: Mississippi Kite - more Yes ["Richard Guthrie" ] 3 Jul RE: [nysbirds-l] Mississippi Kite - more Yes ["Richard Guthrie" ] 3 Jul Mississippi Kite (s?) ["Lillian/Dale" ] 3 Jul Mississippi Kite - Yes [Will Raup ] 3 Jul Mississippi Kite - Yes [Will Raup ] 3 Jul Kites in the am ["Ronald L. Harrower" ] 03 Jul Nominations sought for NYSOA awards [Andrew Mason ] 03 Jul Nominations sought for NYSOA awards [Andrew Mason ] 2 Jul Star Lake [Christa Campbell ] 1 Jul Re: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) [Hope Batcheller ] 01 Jul Re: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) [] 1 Jul Mississippi Kite Misses ["Lillian/Dale" ] 30 Jun Re: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) [Christine Guarino ] 30 Jun RE: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) ["Richard Guthrie" ] 30 Jun Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) ["Greg Coniglio" ] 29 Jun FW: [osbirds] Mississippi Kite [Will Raup ] 29 Jun Downtown Prairie Warbler ["Gerald Colborn" ] 29 Jun Mid Saratoga ramble ["Ronald L. Harrower" ] 29 Jun Betar Byway ["lduval2" ] 28 Jun G-W Teal at Cohoes Flats ["dpimainl" ] 28 Jun Return to Dyken Pond 6/28 ["trwdsd" ] 27 Jun FW: [osbirds] Mississippi Kite [Will Raup ] 27 Jun Red-shouldered Hawk - Ferry Dr. ["jhershey2" ] 27 Jun RE: Hudson-Mohawk Birdline [Brian Smith ] 26 Jun Out-of-Terrritory Report from the Arctic ["grossman.bernard" ] 26 Jun Re: OT: Eastern Milk Snake Question [Alan Mapes ] 25 Jun new yard bird ["Deb Ferguson" ] 25 Jun Ft. Edward Grasslands today [Hope Batcheller ] 25 Jun OT: Eastern Milk Snake Question [Alan French ] 25 Jun Service berry sightings [Alan French ] 25 Jun Re: How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? [Dan Furbish ] 25 Jun Re: How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? [linda Eastman ] 25 Jun How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? ["fuzzbuckets" ] 24 Jun woodpeckers [Elayne Ryba ] 24 Jun Washington County today [Hope Batcheller ] 23 Jun Cohoes 6/23/09 [Will Raup ] 22 Jun Re: Red-shouldered Hawk questions ["ConserveBirds" ] 22 Jun ETT Nature Center [Donna Zimmerman ] 22 Jun weekend yard birds & antics [Elayne Ryba ] 22 Jun Green Heron ["Don" ] 22 Jun RE: Red-shouldered Hawk questions ["Richard Guthrie" ] 22 Jun Red-shouldered Hawk questions ["ConserveBirds" ] 22 Jun Re: Prairie Warbler - Moreau Lake 21 June [] 22 Jun Prairie Warbler - Moreau Lake 21 June ["lduval2" ] 20 Jun Cohoes Red-necked Grebe ["Ken Harper" ] 20 Jun NY Common loon and other odd sightings this time of the year....; ) [Dan Furbish ] 20 Jun Loon Rescue - Success! ["Richard Guthrie" ] 20 Jun FW: eBird Report - New Baltimore Yard , 6/20/09 ["Richard Guthrie" ] 19 Jun 16 Jun 9, Saratoga Battlefield birds ! Brown thrasher and RT hummingbird [Dan Furbish ] 19 Jun Petersburg eagle nest question ["pnew40" ] 18 Jun White winged Scoter Saratoga lake 17 June 09 [Dan Furbish ] 18 Jun RN Grebe & Hooded Merg still at Cohoes [Heidi Klinowski ] 18 Jun dreary morning discoveries [Elayne Ryba ] 17 Jun Tractor Supply Killdeer [Priscilla ] 17 Jun Re: Black Creek Marsh noon-time birding 16 Jun 9 ["daveellers" ] 17 Jun Red-necked Greebe/New Street ["goodness.gary" ] 17 Jun RE: Re: directions to r.n. grebe [Will Raup ] 16 Jun Black Creek Marsh noon-time birding 16 Jun 9 [Dan Furbish ] 17 Jun Re: directions to r.n. grebe ["Ken Harper" ] 16 Jun Got the grebe! ["beaususa" ] 16 Jun R-N Grebe and Dyken Pond ["dpimainl" ] 16 Jun Red-necked Grebe (yes) [Hope Batcheller ] 16 Jun RE: Re: directions to r.n. grebe [Will Raup ] 16 Jun Re: directions to r.n. grebe ["Ken Harper" ] 16 Jun Re: Yellow-Throated Vireo [Alan Mapes ] 16 Jun Re: directions to r.n. grebe ["Gerald Colborn" ] 16 Jun directions to r.n. grebe ["beaususa" ] 15 Jun Photo of the Caspian Tern ["Richard Guthrie" ] 15 Jun RE: Yellow-Throated Vireo ["Richard Guthrie" ] 15 Jun Re: Yellow-Throated Vireo ["ConserveBirds" ] 15 Jun Yellow-Throated Vireo ["daveellers" ] 15 Jun Correction to Dyken Pond report... ["trwdsd" ] 14 Jun Papscanee Island [Donna Zimmerman ] 14 Jun pine siskins [Barb Putnam ] 14 Jun Blackburnian, Cerulean, Canada warblers at Dyken Pond EEC (long) ["trwdsd" ] 14 Jun red-necked grebe awakens ["Ronald L. Harrower" ] Subject: RE: Mississippi Kite - more Yes From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:46:25 -0400 I will echo Will. The situation in Ames is fine except for the possibility of some not-so-friendly neighbor behavior. So in order to maintain relative calm, and to not cause difficulties for our birder-friendly residents there, please let's all continue to stick to the rules. This is especially true along Donato Road. Please do not turn around in people's driveways except if you must, the one nearest Mapletown Road. Also please do not impede traffic along this short Dead-end road. This would include cars parked too much on the pavement. Caution: there are ditches on either side - so this is a rule that's going to be hard to follow, but if everyone parks on the same side of the road, drivers won't have to run a slalom to get by; and especially, please do not stand in/on the road as cars are passing - this includes tripods. I'd suggest that we make a deliberate and conspicuous move off the road as a car/truck/SUV approaches, to show our good intentions. Please, also, gently remind others who may not have seen these posts. It's regrettable, but I'm to understand that some neighbor interactions have had a history. Let's not have the beautiful Kites be identifies as the cause for further issues to the detriment of our friends in Ames who, as it really is, are just about everybody who lives there or who drives by. The kites are beautiful birds. And, everyone should be able to see them and get pictures if you stay long enough. The best locations seem to have shifted from 919 Mapletown Road to the intersection of Mapletown and Donato as well as further down Donato Road. The problem with the latter is that you may find yourself out of sight of other searchers, and miss one of the infrequent overflights. Or, you may have to enjoy your own private showing. Ya gotta takes yer chances. There are definitely TWO birds. One is a full adult. The other is a sub-adult. One has a somewhat inconspicuous notch in the feathering of the left wing. This was picked up after comparing photographs of the birds in flight. If they were successful in nesting, the juveniles should be on the wing in a few weeks. Somebody today, was recalling that the Connecticut birds didn't fledge until sometime in August. Other birds seen in the vicinity include the previously mentioned Upland Sandpipers; Wilson's Snipes; Several Red-tailed Hawks; lots of Amer. Kestrels; two somewhat distant Northern Harriers (nota bene - they could be looking like kites if you've been searching the skies unsuccessfully for too long ); Brown Thrashers; Eastern Bluebirds; Hairy Woodpecker; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; and more. You can add to this list using eBird, OSBirds, Hmbirds, and/or the local list-serves. Please do. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore, The Greener County New York gaeltic AT capital.net http://blog.timesunion.com/birding/ _____ From: bounce-4068674-8863757 AT list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-4068674-8863757 AT list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Will Raup Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 6:39 PM To: Hmbc Birdline; HMBirds Yahoogroups; NYSBIRDS-L; osbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [nysbirds-l] Mississippi Kite - Yes The (or A) Mississippi Kite in the Town of Root, Montgomery County was seen numerous times between 8am and 4pm (when I left). Keep in mind there was a lot of down time, with sightings of a few seconds to a couple of minutes at best. While the bird was sometimes visible from Mapletown Road (North and West of 919 Mapletown), better views were had on Donato Road. The group I was with around 3:45pm this afternoon was treated to some very nice extended views of the bird in flight and several folks were able to get some decent photographs. Upland Sandpiper and Wilson's Snipe were reported, nearby on West Ames Road. I also want to thank all the visitors thus far who have made an effort to be curtious to the locals and to be as unobtrusive as possible. Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com _____ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that 's right for you. -- 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/ -- Subject: RE: [nysbirds-l] Mississippi Kite - more Yes From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:46:25 -0400 I will echo Will. The situation in Ames is fine except for the possibility of some not-so-friendly neighbor behavior. So in order to maintain relative calm, and to not cause difficulties for our birder-friendly residents there, please let's all continue to stick to the rules. This is especially true along Donato Road. Please do not turn around in people's driveways except if you must, the one nearest Mapletown Road. Also please do not impede traffic along this short Dead-end road. This would include cars parked too much on the pavement. Caution: there are ditches on either side - so this is a rule that's going to be hard to follow, but if everyone parks on the same side of the road, drivers won't have to run a slalom to get by; and especially, please do not stand in/on the road as cars are passing - this includes tripods. I'd suggest that we make a deliberate and conspicuous move off the road as a car/truck/SUV approaches, to show our good intentions. Please, also, gently remind others who may not have seen these posts. It's regrettable, but I'm to understand that some neighbor interactions have had a history. Let's not have the beautiful Kites be identifies as the cause for further issues to the detriment of our friends in Ames who, as it really is, are just about everybody who lives there or who drives by. The kites are beautiful birds. And, everyone should be able to see them and get pictures if you stay long enough. The best locations seem to have shifted from 919 Mapletown Road to the intersection of Mapletown and Donato as well as further down Donato Road. The problem with the latter is that you may find yourself out of sight of other searchers, and miss one of the infrequent overflights. Or, you may have to enjoy your own private showing. Ya gotta takes yer chances. There are definitely TWO birds. One is a full adult. The other is a sub-adult. One has a somewhat inconspicuous notch in the feathering of the left wing. This was picked up after comparing photographs of the birds in flight. If they were successful in nesting, the juveniles should be on the wing in a few weeks. Somebody today, was recalling that the Connecticut birds didn't fledge until sometime in August. Other birds seen in the vicinity include the previously mentioned Upland Sandpipers; Wilson's Snipes; Several Red-tailed Hawks; lots of Amer. Kestrels; two somewhat distant Northern Harriers (nota bene - they could be looking like kites if you've been searching the skies unsuccessfully for too long ); Brown Thrashers; Eastern Bluebirds; Hairy Woodpecker; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; and more. You can add to this list using eBird, OSBirds, Hmbirds, and/or the local list-serves. Please do. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore, The Greener County New York gaeltic AT capital.net http://blog.timesunion.com/birding/ _____ From: bounce-4068674-8863757 AT list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-4068674-8863757 AT list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Will Raup Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 6:39 PM To: Hmbc Birdline; HMBirds Yahoogroups; NYSBIRDS-L; osbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [nysbirds-l] Mississippi Kite - Yes The (or A) Mississippi Kite in the Town of Root, Montgomery County was seen numerous times between 8am and 4pm (when I left). Keep in mind there was a lot of down time, with sightings of a few seconds to a couple of minutes at best. While the bird was sometimes visible from Mapletown Road (North and West of 919 Mapletown), better views were had on Donato Road. The group I was with around 3:45pm this afternoon was treated to some very nice extended views of the bird in flight and several folks were able to get some decent photographs. Upland Sandpiper and Wilson's Snipe were reported, nearby on West Ames Road. I also want to thank all the visitors thus far who have made an effort to be curtious to the locals and to be as unobtrusive as possible. Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com _____ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that 's right for you. