~An adult Common Gallinule at Haven Road in the Bashakill WMA, 7/4/15.~
I have to say that it felt great to get out after several days of not feeling well and being stuck inside recuperating. Kyle Dudgeon joined me this afternoon and we headed out to the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area to try for the Common Gallinules that John Haas had posted about in his blog earlier in the week. We went directly to Haven Road, which is still flooded. We walked slowly through the water and over the bridge before we saw our first family of Common Gallinules, which consisted of one adult and 3 chicks. Fortunately, they were not too far out for photos, although the vegetation did make focusing on the birds a little bit difficult. It was super to get such a good look and photos of these birds, which are typically much tougher than this to locate. And, it was Kyle’s lifer COGA, so that was exciting too. There was an additional 6 Common Gallinules in open water out in the distance, and I could hear other COGAs in at least two other locations. Huge thanks to John for posting – what a great birding opportunity.
~A Common Gallinule chick on a precarious perch at the Bashakill WMA, 7/4/15.~~COGA chick at the Bashakill WMA, 7/4/15.~~One more of the adult Common Gallinule, Haven Road at the Bashakill, 7/4/15.~
~A nice look at a Common Loon after reemerging from the water. Follensby Clear Pond, Santa Clara NY 6/13/15.~
One of my main goals for my weekend trip to the Adirondacks was to photograph the Common Loons. A couple years ago, Tricia and I kayaked one of the “Fish Creek Loops” in Santa Clara, New York, which included kayaking five ponds with four carries between ponds. We had great luck with Common Loons on that day, particularly in one pond in particular, Follensby Clear Pond. This year I went on my own while Tricia was having a “Ladies Weekend” here at the house. I planned my paddling around the good light; Saturday morning was forecasted to be a little cloudy, so I planned to try in the late evening when skies were forecasted to be clear.
As I put in and head out, I was immediately a little bit worried. The water was very choppy, with waves lapping over the front of my kayak as I made my way out. I had seen a single Common Loon from the shore and I headed in its direction. I worked my way around a small island to get the sun at my back, but when I got to where I thought the loon should be, the loon was not to be found. I eventually located the bird, but it kept its distance. I tried for some distant photos, but it was so wavy that I could barely keep the focus point of my camera on the bird. This was discouraging, but the pond is very large, so I figured I would just paddle the perimeter and see what I could find.
In the northwest section of the pond, I saw two more Common Loons. I paddled far and wide around the birds to get the sun at my back. The water was much calmer here, and I stopped paddling and just floated, my kayak drifting slowly towards the birds, which were eventually joined by two more loons. At first the foursome seemed wary of my presence and kept their distance. But as I sat basically motionless, they appeared to get used to my presence and maybe even become curious. Before I knew it, the birds were surfacing from dives less than 15 feet from my kayak! This was just like that first paddle a couple years earlier (when a loon surfaced right next to my kayak within moments of being in the water!). It is difficult to describe what an incredible and almost magical experience it is to see these birds up close like that; diving and interacting with one another. I enjoyed this for a good while, gently back-paddling every once in a while to keep the sun at my back. I love loons; it’s hard to convey what a blast this was!
Next post…birding in the Adirondacks – Bloomingdale Bog, Bigelow Road, and Whiteface Mountain.
~A Common Loons stretches its wings at Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~A COLO takes a break from looking underwater for prey. Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~A pair of Common Loons cruise by my kayak, Follensby Clear Pond 6/13/15.~~I thought this was a little bit of a different look at a COLO. Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~COLOs at Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~Stretching COLO, Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~COLO close-up. Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~COLO at Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~The fabulous four Common Loons huddle up. Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~COLO at Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~~COLOs at Follensby Clear Pond, 6/13/15.~
~The bird on the left spent most of the time I was there tucked in, as seen in this photo. This is a heavy crop of a distant shot of two Red-necked Grebes at Glenmere Lake, 4/23/15.~
QUICK POST: After work this afternoon, I checked out several waterfowl spots in southern Orange County without much going on until I got to Glenmere Lake, where from the fishing dock I saw two distant birds on the water. They were all tucked in and quite far – I was thinking RED-NECKED GREBES, but I was not sure. I followed the trail that runs along the water’s edge, heading southwest for about a half mile to get a better look. At first I had trouble relocating the birds, but once I did, I was sure they were RNGRs. I spent some time on the shore getting good looks in my binoculars and great views through the scope. The birds slowly worked their way towards me a little bit and I was able to get some usable photos, the light even improved a little to help me out.
