Black Dirt – Page 3 – Orange Birding

Good Birding, Sunday 08/04/24

This morning, at my first stop in the black dirt, I found a nice collection of shorebirds in a field which had substantial puddling. I had a total of 6 species, and it made me very happy:

Killdeer
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Pectoral Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper

Later in the morning, I stopped by 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, hoping for more shorebirds. I didn’t have any luck with shorebirds, but I was able to locate a Glossy Ibis. It was a bonus that the bird was close enough for excellent scope views and some decent photos. I spent some time with the bird, put the word out, and then continued my search for shorebirds. Later, I saw the Glossy Ibis flying across the marsh to the far shore.

~GLIB at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 08/04/24.~

~The Glossy Ibis was being hassled by a Great Egret, and so it kept taking short flights to keep its distance. GLIB at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 08/04/24.~

~I’ve been trying to not take Indigo Bunting photos this summer – I’ve taken so many over the years and they are just everywhere. But, I couldn’t resist this dude in his colorful perch. Black dirt, 08/03/24.~

~I photographed this same bird a couple weeks back, on a nearby similar perch. Red-tailed Hawks are generally not very confiding, but on both occasions this bird did not seem to mind my presence. Here the bird took a glance my way, but immediately afterwards, it went right back to scanning for prey. Missionland Road, 08/04/24.~

~This bird never said a word, but I believe it’s a Willow Flycatcher, Black Dirt Region, 08/03/24.~

~Some quick Googling tells me that these are likely a type of Meadowhawk Dragonfly. If anyone knows more about them, please feel free to weigh in. Black Dirt Region, 08/03/24.

Sunday Shots, 07/28/24

I wish I was reporting on a fabulous bird today, but alas, it wasn’t in the cards this weekend. I birded both mornings, staying local, and trying mostly for shorebirds. Killdeer, Least Sandpipers, Solitary Sandpipers, and Spotted Sandpipers were all I could come up with. I heard (but did not see) the Blue Grosbeak in the black dirt on Saturday morning. Anyways, here are several shots from the weekend, a couple from the black dirt, couple from the backyard, and I’m even throwing a selfie in.

~Northern Cardinal in our yard, o7/26/24.~

~A young Horned Lark in the black dirt, 07/28/24.~

~Killdeer enjoying a snack. Black Dirt Region, 07/28/24.~

~House Finch cuteness in our backyard, 07/27/24.~

~Beautiful morning in the black dirt, 07/28/24.~

Sunday Shots, 01/28/24

I enjoyed a pretty full weekend of birding. Saturday was definitely the more productive of the two days:

First thing, I went to Greenwood Lake and saw the Redheads which have been reported there recently. Redhead used to be a very good bird for Orange County – there was no guarantee that you would get one. In recent years, however, for some reason it’s been a little bit easier to observe in the county.
Later in the morning, I went to Winding Waters trail, where the Northern Shrike continues. The bird was distant, so I did not get any photos, but the bird was calling in the distance, which was really cool.
Also at Winding Waters – I observed my first Rough-legged Hawk of the season. This is far and away the latest I’ve ever gotten my first of season for this species.
I enjoyed my first multiple-owl day in a LONG time. I was in the black dirt in the morning when some American Crows kicked up and then mobbed a Short-eared Owl, my first of 2024. Then, around 10:30 on Saturday night, our cat Fern let me know there was a Great Horned Owl calling in the yard – she was growling, and growling, and growling, until I finally turned down the volume of my movie and heard a GHOW calling right outside. I went on the back porch and saw the bird fly out of the evergreens, across the street, where it perched for a short time in a deciduous tree.

Sunday was less productive and less fun. The weather was terrible; just cold and rainy for the whole day long. Often bad weather = good birds, but that was not the case for me on this day. I had very few birds in the black dirt (I was trying to relocate the Greater White-fronted Goose that Kyle Knapp found earlier in the week). Then I went to the Newburgh Waterfront and had only the expected (3) species of gull. I tried for the Glacucous-winged Gull both afternoons, with no luck., which wasn’t all that surprising since the bird had been relocated on Friday in Ulster County.