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mississippi Kite (s?) From: "Lillian/Dale" <dsamuels AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:48:16 -0400 Dale and I and our two house guests went back to Canajoharie this PM, arriving at the Kite area about 4 PM. Rich Guthrie directed us to the "top" of Donato Road saying that was the "hot spot". About an hour later, a kite flew over the road twice and we got flyover views. We then went on down Mapletown Rd past Donato, and watched there in the area open on both sides of the road. Other birders were present, and soon we were all (including a club member whose name regretfully I can't remember) treated to a 5 minute or so soaring flight over the area high in the sky. Spectacular! We all got wonderful views. It proved to be an exciting afternoon for us all. Lillian Samuelson [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mississippi Kite - Yes From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:38:55 -0400 The (or A) Mississippi Kite in the Town of Root, Montgomery County was seen numerous times between 8am and 4pm (when I left). Keep in mind there was a lot of down time, with sightings of a few seconds to a couple of minutes at best. While the bird was sometimes visible from Mapletown Road (North and West of 919 Mapletown), better views were had on Donato Road. The group I was with around 3:45pm this afternoon was treated to some very nice extended views of the bird in flight and several folks were able to get some decent photographs. Upland Sandpiper and Wilson's Snipe were reported, nearby on West Ames Road. I also want to thank all the visitors thus far who have made an effort to be curtious to the locals and to be as unobtrusive as possible. Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that’s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:hmbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:hmbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: hmbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Mississippi Kite - Yes From: Will Raup <hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:38:55 -0400 The (or A) Mississippi Kite in the Town of Root, Montgomery County was seen numerous times between 8am and 4pm (when I left). Keep in mind there was a lot of down time, with sightings of a few seconds to a couple of minutes at best. While the bird was sometimes visible from Mapletown Road (North and West of 919 Mapletown), better views were had on Donato Road. The group I was with around 3:45pm this afternoon was treated to some very nice extended views of the bird in flight and several folks were able to get some decent photographs. Upland Sandpiper and Wilson's Snipe were reported, nearby on West Ames Road. I also want to thank all the visitors thus far who have made an effort to be curtious to the locals and to be as unobtrusive as possible. Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that’s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 -- 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/ -- Subject: Kites in the am From: "Ronald L. Harrower" <rlharrow AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:39:45 -0400 hello to Kite viewers, All the reports I've read of seeing the Kites has been in the afternoon or evening. i tend to be the very early shift (5am-9am) Has anyone else been there in the am and what behavior would be likely to watch for? Thanks, Ron Harrower [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nominations sought for NYSOA awards From: Andrew Mason <andymason AT earthling.net> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:35:54 -0400 Among the activities of the NY State Ornithological Association are a number of awards given in recognition of service, accomplishment and assistance in furthering the goals of NYSOA and ornithology in NY State. Nominations and suggestions of recipients of these awards are sought from organizations and individuals. Deadline for all nominations to be given at the 2009 Annual Meeting is August 1, 2009. Information on awards is also available on the NYSOA web site, www.nybirds.org. * Member Organization Grants--NYSOA is committed to facilitating the work of its member organizations and offers modest grants (usually less than $100) to help defray the costs associated with projects sponsored by a club or clubs. In the past, grants have been awarded for purchases of equipment (e.g. mistnets) and the printing of local or regional bird checklists. More recently grants have gone toward locating bluebird boxes in Westchester County. Applications can be made at any time, and should include a brief description of the project, items to be produced, and a statement of how much funding is needed and how the funds will be used relative to the overall project budget. * John J. Elliott Award­-This award recognizes the best The Kingbird article each year, which is selected by the editorial staff. The 2008 award went to Alex Wilson for “Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis gularis) at Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn”; The Kingbird, Vol. 57, No. 4, December 2007. * Certificates of Appreciation--For several years, nominations have been accepted for recipients of certificates of appreciation. These certificates are given for service that benefited New York State birds and/or ornithology. They are also awarded to "hosts" of rare birds that visited New York State. These hosts are recognized for their hospitality to birders who came to view the rare bird. Among recent certificates of appreciation have been: --Deep Hollow Ranch for hosting a Pink-footed Goose and a Barnacle Goose in Montauk, NY. --John Haas for his efforts in locating and publicizing gulls, winter finches and other avian rarities in Sullivan Co., NY, and for his cooperation, hospitality, and able assistance to visiting birders. --Larry Wilson for hosting Rufous Hummingbirds in Houghton, NY. Nominations for grants or awards should be submitted in letter form stating relevant background and identity to: Andy Mason, 1039 Peck St., Jefferson, NY 12093, (607) 652-2162, AndyMason AT earthling.net. Please consider nominating suitable individuals for these awards and help us recognize and show our appreciation for those who support NY’s birds. --Andy Mason, NYSOA Awards Committee Chair Andrew Mason 1039 Peck St. Jefferson, NY 12093 (607) 652-2162 AndyMason AT earthling.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nominations sought for NYSOA awards From: Andrew Mason <andymason AT earthling.net> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:35:54 -0400 Among the activities of the NY State Ornithological Association are a number of awards given in recognition of service, accomplishment and assistance in furthering the goals of NYSOA and ornithology in NY State. Nominations and suggestions of recipients of these awards are sought from organizations and individuals. Deadline for all nominations to be given at the 2009 Annual Meeting is August 1, 2009. Information on awards is also available on the NYSOA web site, www.nybirds.org. * Member Organization Grants--NYSOA is committed to facilitating the work of its member organizations and offers modest grants (usually less than $100) to help defray the costs associated with projects sponsored by a club or clubs. In the past, grants have been awarded for purchases of equipment (e.g. mistnets) and the printing of local or regional bird checklists. More recently grants have gone toward locating bluebird boxes in Westchester County. Applications can be made at any time, and should include a brief description of the project, items to be produced, and a statement of how much funding is needed and how the funds will be used relative to the overall project budget. * John J. Elliott Award­-This award recognizes the best The Kingbird article each year, which is selected by the editorial staff. The 2008 award went to Alex Wilson for “Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis gularis) at Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn”; The Kingbird, Vol. 57, No. 4, December 2007. * Certificates of Appreciation--For several years, nominations have been accepted for recipients of certificates of appreciation. These certificates are given for service that benefited New York State birds and/or ornithology. They are also awarded to "hosts" of rare birds that visited New York State. These hosts are recognized for their hospitality to birders who came to view the rare bird. Among recent certificates of appreciation have been: --Deep Hollow Ranch for hosting a Pink-footed Goose and a Barnacle Goose in Montauk, NY. --John Haas for his efforts in locating and publicizing gulls, winter finches and other avian rarities in Sullivan Co., NY, and for his cooperation, hospitality, and able assistance to visiting birders. --Larry Wilson for hosting Rufous Hummingbirds in Houghton, NY. Nominations for grants or awards should be submitted in letter form stating relevant background and identity to: Andy Mason, 1039 Peck St., Jefferson, NY 12093, (607) 652-2162, AndyMason AT earthling.net. Please consider nominating suitable individuals for these awards and help us recognize and show our appreciation for those who support NY’s birds. --Andy Mason, NYSOA Awards Committee Chair Andrew Mason 1039 Peck St. Jefferson, NY 12093 (607) 652-2162 AndyMason AT earthling.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Star Lake From: Christa Campbell <campbell.christa AT ymail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:55:42 -0700 (PDT) Hi All, I was wondering if any of you know anything about Star Lake, St Lawerence County, Northwest Foothills of the Adirondack Park . My family and I are taking our summer vacation there in August and was wondering if there are any good bird watching hikes or trails? If you know of anything, please let me know. Thank you, kindly!  Christa Campbell North Road Greenwich [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) From: Hope Batcheller <hope.batcheller AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:51:32 -0400 Regarding the Bicknell's on Mt. Greylock....they have not bred there for several years now, so a trip there probably isn't worth it! --Hope On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 9:48 AM, wrote: > > > Greg - I do the Slide Mountain Bicknell's survey every year for the Vermont > Institute of Natural Science. I have gotten tehm at the end of June (I think > June 28th is the latest), so it could be still worth going up. It is true if > you want to get one you should either go very early in the AM, or last thing > in the evening, and be very familiar with both their song and their call. > This year I went on the 21st and I was mostly getting calls but I had a > later start than usual. I hope you have a hiking companion and bring > flashlights because you either have to be hiking up in the dark or hiking > down in the dark and there are a couple trail junctions you need to find. > > If you decide to do Slide write back and I will give you some more tips. It > is probably the easiest hike for Bicknell's in our area. (1.25-1.5 hours if > you are in reasonable good shape). > > Alternatively if you were interested in next year and could come when I am > doing the survey you could go up with me. also alternatively I have heard > there are Bicknell's on Mt Greylock in Williamstown MA - if you wanted a > possible Bicknell's?with less effort you could drive up there - there is a > road to the top - and it is only about an hour from Albany. > > Steve Mesick > > -----Original Message----- > From: Greg Coniglio > To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tue, Jun 30, 2009 2:05 pm > Subject: [HMBirds] Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's > Thrushes) > > Hi everyone! I am currently planning on spending a day in the Capital > Region, in the Rensselaerville are (NOT Rensselaer). there's some great > birding around Ed Huyck PReserve I believe but I had two additional > questions... > > 1. The NYS Breeding Bird Atlas shows Worm Eating Warbler in SE Albany > County, and also more so a bit further south in the valley. That would be a > lifer - is there a reliable spot to look for them in early July in this > vicinity? > > 2. I have heard of Slide Mountain and Bicknell's Thrush? How feasible is > that for July 3, or should I plan a future trip earlier in the season? How > long is the hike up the mountain, and when would the birds stop singing. > > Thanks for your help!!! > Greg Coniglio > Alden NY (Buffalo) > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Subject: Re: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) From: yugruguru AT aol.com Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:48:34 -0400 Greg - I do the Slide Mountain Bicknell's survey every year for the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. I have gotten tehm at the end of June (I think June 28th is the latest), so it could be still worth going up. It is true if you want to get one you should either go very early in the AM, or last thing in the evening, and be very familiar with both their song and their call. This year I went on the 21st and I was mostly getting calls but I had a later start than usual. I hope you have a hiking companion and bring flashlights because you either have to be hiking up in the dark or hiking down in the dark and there are a couple trail junctions you need to find. If you decide to do Slide write back and I will give you some more tips. It is probably the easiest hike for Bicknell's in our area. (1.25-1.5 hours if you are in reasonable good shape). Alternatively if you were interested in next year and could come when I am doing the survey you could go up with me. also alternatively I have heard there are Bicknell's on Mt Greylock in Williamstown MA - if you wanted a possible Bicknell's?with less effort you could drive up there - there is a road to the top - and it is only about an hour from Albany. Steve Mesick -----Original Message----- From: Greg Coniglio To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, Jun 30, 2009 2:05 pm Subject: [HMBirds] Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) Hi everyone! I am currently planning on spending a day in the Capital Region, in the Rensselaerville are (NOT Rensselaer). there's some great birding around Ed Huyck PReserve I believe but I had two additional questions... 