Month: February 2014

Bashakill WMA, 2/2/14

An Eastern Bluebird dangled from a branch right in front us, not long after arriving at the Deli Fields. Bashakill WMA 2/2/14.
An Eastern Bluebird dangled from a branch right in front us, not long after arriving at the Deli Fields. Bashakill WMA 2/2/14.

It’s been ages since I’ve birded the Bashakill WMA, so I picked up Karen Miller early this morning and we headed over. The warm weather was still holding on, so I was looking forward to getting out of the car and doing a little hiking. Our first stop was the Deli Fields which were pretty active, with a nice flock of American Goldfinches and several Eastern Bluebirds being seen before we even got out of the car. We kept hearing a Pileated Woodpecker off in the distance and we finally got a good look in binoculars of the bird flying over the treetops in the distance.

I haven't seen any American Goldfinches in a while, so it was good to see a flock of 25 or so at the Deli Fields. Bashakill WMA 2/2/14.
I haven’t seen any American Goldfinches in a while, so it was good to see a flock of 25 or so at the Deli Fields. Bashakill WMA 2/2/14.

Next, we headed over to Haven Road. Karen showed me where the new Bald Eagle nest is located and we could also see an adult Bald Eagle perched in a tree in the distance. Some mallards flushed and we noticed that the adult as well as an immature Bald Eagle were both in flight. A small flock of Canada Geese came in for a landing in what I’m assuming is some recently opened water north of Haven Road. We also had a single Ring-billed Gull fly over the road.

If you've seen the winners from Audubon Magazine's Photography Awards, you know why I've been enjoying shooting birds on these stark backgrounds. I never really liked it much, but now it is appealing to me. Ring-billed Gull at Haven Road, Bashakill WMA, 2/2/14.
If you’ve seen the winners from Audubon Magazine’s Photography Awards, you know why I’ve been enjoying shooting birds on these stark backgrounds. Ring-billed Gull at Haven Road, Bashakill WMA, 2/2/14.

Our last stop was at the main boat launch, where we walked a good portion of the Birch Trail, in hopes of finding a Hermit Thrush. We didn’t have any luck with the thrush, but we did well with many of the expected songbirds: Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Juncos, Downy Woodpeckers, and Song Sparrows. We also saw and certainly heard my best bird of the day – a Common Raven flying over the Bash, making a racket while it did so.

I had almost forgotten how beautiful the Bashakill can be in all seasons. If you have not been out there in a while, or if you have never been there, do yourself a favor and visit the Bash in the winter. It’s gorgeous.

Here’s my list for the day:

Canada Goose  25
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  30
Bald Eagle  2
Ring-billed Gull  1
Mourning Dove  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker  2
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  8
American Crow  15
Common Raven  1
Black-capped Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  3
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  2
Eastern Bluebird  4
American Robin  5
American Tree Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  5
Dark-eyed Junco  50
Northern Cardinal  3
American Goldfinch  30

Orange County Saturday

Song Sparrow on the Liberty Loop at Wallkill River NWR, 2/1/14.
Song Sparrow on the Liberty Loop at Wallkill River NWR, 2/1/14.

I woke up before sunrise this morning and headed out; I was going to spend the morning birding in southern Orange County. My first stop was at Wallkill River NWR, where I walked the Liberty Loop for the first time in a while. The weather had finally warmed up a bit after the extended cold spell, so it felt really good to be outside and walking the trail. During my walk I had many of the expected birds for this time of year, but the highlight of my hike was seeing a Coyote crossing the marsh.

It's amazing to me how easily this Coyote disappeared from view in the marsh. Still it was a thrill to see, Wallkill River NWR 2/1/14.
It’s amazing to me how easily this Coyote disappeared from view in the marsh. Still it was a thrill to see, Coyote out at Wallkill River NWR just after sunrise, 2/1/14.

After walking the loop, I did a car tour of Pines Island and the Black Dirt Region. I hit many of my usual stops as well as some of new ones, such as Cedar Swamp Road, where I saw a couple of falconers flying their birds way off in the distance, and not surprisingly, I did not have any luck with the pair of Snowy Owls that were reported there. I ended up with 26 species for the day which I don’t think is too bad for not being anywhere near open water all day. Species highlights for the morning included seeing the same Snowy Owl that I’ve been seeing all week and a pair of LAPLAND LONGSPURS in a flock of approximately 45 Horned Larks. The real highlight for me, however was running into several birders I know while viewing the Snowy Owl. It was good to spend time and shoot the breeze with fellow Mearns Bird Club members Gerhard and Tracey, as well as Jack Austin and Linda – they are all such nice folks.

A Rough-legged Hawk flies over, Black Dirt Region 2/1/14.
A Rough-legged Hawk flies over, Black Dirt Region 2/1/14.
American Kestrel in flight, Black Dirt, 2/1/14.
American Kestrel in flight, Black Dirt, 2/1/14.
I will keep posting Snowy Owl shots whenever I get them, not matter how distant. I can't get enough of this bird! Black Dirt Region, 2/1/14.
I will keep posting Snowy Owl shots whenever I get them, not matter how distant. I can’t get enough of this bird! Black Dirt Region, 2/1/14.

Here’s my list for the morning, the numbers are a bit rough since I totaled everything I saw while I was out, but I definitely was very conservative with my counts.

It's not very often an American Kestrel flies towards me. This one was flushed by another vehicle, Black Dirt, 2/1/14.
It’s not very often an American Kestrel flies towards me. This one was flushed by another vehicle, Black Dirt, 2/1/14.

 

Canada Goose  1000
Turkey Vulture  1
Northern Harrier  3
Red-tailed Hawk  8
Rough-legged Hawk  5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  14
Mourning Dove  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  3
American Kestrel  2
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  500
Horned Lark  60
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
American Robin  18
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  80
Lapland Longspur  2
American Tree Sparrow  10
Song Sparrow  20
Dark-eyed Junco  55
Northern Cardinal  2
House Sparrow  12

American Kestrel perched on some farm equipment. Black Dirt, 2/1/14.
American Kestrel perched on some farm equipment. Black Dirt, 2/1/14.
Red-tailed Hawk shot through the grasses at Round Hill Road, Florida NY, 2/1/14.
Red-tailed Hawk shot through the grasses at Round Hill Road, Florida NY, 2/1/14.