photos – Orange Birding

Sunday Shots, 09/07/25

Saturday was pretty much a dud for me. I started the day up at Mount Peter Hawkwatch; when I arrived it was socked in with fog. I counted for 4 1/2 hours when a big storm rolled through and I left (with 0 migrating raptors counted). Hopefully this is not an indication of how this season will go for me.

This morning was much better – at my first stop I found a nice collection of shorebirds. The highlight was a couple of BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS. There was also a huge flock of American Golden-Plovers – probably between 40 and 50 birds. Additional species included Pectoral Sandpipers and, of course, plenty of Killdeer. Later at the Camel Farm, I had a couple of Wilson’s Snipe and a handful of Least Sandpipers. At the Liberty Loop platform, I had a single Semipalmated Sandpiper. And finally, at Winding Waters Trail, I had a Spotted Sandpiper and a Greater Yellowlegs. That’s a total of (9) species of shorebirds, not too shabby. And, in my travels, I found a pair of Sandhill Cranes in range for some photos.

As always, I took photos as I went; several of these were actually taken earlier this week, on Labor Day. Unfortunately all the shorebirds from today were just too distant for any good shots.

~American Goldfinch on Missionland Road, 09/01/25.~

~Sandhill Crane in the Black Dirt Region, 09/07/25.~

~Red-tailed Hawk in the black dirt, 09/07/25.~

~Chestnut-sided Warbler at Winding Waters Trail, 09/01/25.~

~A second Sandhill Crane in the black dirt on 09/07/25.~

~Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Missionland Road, 09/01/25.~

~Red-tailed Hawk on a pile of crates in the black dirt, 09/07/25.~

~Great Egret at Bullville Pond, 09/01/25.~

Sunday Shots, 08/24/25

After last night’s Uppy excitement, today was relatively uneventful. Kyle Knapp let me know early in the day that he had (3) Baird’s Sandpipers in the black dirt; I eventually caught up with those birds later in the morning alongside Bev, Rich, and Diane. There was young birder there as well; it was only his second trip to the black dirt. We got him on the birds and it was a lifer for him, so that was exciting. I did some running around prior to that, hoping for more shorebirds. At 6 1/2 Station Road I had just (8) Least Sandpipers; Bullville Pond had high water levels and just a single Spotted Sandpiper. The platform at Liberty Marsh had a similar situation with high water and no shorebirds at all. As always, I took photos as I went, so here’s the latest batch.

~Horned Lark in nice light in the black dirt 08/23/25.~

~Great Blue Heron at Echo Lake, 08/23/25.~

~Upland Sandpiper in the black dirt, 08/23/25.~

~Upland Sandpipers can make some quirky movements – here’s one caught in a funny position in the Black Dirt Region, 08/23/25. ~

~This image is from a couple weeks back, but I never got around to posting it. Least Sandpiper in the black dirt, 08/11/25.~

~There are MANY Bobolinks on the move right now. I seemed to hear them everywhere I went this weekend. BOBO in the black dirt 08/24/25.~

Young Horned Larks

I went out to the black dirt three nights this week, and again this morning, hoping for shorebirds of course. Unfortunately, notable shorebirds were not in the cards; the only shorebirds I found were Killdeer (many!), a handful of Least Sandpipers, and a single Semipalmated Sandpiper. As a consolation prize, on a couple of evenings I spent some time with some young Horned Larks. I think they have a fantastic look at this age – it’s obvious that they are larks, but at the same time they look like an entirely different bird. The photos with the nice golden look were taken on 08/11/25 and the others were taken on 08/14/25.

Sunday Shots, 08/03/25

Well, there wasn’t much happening this weekend with one exception: On Saturday morning, in the black dirt, I relocated a DICKCISSEL that Bruce Nott had originally found on Thursday morning but hadn’t been seen since. It was a nice surprise for me – I figured that bird was a one-hit wonder for sure. Otherwise, not much was going on, so I’m supplementing this weeks shots with some recent shots from my back yard. Hopefully things will really start to pick up this coming week.

~Dickcissel in the black dirt. Nice find by Bruce Nott; I was happy to catch up with it this weekend.~

~I don’t really like this photo, but I can’t remember ever seeing and photographing a Spotted Sandpiper chick before, so I wanted to include it. I took this on Saturday morning and went back to the same location on Sunday, but there was no sign of the young sandpiper. ~

~Eastern Phoebe in our yard on 07/25/25.~

Sunday Shots -An Overdose of Cuteness, 07/27/25

On Saturday morning I birded the area, hoping for some new fall shorebird arrivals. Unfortunately, I did not add any new species to my list from last week, and I had a total of only 4 shorebird species.

Black Dirt: Killdeer
Camel Farm: Killdeer and Least Sandpipers (2)
Liberty Marsh Platform: Solitary Sandpipers (2)
Beaver Pond: Killdeer and Solitary Sandpipers (5)
Bullville Pond: Killdeer, Least Sandpipers (2), Solitary Sandpipers (2), and Spotted Sandpiper (1)
6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary: Killdeer and Least Sandpipers (2)

The highlight for me was spending some quality time with a young Killdeer foraging under a sprinkler in the black dirt, so I’ll leave you with an overdose of cuteness. All photos taken on 07/26/25 in the Black Dirt Region.