~It’s always good to see a Shorty. Short-eared Owl in the black dirt 01/27/24.~

~One of many Red-tailed Hawks observed in the black dirt over the weekend.~

~Herring Gull up close and personal. Newburgh Waterfront, 01/27/24.~

~Cooper’s hawk in the black dirt, 01/27/24.~

More Catch-up, 01/25/24

With all the GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL excitement from last Sunday, I did not have time to do my usual end-0f-weekend post.

On Saturday morning, Karen Miller and I left Goshen before Sunrise and headed to Rye, New York. We birded the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the Rye Town Park. It was bitterly cold out, with a strong cold wind which made it even worse, but still we had an enjoyable morning. I felt good about our total of 37 species for the morning. Highlights included a giant flock of Long-tailed Ducks way out in the LI Sound – perhaps 65 birds or even more. Other highlights included a single Horned Lark and a couple of Purple Sandpipers.

~White-throated Sparrow at Read Wildlife Sanctuary, 01/20/24.~

On Sunday morning, I knew it was too early to try for gulls, so I made the rounds in the black dirt. I found only the usuals, but I had some really good photo ops, and the light was really nice. It was another cold morning of birding, even though I was in the car for the most part.

~One of 2 young Bald Eagles sharing a tree in the black dirt, 01/21/24.!

~Horned Lark in the black dirt, 01/21/24.~

~Gray Ghost on the prowl in the black dirt at sunrise, 01/21/24.~

~The second young Bald Eagle, sharing a tree in the BDR on 01/21/24.~

~Look at the toes and claws on this Horned Lark! Wow. Black dirt 01/21/24.~

~A Peregrine Falcon enjoys breakfast just after sunrise in the black dirt, 01/21/24.~

Winter Waterfowl Count, 01/13/24

Today Linda Scrima and I participated in the Mearns Bird Club’s Orange County Winter Waterfowl Count. For the sixth straight year, the two of us covered the Black Dirt Region for the survey. This year was particularly interesting. Typically in mid January there isn’t much open water, but with this year’s recent warm temperatures, all bodies of water were open. Additionally, with all the rain we’ve had recently, the black dirt had much flooding, creating waterfowl habitat where typically there wouldn’t be (I had a pair of Northern Pintails and a Green-winged Teal in the middle of a flooded corn field!). And finally, a bit of luck is always helpful. Linda had a large group of Snow Geese fly over (2,500+ birds!), and then we both found a decent sized flock (approximately 700 birds), which had put down at the Camel Farm. The one disappointment was, that in spite of the large number of Canada and Snow Geese located, we were unable to locate any rare geese. Not even a Cackling Goose. Thanks to Linda for coordinating and for the good company. It was probably the most enjoyable Winter Waterfowl Survey I’ve done yet.

Snow Goose: 3,200
Canada Goose: 2,566
Mute Swan: 1
Mallard: 124
American Black Duck: 9
Green-winged Teal: 5
Northern Pintail: 4
American Wigeon: 3
Bufflehead: 2
Common Merganser: 4

~Three of approximately 700 Snow Geese at the Camel Farm, 01/13/24.~

~Snow Geese in flight over Route 1 in the Black Dirt Region, 01/13/24.~

Christmas Snow…

…Buntings! I began the long Christmas weekend on Friday evening with a sizable but skittish flock of Snow Buntings in beautiful light. I continued on Saturday morning where the flock was more cooperative, but of course, the light was terrible for photos. Seeing how there is no snow in the forecast, this looks like the only “snow” we’ll have for the holiday. I hope everyone who is celebrating is enjoying a wonderful Christmas with loved ones.

~Snow Buntings in flight, Black Dirt Region, 12/22/23.~

~Snow Bunting foraging in the black dirt, 12/23/23.~

~I really like this photo because it contains 3 species… can you pick out the Lapland Longspur and the Horned Lark?