1. The NYS Breeding Bird Atlas shows Worm Eating Warbler in SE Albany County, and also more so a bit further south in the valley. That would be a lifer - is there a reliable spot to look for them in early July in this vicinity? 2. I have heard of Slide Mountain and Bicknell's Thrush? How feasible is that for July 3, or should I plan a future trip earlier in the season? How long is the hike up the mountain, and when would the birds stop singing. Thanks for your help!!! Greg Coniglio Alden NY (Buffalo) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mississippi Kite Misses From: "Lillian/Dale" <dsamuels AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:42:53 -0400 Dale and I drove out on Monday, arriving at the site a few minutes before 5 PM, parked near the mailbox at 919 Maplewood, and stayed about an hour. Before we left, we drove down Maplewood for a mile or so, examining the bare trees/snags along the way carefully without seeing the bird(s). Yesterday, (Tuesday) we drove out with our two house guests, arriving at 4 PM, parking again near the mailbox at 919 Maplewood. Two men in one car arrived from the south several minutes after we did, asked it we'd seen the bird, and parked nearer the crest of the hill. They left after 40 minutes or so. We stayed and watched until a few minutes after 5PM, when the rain was immanent. We drove down to Donato, again examining trees and snags, but turned around there and returned home without seeing the bird(s). It was quite dark from clouds, and rained most of the driving distance from Niskayuna, both coming and going. We speculated that the birds might even have gone to roost already, but obviously we were wrong. One point for people who go to the site from Canajoharie: The lettering on the Maplewood sign is partially worn off, and it is easy to miss. Watch for a highway sign that indicates "Ames 2" [miles]. Maplewood is on the left about a mile farther along. If you miss it, turn left another 1/2 mile or so south on White Road and right at the first intersection onto Maplewood. Rich's directions were excellent. We'll try again with hopes for better luck. Lillian [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) From: Christine Guarino <cmguarino AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:53:21 -0400 Worm- eating Warblers can be found at Minnewaska State Park and Mohonk Preserve in the New Paltz area. Bicknell's is easier to get in June - the earlier the better. The latest I've gone and had success is June 16th. Balsam Lake Mountain is a good spot as well as Slide. Christine Guarino New Paltz, NY On Jun 30, 2009, at 2:34 PM, Richard Guthrie wrote: > > > Wormies may be found at the Deer Mountain Preserve near Ravena, Albany > County. Also Blossom Hill Road, Coeyman's Hollow, near Ravena. > > Slide Mt. or Hunter Mt. are popular places and Bicknell's nest on > top of > each - and others, > > But they sing very early (usually before dawn) and otherwise very, > very hard > to find. > > The 4th weekend will probably bring hoards to the tops. That may make > efforts more challenging. > > Others may like to chime in. > > Rich Guthrie > > New Baltimore, > > The Greener County > > gaeltic AT capital.net > > _____ > > From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On > Behalf Of > Greg Coniglio > Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:05 PM > To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [HMBirds] Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and > Bicknell's > Thrushes) > > Hi everyone! I am currently planning on spending a day in the Capital > Region, in the Rensselaerville are (NOT Rensselaer). there's some > great > birding around Ed Huyck PReserve I believe but I had two additional > questions... > > 1. The NYS Breeding Bird Atlas shows Worm Eating Warbler in SE Albany > County, and also more so a bit further south in the valley. That > would be a > lifer - is there a reliable spot to look for them in early July in > this > vicinity? > > 2. I have heard of Slide Mountain and Bicknell's Thrush? How > feasible is > that for July 3, or should I plan a future trip earlier in the > season? How > long is the hike up the mountain, and when would the birds stop > singing. > > Thanks for your help!!! > Greg Coniglio > Alden NY (Buffalo) > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:34:17 -0400 Wormies may be found at the Deer Mountain Preserve near Ravena, Albany County. Also Blossom Hill Road, Coeyman's Hollow, near Ravena. Slide Mt. or Hunter Mt. are popular places and Bicknell's nest on top of each - and others, But they sing very early (usually before dawn) and otherwise very, very hard to find. The 4th weekend will probably bring hoards to the tops. That may make efforts more challenging. Others may like to chime in. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore, The Greener County gaeltic AT capital.net _____ From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Coniglio Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:05 PM To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [HMBirds] Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) Hi everyone! I am currently planning on spending a day in the Capital Region, in the Rensselaerville are (NOT Rensselaer). there's some great birding around Ed Huyck PReserve I believe but I had two additional questions... 1. The NYS Breeding Bird Atlas shows Worm Eating Warbler in SE Albany County, and also more so a bit further south in the valley. That would be a lifer - is there a reliable spot to look for them in early July in this vicinity? 2. I have heard of Slide Mountain and Bicknell's Thrush? How feasible is that for July 3, or should I plan a future trip earlier in the season? How long is the hike up the mountain, and when would the birds stop singing. Thanks for your help!!! Greg Coniglio Alden NY (Buffalo) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Worm-Eating Warbler in Hudson Valley? (and Bicknell's Thrushes) From: "Greg Coniglio" <gconigl3 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:05:26 -0000 Hi everyone! I am currently planning on spending a day in the Capital Region, in the Rensselaerville are (NOT Rensselaer). there's some great birding around Ed Huyck PReserve I believe but I had two additional questions... 1. The NYS Breeding Bird Atlas shows Worm Eating Warbler in SE Albany County, and also more so a bit further south in the valley. That would be a lifer - is there a reliable spot to look for them in early July in this vicinity? 2. I have heard of Slide Mountain and Bicknell's Thrush? How feasible is that for July 3, or should I plan a future trip earlier in the season? How long is the hike up the mountain, and when would the birds stop singing. Thanks for your help!!! Greg Coniglio Alden NY (Buffalo) Subject: FW: [osbirds] Mississippi Kite From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:44:10 -0400 An Update... Although not much new. Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com To: oneidabirds AT yahoogroups.com; NYSBIRDS-L AT cornell.edu; osbirds AT yahoogroups.com From: wpurcell AT twcny.rr.com Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:30:57 -0400 Subject: [osbirds] Mississippi Kite Joe Brin and I went to Montgomery County on Monday to see the Mississippi Kite(s) and we did get a distant view of one. We got to 919 Mapletown Road about 9:20 AM and for the most part stayed just to the west at the top of the hill where there seemed to be the best view. The kite wasn't seen until 11:50 and it was really just a silhouette as it worked it's way from north to south over Mapletown Road to our east. It had long, narrow wings, pointed at the end with a what I would call a moderate-length tail that was very squared-off at the tip. It didn't flap and held it's wings either flat or slightly drooped at the wing tips. I hope other birders in the area got a better view later in the day. Other raptors included multiple sightings of Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks and Am. Kestrels and single Cooper's Hawk and Merlin. Bill Purcell Hastings NY 13076 wpurcell AT twcny.rr.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:hmbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:hmbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: hmbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Downtown Prairie Warbler From: "Gerald Colborn" <gdcolbor AT gw.dec.state.ny.us> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:14:15 -0400 This morning as I walked to work from my car, I heard a Prairie Warbler calling from amidst the brush and sumac in the vicinity of the Water Street parking lot. A number of birds make their homes here, Downy woodpecker and Northern Flicker, American Robin and blackbirds, but Prairie Warbler seems particularly unusual. Then again, if Mississippi Kites can nest in Montgomery county, it is, perhaps, not that unusual after all. At my place in Rensselaerville, Common Ravens have been conspicuous and vocal in the last week or so. Along a path through some alder and willow thickets, I continue to flush a Wilson's Snipe regularly. Tree and Barn Swallows, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow and Chestnut-sided Warblers, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Oriole and Purple Finch have been feeding or escorting young. Least Flycatcher and Swamp Sparrow have become quite vocal again and, in the evenings, Great Blue Herons from the nearby rookery in Partridge Run fly over and/or stop in at my pond and the adjacent wetlands. Gerry Colborn Cohoes and Rensselaerville [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mid Saratoga ramble From: "Ronald L. Harrower" <rlharrow AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:50:55 -0400 On Sunday, after considering a jaunt to see the Kites (I wish I had!), I decided to go over Lake Desolation Road to Edenburg. While I have nothering of great rarity, I do want to have my avian friends represented in the weekly record. On a pond near Middle Grove, had 5 Great Blue Herons, a family of Wood Ducks and a Belted Kingfisher. Beyond Lake Desolation had a couple of Black-throated Green Warblers, a pair of Blackburnian Warblers, a Louisiana Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Redstart and Common Yellowthroat. Had a Phialdelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireos galore, Blue-headed Vireo and in lower altitudes Warbling Vireo and Yellow-throated Vireo. Did have a singing Swainson's Thrush which I wasn't expecting near the second metal bridge. Of note along the way were Winter Wren, Willow Flycatcher, Ruffed Grouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Great-crested Flycatcher and several Cedar Waxwings. many other more commons were encountered as well. In Saratoga Springs, had Fish Crows near East Side Rec filed this am (Monday). Ron Harrower Saratoga Springs [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Betar Byway From: "lduval2" <lduval2 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:39:22 -0000 First, I spotted an Osprey yesterday, 6-27-09 around 6 PM at Delegan Pond, near 80 Scout Road (Wilton Wildlife Preserve office), Gansevoort. It rested on a perch for the 20 minutes that I sat there, overlooking the pond, with two Belted Kingfishers sitting on a