~Two Wood Ducks that were working their way along the shore finally realized I was there and fled across the lake, past the two grebes. It was the only time the second Red-necked Grebe looked up. Glenmere Lake, 4/23/15.~
~I have this as a Greater Scaup based on the shape of its head – to me it has a pretty evenly domed rear crown. Glenmere Lake, 4/15/15.~
QUICK POST: There has been some interesting waterfowl movement in Orange County in recent weeks, which I have not posted about here on the blog. I have reported a couple of times recently to the Mearns Bird Club, but between not having much time and honestly not getting any good photos (most birds have been quite distant), I haven’t posted here. Here’s list of highlights from some of my recent sightings:
4/9/15, Greenwood Lake: 11 Common Loon
4/9/15, Glenmere Lake: 11 Bufflehead, 3 Common Merganser, 1 Ruddy Duck, 6 Common Loon, 1 Red-necked Grebe
4/14/15, Glenmere Lake: 10 Bufflehead, 8 Scaup (Lesser??? I’m not sure, these birds were very distant), 3 Common Loon, 9 Horned Grebe
*One final exciting thing for me – my Canon 70D is repaired and has been shipped back to me. I’m not sure when it will arrive, but hopefully for the weekend!
~I have seen many Common Loons this spring, but I’m yet to have one close enough for a decent photo. This one was at Glenmere Lake on 4/14/15.~I came across this Red-tailed Hawk in my travels yesterday, 4/14/15, on Mt. Eve Road.
~A sweet looking Ruddy Duck at Piermont Pier, 4/11/15.~
The highlight of the weekend was, of course, the Crested Caracara in Montgomery, which I saw Saturday afternoon (I’ve received reports that this bird continued at the same location on Sunday 4/12). While looking for the caracara on Saturday, I came across many raptors and I was lucky enough to get a decent photo of a couple American Kestrels. Later that evening, Tricia and I went to Piermont, NY to go out for her birthday dinner. We did not have tons of time, but we made a quick stop at Piermont Pier where we got very appropriately lucky with the very blue-billed Ruddy Duck at the top of this post (appropriate since Ruddies are Tricia’s favorite, the blue bill was the icing on the cake!).
~American Kestrel on River Road in Montgomery, NY 4/11/15.~
On Sunday morning, I joined Karen Miller and Sharon Dewey Scavatto (who drove in that morning from Massachusetts) and we birded the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area. It started out on the chilly side with enough of a cold breeze to make my hands uncomfortable as we birded Haven Road first thing. Highlights at Haven Road included: 1 Common Goldeneye, 2 Northern Shoveler (first ones at the Bash this year), and 4 Blue-winged Teal (my first of the year). From there, we headed over to the Nature Trail, hoping for the Red-necked Grebe and the Common Loon that had been seen there. We struck out with the RNGR, but we did get brief but good looks at the Common Loon. We also heard a Barred Owl from across the Bash, and I got my first Golden Crowned Kinglets of the year. Our next stop was the Deli Fields where I got my FOY Field Sparrows. Our final stop was at the Main Boat Launch to go for the Horned Grebes that have been there. We got very good scope views in perfect light of 4 HOGRs. We walked part of the Birch Trail and I got my FOY Swamp Sparrows. By my record we had 44 birds for the day, I’ll put the list at the bottom of this post.