Sunday Shots, 07/20/25

I was able to get out early both mornings this weekend and things are starting to happen. Shorebirds are on the move. On Saturday morning, I had a couple of Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers at the Camel Farm. Then, this morning I had two fields in the black dirt that were loaded with Killdeer, and at the Camel Farm, I found 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Least Sandpipers, and 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers. And finally, at Beaver Pond (near Glenmere Lake), I had 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, and a handful of Killdeer.

~A calling Killdeer in the black dirt, 07;20/25. I’m really looking forward to shorebird season – it should be interesting. ~

Shorebirds aside, my first stop, super early on Saturday morning, was at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, where I kayaked again. I was trying for Red Crossbills, but unfortunately I didn’t have any luck with that species. Still, it was an enjoyable paddle, birdy enough and even though it was sunny, it was still nice and cool at that hour. I didn’t track my species for that paddle, but I had mostly the same usuals as last weekend, give or take.

~Black-and-white Warbler at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

~Black-and-white Warbler fledgling at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

~I think this is a beautiful bird. Mourning Dove at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

~Young Bald Eagle at Mongaup Reservoir, 0719/25.~

~Green Heron on the hunt at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

~Green Heron at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25

It’s not very often these days that I get to say I did something completely new locally, but that was the case this morning. I went kayaking at Mongaup Falls Reservoir in Sullivan County. Last night I was flipping through the book Quiet Water New York by John Hayes & Alex Wilson, and I saw their write up for this location. I realized that in spite of how close it is, I somehow never kayaked there before.

It was a cool misty morning went I put in. The mist stopped quickly, but the morning stayed cloudy and pleasantly cool. I wouldn’t have minded a little more light for photos, but what can you do? It was a very birdy paddle; I had over 45 species, and it was really just a peaceful morning to be out. Notable species for me included Common Merganser, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Magnolia Warbler. Merlin heard Purple Finch a couple of times, but that’s a bird I’ve never been very good at identifying by ear. Merlin also identified RED CROSSBILL several times. I kept missing it when it happened, but then I finally I heard something and looked at my phone and it said Red Crossbill. I kept listening, and even though Merlin was no longer picking it up, I was sure I was hearing a Red Crossbill doing its chipa-chipa-chipa call. I was scanning the treetops madly, but frustratingly, I never got a visual.

~A young Common Yellowthroat at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~I was surprised to see this young Green Heron – the habitat didn’t seem quite right for it to me. I guess I was wrong about that – I saw several Green Herons during my kayak around the reservoir.~

~I was less surprised to see this bird. Adult Bald Eagle at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~More young birds. Barn Swallows at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~I’m pretty sure this is an Eastern Wood Pewee (I thought I heard some slight vocalization which sounded Pewee-like). Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~Green Heron at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~Another adult Bald Eagle at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~And one final shot of the young Green Heron at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

Sunday Shots, 06/29/25

At my first stop this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to find two young Barred Owls. They were being mobbed by Common Grackles, which is the only reason I found them.

For my second stop, I’d nearly forgotten about one of the best summer birding spots in Orange County: the Mongaup River Trail. It’s an easy hike that, as the name indicates, runs along the Mongaup River. I find that it’s not a great spot first thing in the morning because everything is still in dark shadows. I arrived around 9:00 am, and that seemed to be a good time to arrive. I was in some shade on the way out and mostly in sun on the way back. My first bird was a Pine Warbler, followed shortly by a high, calling Blackburnian Warbler. There were a good number Louisana Waterthrush, Ovenbirds, and Black-throated Green Warblers. I usually get Magnolia Warbler at this location, but did not today. I also had a single Northern Parula and an adult Bald Eagle.

On my way home, I took the long way and went through the Rio Dam area. I had a Red Fox cross the road in front of my car. They disappeared into the woods quicker than you can imagine! And, a little later I had a Winter Wren singing just off the road.

~Young Barred Owl in Orange County, NY 06/29/25.~

~A Louisiana Waterthrush with a mouthful of insects. Mongaup River Trail, 06/29/25.~

~Ovenbird at Mongaup River Trail, 06/29/25.~

~A Green Heron cuts a nice figure on a dead tree limb, 06/29/25.~

Sunday Shots, 06/01/25

We’ve enjoyed some good and exciting birding in the area recently; my recent posts have reflected that. So this afternoon I’m just doing a little clean up and posting some of the shots which were also taken during that time. Migration is winding down now, and the exciting birding will probably be on hold for a little while; meanwhile we can change our focus to breeding birds, hiking, and just enjoying being out.

~American Goldfinch in the black dirt, o5/25/25.~

~Grasshopper Sparrow in the black dirt, 05/25/25.~

~Barn Swallow in the Black Dirt Region, 05/31/25.~

~Cedar Waxwing at Port Orange Road, 05/25/25.~

Sunday Shots…a day late, 05/19/25

Tricia and I went away for the weekend, but I was able to get out and do some local birding on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. I hit the black dirt on Sunday, hoping for the White-rumped Sandpiper that had been reported earlier in the week. I dipped on my target, but I was able to add Semipalmated Plover to my year list and get a handful of shots of a Grasshopper Sparrow. This morning I birded Ironwood Drive at Sterling Forest State Park. It was birdy as can be, and I had several new year birds. Most notable for me, was Alder Flycatcher, as that’s not a species I get every year. I had some frustrating likely misses, as the Merlin app was hearing birds that I wasn’t able to hear nor locate. The trees are full of leaves now, and that made it challenging as well. Here’s some shots from the last couple of days.