perch below. Today I went to the Betar Byway. There weren't actually any rares or low-population birds, but the sheer number of individuals (133; 29 sp.) makes this place awesome for birding. Any amount of pishing turned it into birding on hard mode, and my neck is terribly sore. Species & Numbers: Canada Goose (10 -> 2 pairs of adults, 6 juveniles) Mallard (25 -> 12 breeding males) Mourning Dove (2) Downy Woodpecker (1) Pileated Woodpecker (1) Eastern Wood-Pewee (1) Eastern Phoebe (1) Eastern Kingbird (1) Red-eyed Vireo (1) American Crow (2) Tree Swallow (5) Black-capped Chickadee (6) Tufted Titmouse (1) White-breasted Nuthatch (3) House Wren (1) Wood Thrush (2) American Robin (12) Gray Catbird (9) Northern Mockingbird (1) Yellow Warbler (12) American Redstart (9) Scarlet Tanager (1) Song Sparrow (3) Northern Cardinal (3) Red-winged Blackbird (5) Common Grackle (5 -> 1 adult with 2 juvs, others unknown) Batimore Oriole (1) American Goldfinch (8) House Sparrow (1) I've also in the past seen a Great Blue Heron fishing out in the open at the edge of the river here. If you want to visit here, it's located in South Glens Falls, and I prefer the location off First Street. Coming from the south, First St is on your left. Follow it to the large parking lot on the left (a gazebo will be straight ahead) - you can park at the end of this lot (it belongs to the American Legion). Here you'll find some signs with info about the Byway, including a photocopied pamphlet of birds you can see (helpful! you can take one). It's a nice paved walk south along the Hudson River. Just beware - it's fairly heavily used by cyclists and other pedestrians - in case you're prone to walking while looking through your bins. Subject: G-W Teal at Cohoes Flats From: "dpimainl" <larry.main AT cengage.com> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:54:36 -0000 Made my usual Sunday afternoon stop at New Street/Cohoes Flats and was surprised to see a male Green-Winged Teal dabbling well below the dam among the expected gulls, geese, Mallards, cormorants, etc. Seems unusual for late June. The R-N Grebe seems to be long gone since I didn't see it last Sunday either. The female Hoody is still there…on or near the stump above the dam. Larry Main Clifton Park Subject: Return to Dyken Pond 6/28 From: "trwdsd" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:16:04 -0000 Decent weather, with sun early then a brief shower by noon. 39 species observed, highlights included: Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture flyovers near the pond. Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the woods behind Dustin Swamp. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER seen singing at Dustin Swamp. White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco there also. Got buzzed by Ruby-throated Hummingbird several times down by the boat launch. Ovenbird feeding a fledgling there as well. BLUE-HEADED VIREO and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER seen on the Water Trail. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER seen singing high atop a pine from the parking area. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER seen on the boat launch access road- this may be the best quarter-mile stretch to bird at Dyken Pond. Both Nuthatches, and six for six on the woodpeckers; Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were numerous today. Hermit Thrush was common as well, along with Ovenbird. Brilliant red Scarlet Tanager on the road out. But, from the "what was that about?" dept., on the way out, close to the entrance, at least 150 Common Grackles flew across the road in a great swarm; it took at least ninety seconds for them to all pass from right to left. I may be underestimating the number by half, as I didn't try to count them at first. Drive slowly on the road in to the parking lot, there are big potholes, rivulets, and washouts from all the recent rains. Tom Williams Colonie Subject: FW: [osbirds] Mississippi Kite From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:56:09 -0400 FYI. Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com To: osbirds AT yahoogroups.com CC: rop1 AT columbia.edu; elliottadams AT juno.com From: msrestuccia AT roadrunner.com Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:18:50 -0400 Subject: [osbirds] Mississippi Kite Well, at 4:50 on Saturday, in the pouring rain, driving by the spot and telling my husband that I keep looking for the kite but he must be gone because we never see him, there he was! Sitting almost exactly where he was on June 1. Just as if he'd been there all along. So I guess those couple of maybes are now a positive yes the Miss kite is still in the neighborhood. Steph Restuccia West Ames Rd Canajoharie, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk - Ferry Dr. From: "jhershey2" <hersheyj AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:16:04 -0000 The birding is getting a little slow lately at Vischer Ferry. The mosquitoes and deer flies don't help either. But, I was pleased this morning to see a hawk fly over the path east of Ferry Dr. with the loud "keeyur, keeyur" call of a Red-shouldered Hawk. Last month I heard the same call (which might have been the same bird) in this area but saw nothing, so I couldn't rule-out a Blue Jay imitation. This is the sixth year in a row that I've found RS Hawks in this same general area. I was even more surprised to see what I believe were 3 young coyotes nearby. I didn't see the hawk or the coyotes all that well because I was wearing a head net. John Hershey Subject: RE: Hudson-Mohawk Birdline From: Brian Smith <brijsmith AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:40:57 +0000 Hi, Wow, the TV series the Life of Birds is available for watching on YouTube. The series is hosted by David Attenborough. http://www.youtube.com/show?p=S3vPSi1o5nM&feature=spotlight Saw a Coopers flying from a screaming mob in the brush. Looks like it was carrying a chick of some kind. What a ruckus! It was followed by a real diverse group including a blue jay and an oriole. Summer is wonderful. Cheers! Brian Smith Averill Park, NY _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Out-of-Terrritory Report from the Arctic From: "grossman.bernard" <grossman.bernard AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:19:12 -0000 Chris and I have returned from our rafting trip down the Marsh Fork of the Canning River as well as a bit of the Canning below the confluence. The rivers are located in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose of the trip was to see the gray-headed chickadee (aka Siberian Tit). We saw this as well as several Smith's Longspur and a possible Thayer's Gull for lifers. The gull may have been a hybrid, so that is being checked. A total of 55 species seen. There were lots of beautiful wildflowers on the tundra. We had two different sightings of grizzley, a beautiful pair of wolves trotting across the tundra, a herd of caribou, and a cow moose and calf. The morning of the first day of summer, we awoke to four inches of snow. Chris found wolf tracks about twenty feet from one of the group's tents. We have lots of great pictures of the raft trip as well as our stop in Denali NP. Coming soon, look for our talk as one of the HMBC's programs. Subject: Re: OT: Eastern Milk Snake Question From: Alan Mapes <aamapes AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:24:41 -0400 Alan, I've seen a milk snake do this before. If the critter is in dry leaves, the rattling sound will really give you a start! Alan Mapes Alan French wrote: > > > I've seen and handled a lot of snakes over the years, but this was new > to me. While getting water for the garden, I spotted a medium sized > eastern milk snake, the second I've seen this year (the other was > smaller). I picked it up and took it in to show my wife - they are > quite beautiful. While I was holding it I felt a small vibration, and > noticed it was "rattling" the end of its tail. It continued this > briefly even after I put him or her down. I'd never noticed a > non-poisonous snake do this before. Is it common? > > Next time I spot an eastern milk snake I'll have to keep the video > abilities of my camera in mind. > > Clear skies, Alan > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.12.90/2200 - Release Date: 06/24/09 12:49:00 > > Subject: new yard bird From: "Deb Ferguson" <cerw AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:49:10 -0400 Yippee! Just a few minutes ago, I had my first ever Eastern Bluebird, male, at home. There was only one, at the top of feeding station! I'll take it! I don't even feed for them as I figured it would be unlikely... Maybe since I haven't had an Oriole yet, I should put something out for them in one of the jelly dishes :-) Deb Ferguson Delmar, NY [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ft. Edward Grasslands today From: Hope Batcheller <hope.batcheller AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:32:03 -0400 Hi all, My mom and I did a survey on the Ft. Edward Grasslands IBA this morning. In addition to the normal swarms of Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows, we also had 9 singing Grasshopper Sparrows and a pair of Northern Harriers. We had found (stumbled across) the harrier nest with three chicks last week, and today saw the adults actively foraging in the general nest area. Other birds encountered include Eastern Meadowlark (5), Brown Thrasher (2), Northern Mockingbird (3), American Kestrel (3), Field Sparrow, Blue-winged Warbler, Alder and Willow Flycatchers, and Eastern Towhee. Good birding! --Hope Batcheller Petersburgh, NY Subject: OT: Eastern Milk Snake Question From: Alan French <adfrench AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:25:54 -0400 I've seen and handled a lot of snakes over the years, but this was new to me. While getting water for the garden, I spotted a medium sized eastern milk snake, the second I've seen this year (the other was smaller). I picked it up and took it in to show my wife - they are quite beautiful. While I was holding it I felt a small vibration, and noticed it was "rattling" the end of its tail. It continued this briefly even after I put him or her down. I'd never noticed a non-poisonous snake do this before. Is it common? Next time I spot an eastern milk snake I'll have to keep the video abilities of my camera in mind. Clear skies, Alan Subject: Service berry sightings From: Alan French <adfrench AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:17:26 -0400 I spent some time watching the birds visiting the large service berry in our yard this afternoon. A somewhat modest number of guests, but some interesting observations. There were some Tufted Titmice, including at least two youngsters exhibiting the wing fluttering "feed me." I noticed one Tufted picked a berry, pinned it to a sturdy branch with the feet, and then ate it a little at a time. Another Tufted grabbed the end and underside of a branch, and while it was swaying worked on a berry still attached to the bush. There were two juvenile, very spotted Robins. They were having a lot of trouble with balance, which I first attributed to their inexperience. Perhaps some of it was, but an adult wasn't doing much better. I guess that's what happens when you're heavy for the branch size and tend to spend a lot of time on the lawn. The Robins seemed quite fussy about what berries to eat, passing up those close by for one more distant - even if their movement through the branches wasn't very graceful. Other visitors were House Finch, male Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Catbird. Mr. Hummingbird made a couple of visits to the feeder about 8 feet away while I was out there. He had his beak well open when he wasn't drinking. Perhaps a bit warm for his liking. Clear skies, Alan Subject: Re: How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? From: Dan Furbish <peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:56:16 -0700 (PDT) Don't bury it, re-cycle it. leave it our for a hawk to eat or carrion beetles to devour ; )) Dan Furbish Truckin' thru 5 southern states in a big rig. peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com ________________________________ From: linda Eastman To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 2:52:34 PM Subject: Re: [HMBirds] How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? in the Great Adirondacks of Upstate New York, barely in zone 4. Thanks, everyone, for your help. The demise of the bird has been reported. Burial will be this evening. :-( Linda Visit Linda's place at http://www.klink. net/~linda/ ____________ _________ _________ __ From: fuzzbuckets To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups .com Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:39:56 AM Subject: [HMBirds] How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? Hi All, We had a homing pigeon meet it's demise here in Broadalbin yesterday. I've tried researching the code, but didn't find a match. The numbers/letters are IF 2008 LOC 177. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Thanks, Linda [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? From: linda Eastman <fuzzbuckets AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:52:34 -0700 (PDT)  in the Great Adirondacks of Upstate New York, barely in zone 4. Thanks, everyone, for your help. The demise of the bird has been reported. Burial will be this evening. :-( Linda Visit Linda's place at http://www.klink.net/~linda/ ________________________________ From: fuzzbuckets To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:39:56 AM Subject: [HMBirds] How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? Hi All, We had a homing pigeon meet it's demise here in Broadalbin yesterday. I've tried researching the code, but didn't find a match. The numbers/letters are IF 2008 LOC 177. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Thanks, Linda [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: How Do I Report A Dead Homing Pigeon? From: "fuzzbuckets" <fuzzbuckets AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:39:56 -0000 Hi All, We had a homing pigeon meet it's demise here in Broadalbin yesterday. I've tried researching the code, but didn't find a match. The numbers/letters are IF 2008 LOC 177. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Thanks, Linda Subject: woodpeckers From: Elayne Ryba <eryba AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:43:32 -0400 -- My yard list of woodpeckers(for summer) is now complete... a y-b sapsucker has been around for a while, but I finally saw him today. All 6 species are now seen regularly, the sapsucker was the only one missing. Elayne Niskayuna Subject: Washington County today From: Hope Batcheller <hope.batcheller AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:09:15 -0400 Hi all, My mom and I spent the morning doing a Breeding Bird Survey route in the Salem/Greenwich/Schuylerville area today. Our before-noon total (includes some local birds) was 85 species. Highlights include Ruffed Grouse (Salem), several Green Herons (Greenwich), Red-shouldered Hawk (Schuylerville), Mourning Warbler (a singing male on my road in Petersburgh!), Canada Warbler (Salem), and Vesper Sparrow (near junction of Anthony and Cottrell Roads in Greenwich). The complete list follows. Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Ruffed Grouse Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Killdeer American Woodcock Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Black-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren House Wren Eastern Bluebird Veery Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Canada Warbler Scarlet Tanager Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Good birding! --Hope Batcheller Petersburgh, NY Subject: Cohoes 6/23/09 From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:02:58 -0400 I met Corey Finger at Cohoes this evening in an attempt to get the Red-necked Grebe. Despite extensive searching, we did not relocate the Grebe. The Female Hooded Merganser was present standing on a stump, the bird appears injured with a drooping left wing, but otherwise looks healthy. Otherwise nothing else of note, other than an ever increasing amount of juv. Double-Crested Cormorants, Mallards in varying plumages, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Canada Geese and Great Blue Heron. Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com _________________________________________________________________ Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now http://www.bing.com?form=MFEHPG&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFEHPG_Core_tagline_try_bing_1x1 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hmbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:hmbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:hmbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: hmbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Red-shouldered Hawk questions From: "ConserveBirds" <conservebirds AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:13:10 -0400 Thanks, Rich, for the insight. Funny that you mentioned Broad-winged Hawk, as I have had a problem finding that species as well! I know their habitat, but don't spend a lot of time birding forested areas, so don't see them often either. I'll be especially vigilant the rest of the summer and hope.... Mona Bearor South Glens Falls ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Guthrie To: 'ConserveBirds' ; hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 9:16 AM Subject: RE: [HMBirds] Red-shouldered Hawk questions Good Question, Mona. From my experience, Red-shouldered Hawks have always been a part of the NYS birding scene - for me, at least. Over the years, I've seen them as far north as the St. Lawrence River and the Canadian Border. And from hawk watch information, they must go well beyond that. I think of them as neighbors sharing pretty much the same habitat as Barred Owls. They are both usually higher elevation, wet forest inhabitants. But since the owls are easier to detect (they are more vocal, and thence more "conspicuous"), the quieter hawks will likely be overlooked. You pretty much have to be around when they are in their courtship performances to see and or hear them. Or, about now, the young should be out, perhaps being a bit noisier than the adults. The other - hard to find - yet fairly common hawk is the Broad-winged Hawk; again, a forest inhabitant, difficult to get a good look at this time of year. Curiously, I've found the best place to find them is on telephone wires alongside the roads. Or in migration. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore The Greener County gaeltic AT capital.net http://blog.timesunion.com/birding/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ConserveBirds Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 8:22 AM To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [HMBirds] Red-shouldered Hawk questions The report of Red-shouldered Hawk at Moreau State Park brings to mind again questions I have had for a long time and just never took the time to ask... How often is this species seen in the "northern" part of the Hudson-Mohawk area? I have seen only 4 north of Saratoga in 6 years of birding. Is the species on the increase? Is it very localized? Are there spots where they nest every year? Just curious about this lovely hawk... Mona Bearor South Glens Falls : > Also at Moreau Lake following Cottage Park trail to the Western Ridge/Cottage Park Connector trail, taking Western Ridge trail right to get to Ridge Run trail up to the overlook: : > Red-shouldered Hawk 1 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: ETT Nature Center From: Donna Zimmerman <hmbcbirder95 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:38:28 -0700 (PDT)     The final HMBC June field trip for 2009 will be to the Emma Treadwell Thatcher Nature Center this coming Sat. June 27.  Please refer to the club website at HMBC.net for more information.  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: weekend yard birds & antics From: Elayne Ryba <eryba AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:38:24 -0400 -- My mulberry tree has provided lots of entertainment, in spite of the rain. (The downside is our silver cars now have many purple "decorations") Birds that came & ate berries: robin bluejay downy, hairy & red-b woodpeckers no. oriole r-b grosbeak starlings catbird & the squirrels The flying squirrels may partake, but I have not witnessed them do so. I also have 2 suet feeders in that tree (which is right outside my office window-work? what work?) I have never seen so many downy woodpeckers in one tree! Witnessing Mom & Pop feeding the overgrown fledglings has been a joy. And the hairys! Their babies look bigger than the parents. OK.... back to work. Elayne in Niskayuna Subject: Green Heron From: "Don" <scoop748 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:45:29 -0000 I finally got some decent shots of a Green Heron see here; http://arewethereyet-scoop.blogspot.com/ I was at one of my favorite spots, the Old Champlain Barge Canal towpath in Kingsbury. Also a couple of a Great Egret. Subject: RE: Red-shouldered Hawk questions From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:16:37 -0400 Good Question, Mona. From my experience, Red-shouldered Hawks have always been a part of the NYS birding scene - for me, at least. Over the years, I've seen them as far north as the St. Lawrence River and the Canadian Border. And from hawk watch information, they must go well beyond that. I think of them as neighbors sharing pretty much the same habitat as Barred Owls. They are both usually higher elevation, wet forest inhabitants. But since the owls are easier to detect (they are more vocal, and thence more "conspicuous"), the quieter hawks will likely be overlooked. You pretty much have to be around when they are in their courtship performances to see and or hear them. Or, about now, the young should be out, perhaps being a bit noisier than the adults. The other - hard to find - yet fairly common hawk is the Broad-winged Hawk; again, a forest inhabitant, difficult to get a good look at this time of year. Curiously, I've found the best place to find them is on telephone wires alongside the roads. Or in migration. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore The Greener County gaeltic AT capital.net http://blog.timesunion.com/birding/ _____ From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ConserveBirds Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 8:22 AM To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [HMBirds] Red-shouldered Hawk questions The report of Red-shouldered Hawk at Moreau State Park brings to mind again questions I have had for a long time and just never took the time to ask... How often is this species seen in the "northern" part of the Hudson-Mohawk area? I have seen only 4 north of Saratoga in 6 years of birding. Is the species on the increase? Is it very localized? Are there spots where they nest every year? Just curious about this lovely hawk... Mona Bearor South Glens Falls : > Also at Moreau Lake following Cottage Park trail to the Western Ridge/Cottage Park Connector trail, taking Western Ridge trail right to get to Ridge Run trail up to the overlook: : > Red-shouldered Hawk 1 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk questions From: "ConserveBirds" <conservebirds AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:22:29 -0400 The report of Red-shouldered Hawk at Moreau State Park brings to mind again questions I have had for a long time and just never took the time to ask... How often is this species seen in the "northern" part of the Hudson-Mohawk area? I have seen only 4 north of Saratoga in 6 years of birding. Is the species on the increase? Is it very localized? Are there spots where they nest every year? Just curious about this lovely hawk... Mona Bearor South Glens Falls : > Also at Moreau Lake following Cottage Park trail to the Western Ridge/Cottage Park Connector trail, taking Western Ridge trail right to get to Ridge Run trail up to the overlook: : > Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Subject: Re: Prairie Warbler - Moreau Lake 21 June From: <marne-esq AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 8:05:21 -0400 That is a nice network of trails in that part of Moreau Lake State Park, but I would concur that anyone heading up that way take a map since it can get confusing up on the plateau. And also to beware of mountain bikers who commonly use the trails. Great list! Happy birding, Marne ---- lduval2 wrote: > After about 20 minutes of deciding whether to post this, I figured I just would. While not a rare, I see that their populations are in decline and probably only an occasional sighting around this region (though I guess Albany Pine Push Preserve gets them in decent numbers). > > If interested, park off of Spier Falls Rd at the Sherman Island boat launch (there are two launches on Spier Falls Rd, you want to be at the northeastern one - there is a sign for Sherman Island there). Walk south on Spier Falls Road past a guardrail on your right and look for the trailhead on the left with an orange trail marker (I suggest grabbing a map at their front office for $2 - the trail is marked orange and called Cottage Park). I heard the Prairie Warbler at the first power line corridor. It called around 2 PM and was still calling at 5:20 PM when I came back around. > > Also at Moreau Lake following Cottage Park trail to the Western