~Yet another one of my favorites, it was great to see my first Blue-winged Teals of the year, Haven Road at the Bashakill WMA, 4/12/15.~
Bashakill State WMA
~I’m not sure why American Kestrels love to perch on wires so often. This one was located on East Searsville Road in Montgomery, 4/11/15.~
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
~ After being released into the wild, a recently rehabilitated male Canvasback enjoys a vigorous wing flap, Montezuma NWR, 4/4/15.~
On Saturday, the day before Easter, my brother-in-law Bill and I made it out to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge by the early afternoon. We started at the visitor’s center and drove Wildlife Drive and then hit many of the usual spots at the refuge, including May’s Point Pool, Tschache Pool, and East Road. We did well in spite of many of the pools still being frozen over and up until that point we had 35 species for the day:
~One of nearly 20 American Coots seen from Wildlife Drive at Montezuma NWR, 4/4/15.~
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
American Kestrel
Blue Jay
American Crow
American Robin
European Starling
American Pipit
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
~Bill located this very confiding Pied-billed Grebe on our way out of Wildlife Drive, Montezuma NWR, 4/4/15.~~Tunda Swan splashdown, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 4/4/15.~
The highlight of the day, however, came at our last stop of the day. We made our way over to the ‘Potato Fields’ to get a better look at the Snow Geese that we had seen from East Road. We were scanning the fields, I was hoping to turn some Tundra Swans into a Trumpeter, which was one of the birds I was really hoping to see. A car pulled in behind us and a couple got out. They asked us if we had seen any Trumpeter Swans and I said no but I was really hoping for one. The woman responded by saying she had a Trumpeter with her. I had no idea what that could possibly mean. The woman’s name was Cynthia Page, and she explained that she was a wildlife rehabilitator from the Page Wildlife Center in Manlius NY. She had not only a Trumpeter Swan, but also two Canvasbacks and a Redhead which had all been rehabilitated and she was releasing them. What a great opportunity! We got great looks at these fabulous birds as she released each of them into the water. The Redhead wasn’t on the ground for more than a few moments before she took flight. The two Canvasbacks lingered enough for some photos and then took off. The Trumpeter Swan, which was released last, took her time getting reoriented and I took many photos and really enjoyed seeing this big beautiful bird. Cynthia expained that the swan had been hit by a car and had lost one eye. The experience was fascinating and I thought, very lucky.
~Another rehabilitated bird enjoys a wing flap, Trumpeter Swan at Montezuma NWR, 4/415.~~Trumpeter Swan at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 4/4/15.~
~Tell me this guy doesn’t seem happy to be back in the wild? Canvasback released into the wild, Montezuma NWR, 4/4/15.~~Here’s a look at the Trumpeter Swan’s missing eye. She kept her good eye on us almost the entire time.~
~A Tundra Swan comes in for a landing at the Potato Fields at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 4/4/15. Note the Snow Geese in the background.~
As we traditionally do, Tricia and I made it up to Syracuse for the weekend to celebrate Easter with her family. Which means a visit to one of my favorite birding spots – Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Unfortunately, we got home very late on Sunday night and then I worked late tonight, so I was not able to put a post together yet. Montezuma is a super birding spot which has never disappointed me, and this year there was an additional surprise… full post tomorrow!
~A Male Northern Harrier, the Gray Ghost, in flight at Missionland Road, 3/21/15.~
I spent a long day on Saturday birding in the Black Dirt Region. I started the day by getting my first Killdeer photo of the year when I came upon 5 Killdeer on the side of the road on Onion Avenue…
~One of five Killdeer in the freshly fallen snow on the side of Onion Avenue in New Hampton, NY 3/21/15.~
…And the day ended with nearly 1500 Snow Geese at Skinner Lane.
~I can’t get enough of these birds. Snow Geese in flight over Skinner Lane, 3/21/15.~~More SNGOs at Skinner Lane, 3/21/15.~
But I did a lot of birding in between, hitting most of the regular spots and some of them twice. Missionland Road was a good stop; I ran into Kyle Dudgeon and another birder named Jason that I had met once before. We had good photo opportunities with a pair of Gray Ghosts, and I found what I believe was Cackling Goose in a flock of maybe 2,000 Canada Geese. The bird was distant and never seemed to have its head up, making it tough for photos. Here is my best effort:
~A likely Cackling Goose (at center with head pointed down and to the left) among many Canada Geese at Missionland Road, 3/21/15.~~I’m not sure what’s going on here with the grasses in this bird’s grasp. Prey within? Male Northern Harrier in flight at Missionland Road, 3/21/15.~~Not a great photo, but I included it because the bird not only has prey but is tagged. Northern Harrier on Missionland Road, 3/21/15.~
I made a stop at Scenic Farms Golf Course, sifted through a couple thousand Canada Geese (and came up empty-handed), and then saw a distant Coyote hunting in the field across the street from the golf course.