~It’s funny to me, because sometimes in close-ups, Snow Buntings have a little bit of an old man look to me, with the wrinkles around the eyes. Black Dirt Region 12/23/23.~

Rainy Day, 10/14/23

I’ve had rotten luck this year with hawkwatch – I got rained out again today. Between vacation and poor weather, it’s mid October and I’ve only counted at Mt. Peter Hawk for grand total of 10.5 hours. I did enjoy some good birding today in lieu counting raptors. After checking in at Mt. Pete to assure it was in fact raining up there, I went to the black dirt, where some good shorebirds continue, including (40+) Killdeer, (6) American Golden-Plover, (1) Black-bellied Plover, (1) Pectoral Sandpiper, and (1) Wilson’s Snipe. I was also pleased to find a nice sized flock of American Pipits; always a favorite of mine.

~Patience paid off this morning. The American Pipit flock was WAY out in a field, but I waited and eventually a few came closer. AMPI in the black dirt 10/14/23.~

Afterwards, I checked in with Bruce Nott, hoping that the recently reported Laughing Gull was seen at the Newburgh Waterfront today. Unfortunately it hadn’t been seen, but he let me know that there was a young Lesser Black-backed Gull present. I ran for the gull, and it did not disappoint – what a beauty! I really enjoyed seeing and photographing this sharp looking bird.

~What a bird. Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Newburgh Waterfront 10/14/23.~

~Love this bird. LBBG at the Newburgh Waterfront, 10/14/23~

~Good birding in the black dirt this morning. One Black-bellied Plover, 2 American Golden-Plovers, and a couple of American Pipits.

Sensational Shorebirding, 09/18/23

Everyone knows at this point that bad weather typically equals excellent birding. This evening after work I followed up on several reports of shorebirds in the black dirt. When I left the house, it was raining cats and dogs. But, by the time I arrived in the black dirt, it had slowed down and there were some clear skies in the distance. At first I was viewing the birds from inside my car, using my window mount for the scope. As it slowed up, Linda Scrima joined me; eventually it cleared up and we were treated to a beautiful double rainbow.

~Rainbow in the Black Dirt Region, 09/18/23. It was really cool because the shorebirds were located in the field directly under the end of the rainbow.~

We had an excellent assortment of shorebirds: Killdeer (35), Semipalmated Plover (1), Black-bellied Plover (4), American Golden-Plover (30), Semipalmated Sandpiper (1), Pectoral Sandpiper (45), and a flyover of (6) Short-billed Dowitchers. Pipits were flying over calling. All with a beautiful rainbow, allowing for some really interesting photo ops. What a night.

~Plovers flying through the rainbow. Black Dirt Region 09/18/23.~

~PLovers doing their thing in the BDR, 09/18/23.~

~A more conventional shot of the flock of Black-bellied and American Golden-Plovers in the black dirt this evening, 09/18/23.~

~One more rainbow/plover shote. Black Dirt Region, 09/18/23.!

Sunday Shots, 08/27/23

First thing this morning, I went to Bullville Pond to see if anything was going on. I had shorebirds (of course) and Little Blue Heron on my mind. Unfortunately it was a bust, so I headed back out to the black dirt, where I eventually joined up with several other birders and finally got the Baird’s Sandpiper. After missing that species last year, I wanted to see one – it had been nearly 2 years! Also present were 50+ Least Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, 5 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, many Killdeer, and a flyover of a Semipalmated Plover. Photos were tough today, so I’m mostly posting more photos from yesterday’s shorebirds and a couple of cowbirds from this morning.

Semipalmated Plover in the black dirt, 08/26/23.~

~Least Sandpiper in the black dirt region, 08/26/23.~

I love all the varieties of plumage you can see on Brown-headed Cowbirds at this time of the year. Black dirt, 08/27/23.~

~Another good looking cowbird in the black dirt today, 08/27/23.~

Semiplover in the black dirt, 08/26/23.~

Getting Lucky with Uppies, 08/18/23

It’s been the summer of the Upland Sandpiper for me. Tonight I was birding in the black dirt and an Uppy ran right across the road in front of my car! I’d inadvertently flushed the bird from the long grasses on the roadside. It flew into the field to my right and then made its way across the field and then flew to the neighboring field. I put the word out and Karen Miller and I enjoyed my best Upland Sandpiper looks of the year. The bird eventually disappeared into a tall grassy area, so we decided to move on. I got back to my car and a second Upland Sandpiper flew across the road! It was an excellent evening of birding. All photos taken in the Black Dirt Region, 08/18/23.