Ridge/Cottage Park Connector trail, taking Western Ridge trail right to get to Ridge Run trail up to the overlook: > > Chipping Sparrow 5 > American Robin 5 > Eastern Phoebe 3 > Red-eyed Vireo 9 > Veery 3 > Song Sparrow 1 > Least Flycatcher 1 > Broad-winged Hawk 1 > Black-capped Chickadee 5 > Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 > Black-throated Green Warbler 2 > Field Sparrow 1 > Tufted Titmouse 3 > American Crow 2 > Wood Thrush 6 > Slate-Colored Junco 2 > Great Crested Flycatcher 2 > Cedar Waxwing 8 > American Goldfinch 6 > Ovenbird 4 > Mourning Dove 1 > Red-shouldered Hawk 1 > Northern Cardinal 1 > Blue Jay 1 > Scarlet Tanager 1 > Pileated Woodpecker 2 > Turkey Vulture 1 > Wild Turkey 1 > > Subject: Prairie Warbler - Moreau Lake 21 June From: "lduval2" <lduval2 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:23:57 -0000 After about 20 minutes of deciding whether to post this, I figured I just would. While not a rare, I see that their populations are in decline and probably only an occasional sighting around this region (though I guess Albany Pine Push Preserve gets them in decent numbers). If interested, park off of Spier Falls Rd at the Sherman Island boat launch (there are two launches on Spier Falls Rd, you want to be at the northeastern one - there is a sign for Sherman Island there). Walk south on Spier Falls Road past a guardrail on your right and look for the trailhead on the left with an orange trail marker (I suggest grabbing a map at their front office for $2 - the trail is marked orange and called Cottage Park). I heard the Prairie Warbler at the first power line corridor. It called around 2 PM and was still calling at 5:20 PM when I came back around. Also at Moreau Lake following Cottage Park trail to the Western Ridge/Cottage Park Connector trail, taking Western Ridge trail right to get to Ridge Run trail up to the overlook: Chipping Sparrow 5 American Robin 5 Eastern Phoebe 3 Red-eyed Vireo 9 Veery 3 Song Sparrow 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Field Sparrow 1 Tufted Titmouse 3 American Crow 2 Wood Thrush 6 Slate-Colored Junco 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Cedar Waxwing 8 American Goldfinch 6 Ovenbird 4 Mourning Dove 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Northern Cardinal 1 Blue Jay 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Turkey Vulture 1 Wild Turkey 1 Subject: Cohoes Red-necked Grebe From: "Ken Harper" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:49:30 -0000 As of yesterday the Red-necked Grebe was still making itself comfortable fishing in the water above the dam off New Street Overlook. It seems to be spending the bulk of it's times over near the little island but occasionally swims out towards the middle closer to the dam and now and then swims with a group of young cormorants that have been hanging there. Hope he stays for a few more days as my sister is coming up from NJ to visit next week. I have posted a couple of new photos taken yesterday to my Grebe page: http://kenharperphotos.com/pelikenphotos_054.htm Subject: NY Common loon and other odd sightings this time of the year....; ) From: Dan Furbish <peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:07:25 -0700 (PDT) Hello Mr. R.Guthrie and all NY birders, here's my 2 cents. http://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/birds/common-loon.aspx ----------------------------- Mississippi had a COLO via an eBird report : Common Loon (1) 1 Common Loon was observed at a personal location, Jackson County on 18 JUNE, 2009 by Andrew Core. ==================== http://birdingonthe.net/ebird/eBirdSummary.html ----------------------------------- Massachusetts has been seeing many Iceland gulls and Red necked grebes this week. 16,17,and 18 June 09 ------------------------------------ Pam Musk and I has a WW Scoter on lake Saratoga, 17 June 09 ( digital photo's upon request) ------------------------------------- Seeing a Common loon in June in Greene county sounds like the norm ""this year""" : ) ------------------------------------ U must remember, birds can't read field guides and they have wings.......: ) Dan Furbish Truckin' thru 5 southern states in a big rig. peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Loon Rescue - Success! From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:05:04 -0400 An adult Common Loon was found stranded on a highway in Greene County on Thursday. He/she was brought to a rehabilitator; found to be healthy and subsequently released in a safe place for loons. The full story and pictures may be found on my blog: http://blog.timesunion.com/birding/ I went by there this morning and watched him/her swimming around looking very fit. Of course, there remains the question: "What was an adult loon doing in Greene County this time of year anyway?" A clue may be found in that he/she was wearing a USF&WS band. The answer may be in the report I get from the banding lab. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore, The Greener County gaeltic AT capital.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FW: eBird Report - New Baltimore Yard , 6/20/09 From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:50:11 -0400 -----Original Message----- From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org [mailto:do-not-reply AT ebird.org] Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:47 AM To: gaeltic AT capital.net Subject: eBird Report - New Baltimore Yard , 6/20/09 Location: New Baltimore Yard Observation date: 6/20/09 Number of species: 17 MUTE SWAN 1 [fly-by] Chimney Swift 5 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 2 Fish Crow 1 American Robin 1 Gray Catbird 1 Northern Cardinal 3 Red-winged Blackbird X Common Grackle 6 House Finch 4 House Sparrow X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: 16 Jun 9, Saratoga Battlefield birds ! Brown thrasher and RT hummingbird From: Dan Furbish <peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:29:16 -0700 (PDT) Sorry for the belated message. I LOVED birding upstate NY : ) I'm back in ultra hot Georgia now : ) ------------------------ 16 June 09, Pam Musk and I visited the Saratoga Battlefields. What an awesome birding spot ! I didn't see it mentioned in the last report, so: On the hill with the cool little red house and the posts with blue-topped poles / at the delineation line was a BROWN THRASHER down around the large granite monument . In those wonderful fields were several Bobolinks, only 1 female seen there, many males. Eastern meadowlarks and a RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD , male. What a great historic area ! Extremely well maintained, kudos to all parties responsible for the maintenance and overall environmental management of this historic site. a side note, we watched a most awesome thunder and lightning storm with pea sized to lima bean sized hail from that hill... it was SO cool !! Dan Furbish Truckin' thru 5 southern states in a big rig. Vacationing in Saratoga Springs, NY area for 5 days. peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Petersburg eagle nest question From: "pnew40" <pnewman AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:23:47 -0000 My husband Bill and I did have the good fortune of finding the Petersburg Eagle nest and watched a bit from a respectful distance . This was weeks ago.,saw the nest .. no eagles were seen in that day . could someone give me an update on activity there.or have they all fledged and no sightings there anymore. Thinking of a ride this weekend. Pat N Subject: White winged Scoter Saratoga lake 17 June 09 From: Dan Furbish <peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:56:57 -0700 (PDT) This "may" be old news, but Pam Musk and I found it interesting that a lone WHITE-WINGED SCOTER is on Saratoga Lake. We got extremely close looks at it right from shore. I took a couple digital shots of it, we never saw it fly . Dan Furbish Truckin' thru 5 southern states in a big rig. Vacationing in Saratoga NY. peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RN Grebe & Hooded Merg still at Cohoes From: Heidi Klinowski <woodthrush46 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:27:11 -0700 (PDT) Hi all and many thanks to those who gave specific directions to the New Street overlook.   Wed. night after dinner I convinced my husband to go w me to look for the grebe. We parked in the Credit Union lot around 7:45pm, found the "rusty fence" and sure enough there was the RN Grebe only 30' from us, hanging with the Mallards.   Not 5 min after we quietly arrived, they all cruised out of sight to the far side of the little island, so we followed message bd directions and walked up the dirt road that parallels Rte 32, passing the parked truck trailers to the clearing where, Ta-Da! we once again could see the Grebe and friends.   At that point we also spotted a female Hooded Merg, standing on a tree stump protruding from the water. She gave us some great front and side views and was still there when we left 1/2 hr later, as was the Grebe.   A bonus for us:  While looking over the rusy fence to watch the Grebe, we saw almost directly below us a huge Beaver munching happily on a maple sapling he'd bent from the shore at the water's edge. He must have weighed 30 lbs or more and including tail was close to 3' L,  didn't seem to care that we were watching him eat as he lumbered onto the shore to eat some sort of flower blossoms then dove in and swam under water right past us, a pretty cool sight.   Heidi   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: dreary morning discoveries From: Elayne Ryba <eryba AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:39:26 -0400 Despite the cold rain, to my delight I discovered a small flock of Cedar Waxwings eating berries on one of my Mulberry trees. After a while, the gray Catbird and a beautiful male Rose-breasted Grosbeak came by, too. And a woodpecker population explosion! I had a least 10 Downy woodpeckers (mixed adults & juvies)- they all must have fledged at once. Keep dry! Elayne in Niskayuna -- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Tractor Supply Killdeer From: Priscilla <greenmtbluebird AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:10:40 -0700 (PDT) While my husband was shopping in the man store, Tractor Supply, Clifton Park this morning, I noticed some activity in the mowed empty lot in front of the store on Route 9. I grabbed my binocs and was able to identify a killdeer, then a second one.  As I scanned the field there were 3 killdeer chicks busy hopping around as well.  Cute family! We took a nice drive down to Riverview Road to check out the new park, Mohawk Landing, located near Riverview Orchards.  At the power plant there were 2 Great Blue herons and a group of 6-7 cormorants sitting on the top of the dam. Priscilla Leonard Jonesville [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Black Creek Marsh noon-time birding 16 Jun 9 From: "daveellers" <dellers AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:58:48 -0000 Dan & others in our group, Where do you all enter the Black Creek Marsh? Do you park on Hennessey Road and walk the tracks past the posted sign? Are there other advantageous observation points, and if you do walk the tracks, do you know when and how often the trains run? Thanks for any response. I was there but afraid to venture down the tracks very far because of potential train traffic; there is no room to step aside. Thank you all, Dave Ellers --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, Dan Furbish wrote: > > Black Creek Marsh, noon, 16 June 09 > 72 deg f, mostly sunny . > > Pam Musk and I saw and or heard a lot of cool birds, > The birds we thought were the coolest were: > > 2 Green heron > 1 Virginia Rail, calling after I clapped loudly. > 8 Marsh wren > 2 Great crested flycatchers > 5+ Willow flycatchers, calling. nesting and visual. > 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, visual on the wing > 6 Yellow wobblahs (using my Massachusetts accent) > 2 Prairie warblers > 10 Cedar waxwings > a lot of Swamp sparrows > a lot of Common yellow throats > 2 Veerys > 2 Wood thrush > 1 Red tailed hawk, ad. > 1 Eastern wood peewee > > Dan Furbish > Truckin' thru 5 southern states in a big rig. > Vacationed in Saratoga NY area this week ; ) > peterbilt.birder AT ... > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Red-necked Greebe/New Street From: "goodness.gary" <goodness.gary AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:29:56 -0000 The entrance to New Street has been blocked by the new credit union, but the end of New Street and the Federal Park are still open to the public. I spoke with John McDonald the mayor of Cohoes and he said you may drive to the end of New Street by entering the Cohoes D.P.W. Go around the building on the left and the road goes to New Street and the Park. If you have any questions, please e-mail me. goodness AT nycap.rr.com Regards, Gary, President HMBC Subject: RE: Re: directions to r.n. grebe From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:48:18 -0400 Ken, Unless I'm reading what you wrote wrong, you (or anyone for that matter) don't not have any sort of official permission to be on the property. As such I quote the ABA Code of Ethics: 2. Respect the law, and the rights of others. 2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission. It s If you want to shoot that company an e-mail and get permission and post that up here, that's cool, I'll go away. But I know, personally that I would be wary of publically encouraging people to enter private property. Now I may be making a mountain out of a mole hill here and splitting hairs to boot, so maybe some sort of official ruling from the Bird Club on this? Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com From: cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:21:59 +0000 Subject: [HMBirds] Re: directions to r.n. grebe Will, The land where the trailers are parked or at least the trailers are owned by Shelter Enterprises, an insulation manufacturer based in Cohoes. Their building is right across Rt 32 from where the trucks park. Many folks from that area use the dirt road that goes from where the trucks are parked on Rt 32 to the New Street Overlook and beyong when walking or hiking the area. I have walked up to there many times and also on weekends have parked my car in the lot where the trailers are parked. I have talked to a truck driver there one day also and was never treated hostile or like I was doing anything wrong. Anyway I don't think there is much problem with walking down there to get a look at the grebe but by all means if you are troubled by it, then don't go there. --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, Will Raup wrote: > > > > > Ken & All, > > > > Do we know who owns the land with the trailers? I assume this is private property and as such anyone on it, opens themselves up to trespassing etc. > > > > Some patience may be needed, but the Grebe will likely swim back into a viewable spot by the dam. > > Will Raup > Albany, NY > http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com > > > > > > > To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com > From: cpkbh1 AT ... > Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:47:23 +0000 > Subject: [HMBirds] Re: directions to r.n. grebe > > > > > > > > Susan, follow Gerry's directions to the overlook. Once there, look around for the Grebe. If you can't spot him from the overlook you will see a small island in the water above the dam there and while you can see the one side of the island from the overlook the Grebe has been on the other side of that small island the last two times I was there. To view that walk along the dirt road to the left of the overlook and you will come to some truck trailers parked, continue past them and you will come to a clearing where you can view the other side of the small island and should find the Grebe there is not visible from New Street Overlook. > > --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "beaususa" wrote: > > > > Can anyone give me directions for viewing the red-necked grebe? I tried on my own today, stopping at various points off River Road in Cohoes. I tried the falls overlook on School Street, the dam near Fonda Rd, and the old brick power building and the Crescent Plant, NY Power Authority area. I'm guessing I should have been on the other side of the river in Waterford. > > Thanks, > > Susan Beaudoin > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. > http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Black Creek Marsh noon-time birding 16 Jun 9 From: Dan Furbish <peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:33:17 -0700 (PDT) Black Creek Marsh, noon, 16 June 09 72 deg f, mostly sunny . Pam Musk and I saw and or heard a lot of cool birds, The birds we thought were the coolest were: 2 Green heron 1 Virginia Rail, calling after I clapped loudly. 8 Marsh wren 2 Great crested flycatchers 5+ Willow flycatchers, calling. nesting and visual. 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, visual on the wing 6 Yellow wobblahs (using my Massachusetts accent) 2 Prairie warblers 10 Cedar waxwings a lot of Swamp sparrows a lot of Common yellow throats 2 Veerys 2 Wood thrush 1 Red tailed hawk, ad. 1 Eastern wood peewee Dan Furbish Truckin' thru 5 southern states in a big rig. Vacationed in Saratoga NY area this week ; ) peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: directions to r.n. grebe From: "Ken Harper" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:21:59 -0000 Will, The land where the trailers are parked or at least the trailers are owned by Shelter Enterprises, an insulation manufacturer based in Cohoes. Their building is right across Rt 32 from where the trucks park. Many folks from that area use the dirt road that goes from where the trucks are parked on Rt 32 to the New Street Overlook and beyong when walking or hiking the area. I have walked up to there many times and also on weekends have parked my car in the lot where the trailers are parked. I have talked to a truck driver there one day also and was never treated hostile or like I was doing anything wrong. Anyway I don't think there is much problem with walking down there to get a look at the grebe but by all means if you are troubled by it, then don't go there. --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, Will Raup wrote: > > > > > Ken & All, > > > > Do we know who owns the land with the trailers? I assume this is private property and as such anyone on it, opens themselves up to trespassing etc. > > > > Some patience may be needed, but the Grebe will likely swim back into a viewable spot by the dam. > > Will Raup > Albany, NY > http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com > > > > > > > To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com > From: cpkbh1 AT ... > Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:47:23 +0000 > Subject: [HMBirds] Re: directions to r.n. grebe > > > > > > > > Susan, follow Gerry's directions to the overlook. Once there, look around for the Grebe. If you can't spot him from the overlook you will see a small island in the water above the dam there and while you can see the one side of the island from the overlook the Grebe has been on the other side of that small island the last two times I was there. To view that walk along the dirt road to the left of the overlook and you will come to some truck trailers parked, continue past them and you will come to a clearing where you can view the other side of the small island and should find the Grebe there is not visible from New Street Overlook. > > --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "beaususa" wrote: > > > > Can anyone give me directions for viewing the red-necked grebe? I tried on my own today, stopping at various points off River Road in Cohoes. I tried the falls overlook on School Street, the dam near Fonda Rd, and the old brick power building and the Crescent Plant, NY Power Authority area. I'm guessing I should have been on the other side of the river in Waterford. > > Thanks, > > Susan Beaudoin > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. > http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Got the grebe! From: "beaususa" <tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:35:39 -0000 Thanks to all who gave me directions to the red-necked grebe. I made my second trip from Saratoga Lake to Cohoes today around 4PM. First I went behind the bank and looked over the rusty fence, but only saw a female hooded merganser who was putting on quite a show, dashing here and there, showing off her white stomach. After a half hour of watching with no grebe we went on Rt. 32 and pulled off where the trucks are parked just before the Waterford -Cohoes bridge - and there was the elegant looking red-necked grebe swimming near a bunch of mallards. So second time was the charm. Thanks again to all who helped. It was a lifer for me so I was thrilled. Susan Beaudoin Subject: R-N Grebe and Dyken Pond From: "dpimainl" <larry.main AT cengage.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:43:11 -0000 This is my first post, but I've been lurking for a while and really enjoy all the great info. I was inspired by Tom W's post about Dyken Pond so I played hooky today. Started in Cohoes and saw the R-N Grebe again...this is the third or fourth time I've seen it since it was first spotted on Sunday, June 7 at about 4pm. Headed up to Dyken Pond, with ears popping, and enjoyed many of the same birds Tom reported. But the highlight was a very vocal and aggressive Nothern Goshawk. It seemed quite agitated and continued to vocalize and dive bomb as I made my way quickly down the path. I've never had such a close encounter with an accipiter and was so un-nerved that I actually wandered off the path and was lost in the wilds of the Rensselaer Plateau for an embarassingly long time! Larry Main Clifton Park, NY Subject: Red-necked Grebe (yes) From: Hope Batcheller <hope.batcheller AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:56:46 -0400 Hi all, The Red-necked Grebe was still present today, visible from the New St. overlook. A Bald Eagle was also there, perched on a cliff across the flats. Good birding! --Hope Batcheller On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 5:47 PM, Ken Harper wrote: > > > Susan, follow Gerry's directions to the overlook. Once there, look around > for the Grebe. If you can't spot him from the overlook you will see a small > island in the water above the dam there and while you can see the one side > of the island from the overlook the Grebe has been on the other side of that > small island the last two times I was there. To view that walk along the > dirt road to the left of the overlook and you will come to some truck > trailers parked, continue past them and you will come to a clearing where > you can view the other side of the small island and should find the Grebe > there is not visible from New Street Overlook. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Re: directions to r.n. grebe From: Will Raup <Hoaryredpoll AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:55:03 -0400 Ken & All, Do we know who owns the land with the trailers? I assume this is private property and as such anyone on it, opens themselves up to trespassing etc. Some patience may be needed, but the Grebe will likely swim back into a viewable spot by the dam. Will Raup Albany, NY http://hoaryredpoll.wordpress.com To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com From: cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:47:23 +0000 Subject: [HMBirds] Re: directions to r.n. grebe Susan, follow Gerry's directions to the overlook. Once there, look around for the Grebe. If you can't spot him from the overlook you will see a small island in the water above the dam there and while you can see the one side of the island from the overlook the Grebe has been on the other side of that small island the last two times I was there. To view that walk along the dirt road to the left of the overlook and you will come to some truck trailers parked, continue past them and you will come to a clearing where you can view the other side of the small island and should find the Grebe there is not visible from New Street Overlook. --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "beaususa" wrote: > > Can anyone give me directions for viewing the red-necked grebe? I tried on my own today, stopping at various points off River Road in Cohoes. I tried the falls overlook on School Street, the dam near Fonda Rd, and the old brick power building and the Crescent Plant, NY Power Authority area. I'm guessing I should have been on the other side of the river in Waterford. > Thanks, > Susan Beaudoin > _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: directions to r.n. grebe From: "Ken Harper" <cpkbh1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:47:23 -0000 Susan, follow Gerry's directions to the overlook. Once there, look around for the Grebe. If you can't spot him from the overlook you will see a small island in the water above the dam there and while you can see the one side of the island from the overlook the Grebe has been on the other side of that small island the last two times I was there. To view that walk along the dirt road to the left of the overlook and you will come to some truck trailers parked, continue past them and you will come to a clearing where you can view the other side of the small island and should find the Grebe there is not visible from New Street Overlook. --- In hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "beaususa" wrote: > > Can anyone give me directions for viewing the red-necked grebe? I tried on my own today, stopping at various points off River Road in Cohoes. I tried the falls overlook on School Street, the dam near Fonda Rd, and the old brick power building and the Crescent Plant, NY Power Authority area. I'm guessing I should have been on the other side of the river in Waterford. > Thanks, > Susan Beaudoin > Subject: Re: Yellow-Throated Vireo From: Alan Mapes <aamapes AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:47:52 -0400 Dave - I find them to be not that common, except along the rivers in the area. While paddling the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, I hear them quite frequently. We've occasionally had a pair nesting at Five Rivers over the years, but not lately. Enjoy yours! Alan Mapes New Scotland daveellers wrote: > > > I am new to the group and have been reading the messages for about 2 > months now. However, I do not recall seeing any sightings of > yellow-throated vireo. > > There is one that I see and hear daily in a large locus tree next to > my home in New Scotland, apparently nesting. Have there been other > sightings and how common are they in our area? > > Thank you. > > Dave Ellers > dellers AT nycap.rr.com > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.73/2180 - Release Date: 06/16/09 07:41:00 > > Subject: Re: directions to r.n. grebe From: "Gerald Colborn" <gdcolbor AT gw.dec.state.ny.us> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:18:57 -0400 Susan, Best bet is to park at the bank at the corner of 787 and Ontario. Walk around the west side (787 side) of the bank and walk up to the overlook. There's a sort of rusted iron "fence" there. Just look over that fence for the grebe. Below that to the right are the flats. Gerry >>> "beaususa" 6/16/2009 11:58 AM >>> Can anyone give me directions for viewing the red-necked grebe? I tried on my own today, stopping at various points off River Road in Cohoes. I tried the falls overlook on School Street, the dam near Fonda Rd, and the old brick power building and the Crescent Plant, NY Power Authority area. I'm guessing I should have been on the other side of the river in Waterford. Thanks, Susan Beaudoin [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: directions to r.n. grebe From: "beaususa" <tbeaudo1 AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:58:11 -0000 Can anyone give me directions for viewing the red-necked grebe? I tried on my own today, stopping at various points off River Road in Cohoes. I tried the falls overlook on School Street, the dam near Fonda Rd, and the old brick power building and the Crescent Plant, NY Power Authority area. I'm guessing I should have been on the other side of the river in Waterford. Thanks, Susan Beaudoin Subject: Photo of the Caspian Tern From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:00:04 -0400 I posted a distant photo of the CASPIAN TERN that was at the Cohoes Flats last Friday, June 12th on HMBirds yahoo site. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore, gaeltic AT capital.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Yellow-Throated Vireo From: "Richard Guthrie" <gaeltic AT capital.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:59:56 -0400 Yellow-throated Vireos are fairly common throughout the lower elevations of the HMBC area. They can be heard more often than seen, as they are usually pretty high up and blend well in the foliage. And since their song is so similar to that of the much more common Red-eyed Vireo, they might be overlooked. That said, I am missing the pair that nests across from me each year. Fingers crossed, I hope they are just late getting home. Rich Guthrie New Baltimore, The Greener County' New York gaeltic AT capital.net _____ From: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ConserveBirds Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 6:32 PM To: hmbirds AT yahoogroups.com; daveellers Subject: Re: [HMBirds] Yellow-Throated Vireo We have them occasionally "up here." I have seen them at Carter's Pond in Greenwich, Washington county; Towpath Rd. in Hudson Falls, and on River Rd. in Stillwater near the Saratoga Battlefield park Mona Bearor South Glens Falls ----- Original Message ----- From: "daveellers" rr.com> To: .com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:00 PM Subject: [HMBirds] Yellow-Throated Vireo :I am new to the group and have been reading the messages for about 2 months now. However, I do not recall seeing any sightings of yellow-throated vireo. : : There is one that I see and hear daily in a large locus tree next to my home in New Scotland, apparently nesting. Have there been other sightings and how common are they in our area? : : Thank you. : : Dave Ellers : dellers AT nycap. rr.com : : : : : ------------------------------------ : : Yahoo! Groups Links : : : [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Yellow-Throated Vireo From: "ConserveBirds" <conservebirds AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:31:30 -0400 We have them occasionally "up here." I have seen them at Carter's Pond in Greenwich, Washington county; Towpath Rd. in Hudson Falls, and on River Rd. in Stillwater near the Saratoga Battlefield park Mona Bearor South Glens Falls ----- Original Message ----- From: "daveellers" To: Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:00 PM Subject: [HMBirds] Yellow-Throated Vireo :I am new to the group and have been reading the messages for about 2 months now. However, I do not recall seeing any sightings of yellow-throated vireo. : : There is one that I see and hear daily in a large locus tree next to my home in New Scotland, apparently nesting. Have there been other sightings and how common are they in our area? : : Thank you. : : Dave Ellers : dellers AT nycap.rr.com : : : : : ------------------------------------ : : Yahoo! Groups Links : : : Subject: Yellow-Throated Vireo From: "daveellers" <dellers AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:00:04 -0000 I am new to the group and have been reading the messages for about 2 months now. However, I do not recall seeing any sightings of yellow-throated vireo. There is one that I see and hear daily in a large locus tree next to my home in New Scotland, apparently nesting. Have there been other sightings and how common are they in our area? Thank you. Dave Ellers dellers AT nycap.rr.com Subject: Correction to Dyken Pond report... From: "trwdsd" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:57:20 -0000 After hearing from several other birders about tricky IDs involving Ceruleans and Black-throated Blues, and Dyken Pong being an unlikely location for a Cerulean Warbler, I'll leave my unseen warbler as unidentified. I spent a good twenty minutes staring into the treetops in vain, he never moved, as far as I could tell. My neck still hurts. I'm considering bringing my zero-gravity chairs on future trips. Thanks to everyone for their input. Thomas Williams Colonie Subject: Papscanee Island From: Donna Zimmerman <hmbcbirder95 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:29:06 -0700 (PDT) There will be a HMBC field trip tp Papscanee Island Preserve on Sat. June 20.  More information about the trip can be found on the club website at HMBC.net.  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: pine siskins From: Barb Putnam <barbolink1 AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:06:33 -0400 Had a pair of siskins back at the feeder today (Gansevoort) Barb ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.364 / Virus Database: 270.12.68/2175 - Release Date: 06/14/09 05:53:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Blackburnian, Cerulean, Canada warblers at Dyken Pond EEC (long) From: "trwdsd" <trwdsd AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:26:40 -0000 Spent three and a half hours, from 8:45AM on, at Dyken Pond EEC in central Rennselaer County. I would characterize the habitat as 1600' elev. wet woodlands. As I've noticed at a lot of spots lately, the parking area is an excellent birding location. Blackburnian Warbler ("teetsa-teetsa-teetsa-teetsa", sounds like a dogs' squeaky toy) was singing in the spruce trees right next to us. Also, Black-throated Green Warbler ("zoooo-zee-zu-zu-zee") was just into the woods. Heard a third warbler that was familiar, but could not identify right off. The most abundant species, along with the omnipresent robin, was Ovenbird. I have been told, and have read, that you rarely see ovenbirds; you generally just hear the explosive song from the dense woodland floor. Come to Dyken Pond and you can watch them walking the ground fifteen feet from you, and flying around at eye-level, landing on limbs to check you out. Not secretive here. The pond itself was quiet, other than Red-eyed Vireo and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (and more Ovenbirds.) We explored five of the short, interconnecting trails, including the well-maintained boardwalk across Dustin Swamp. Interesting mix there, sapsuckers, flycatchers, swallows, waxwings, grackles, and two winter birds gone MIA, white-throated sparrow and dark-eyed junco (many.) The deep, thick woods had a Winter Wren sitting on a rock thirty feet away(what an amzingly long, complicated song), Veery and more juncos. Walking the main road back to the parking area, we had Ovenbird (again), and, right in succession, Canada Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo. At the lot we saw Turkey Vultures circling. I have a small Olympus digital voice recorder that I bring along for note taking (and always forget to use.) I recorded a few minutes of birdsong at each of the busy locations, and upon analysis at home, concluded the familiar warbler from early in the day, whom we revisited on the way out, was a Cerulean. I had heard quite a few at Doodletown two weeks ago; I wish I had a clean look at today's bird, but he never left the treetops. This is a location I will bird again soon, and I recommend it to others who have not visited yet. Forty-five minute drive from Northway exit 7. Mammal of the day: Porcupine Amphibian of the day: Red eft (salamander) Location: Dyken Pond Environmental Ed Center Observation date: 6/14/09 Number of species: 33 Turkey Vulture 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Willow Flycatcher 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 1 Tree Swallow 8 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 Winter Wren 1 Veery 1 American Robin 10 Cedar Waxwing 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 3 Cerulean Warbler 1 (heard only, digitally recorded) Ovenbird 10 Common Yellowthroat 2 Canada Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 6 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Common Grackle 4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/ny) Thomas Williams Colonie Subject: red-necked grebe awakens From: "Ronald L. Harrower" <rlharrow AT nycap.rr.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:56:54 -0400 Back to the Sunday routine again, or at least sharing it. Went to see the grebe and like others, hoped to see the Caspian tern. No such luck on the latter, but did have a cool experience with the former. I arrived a little before 6 am and set up at the New Street overlook (thanks Rich for getting me through the Byzantine approach!) Saw female Hooded Merganaser, many Black Ducks, mallards, Cormorants and Black-backed and Ring-billed Gulls, and a pair of Rough-winged Swallows.. The Red-necked Grebe was asleep with its bill tucked under a wing, identified by the black cap. As I was scanning to see if it was doing anything, it came to and shook it's head a bit and looked around. After about a minute, it started cruising forward and then dove, thereafter resuming regular grebe activities. I've never seen a bird just "turn on" like that. I went up the hudson to stop at various places between Waterford and Stillwater. Many Canada Geese and Mallards. There was a large family of Wood Ducks at Lock 2. Went inland at the Saratoga Battlefield access road from Rte 4. Had a Louisiana Waterthrush, a great look at a a Flicker anting, and an assortment of regular woodland birds. Went around to the horse entarnce to the park off rte 32. Had usual field birds like Bobolinks, a singing in air Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbirds sharing a post, a couple of Willow Flycatchers in brushy area, Field and Song Sparrows and at least 3 Brown Thrashers. I got close to one and heard it kind of chuffing. Mockingbird by Neilson house. Nota stellar day for species numbers, but full green plants, flowers and lots of individual birds just is awe inspiring in itself. Ron Harrower Saratoga Springs [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]