~Coyote across the street from Scenic Farm Golf Course in Pine Island, NY 3/21/15.~
Another productive stop was the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, where I walked the Liberty Loop Trail with Kyle. It took us ages to make our way around the loop, mostly because the birding was so good. Waterfowl is what I was hoping for, and we did well. Most of these birds were seen in the Sussex County portion of the loop:
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan Tundra Swan (2)
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
American Coot
~I was pretty psyched to see a pair of Tundra Swans fly in and land in the refuge. Walkill River NWR, 3/21/15.~
We also did well with raptors, with the highlight (for me) being a very active Peregrine Falcon that spent the entire time we were there terrorizing the waterfowl. I’m not sure, but I think the highlight for Kyle was the three (possibly 4) Bald Eagles that we had. In all, we had seven species of raptors: Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red Tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon.
~An adult Bald Eagle flies over the eastern leg of the Liberty Loop, 3/21/15.~~I wish I had gotten a better shot of this bird, what a gorgeous creature. Northern Harrier at Wallkill River NWR, 3/21/15.~~An explosion of ducks – Green-winged Teals and Ring-necked ducks mostly, with a few American Wigeon thrown in for good measure. Wallkill River NWR, 3/21/15.~~Bald Eagle at Wallkill River NWR, 3/21/15.~~There were plenty of Northern Pintails at the refuge, Liberty Loop 3/21/15.~~It’s a lousy photo, but I had to include it because I was so excited to see this Peregrine Falcon doing its thing at the Wallkill River NWR, 3/21/15.~
~Snow Geese in flight over Onion Avenue in New Hampton NY, 3/17/15.~
Last night I was at the Liberty Loop viewing platform just before sunset. There was much bird movement, particularly waterfowl. Many Canada Geese were flying over, from south to north. Mallards were circling around the reserve and Northern Pintails were doing the same. The highlight, however was a single skein of maybe 150 Snow Geese that flew over very high and pretty well east of the viewing platform. So today after work, I was on a goose chase. I found fewer Canada Geese than I would have expected, but numbers were certainly up with Canadas being seen at Scenic Farms Golf Course, the Camel Farm, Turtle Bay Road, Pierce Circle and Onion Avenue.
Also in the fields between Pierce Circle and Onion Avenue, there was approximately 150 Snow Geese! I was very excited and took some distant photos from Pierce Circle. I moved to Onion Avenue for a closer and better look. And more Snow Geese started to arrive from the south. They were putting on quite a show, picking up, circling and then landing over and over. I had put the word out and Linda Scrima and Maria Loukeris both joined me as the number of SNGOs continued to grow. By the time we left at 7:15, I approximate there were 1500 Snow Geese present. They seemed to be settling down a bit too, so hopefully they will stick around for a little while.
~Lift off! Snow Geese in New Hampton NY, 3/17/15.~~I like this shot because of the calling second Snow Goose. Onion Avenue, 3/17/15.~
Also of note, I stopped by Glenmere Lake earlier in the afternoon and had 2 Common Goldeneye (as well as 12 Ring-neck Ducks and 8 Common Mergansers). Here’s a distant shot of the two COGOs:
~I thought these two would be the highlight of the day until I found the Snow Geese. Common Goldeneye at Glenmere Lake, 3/17/15.~
~Male Hooded Merganser at Schervier Pavilion in Warwick NY, 3/11/15.~
It’s been a good week of birding so far, the warm weather has been so nice to be out in, and it has thawed some of the open water in the county. As a result, I’ve done pretty well with waterfowl in Orange County over the past couple of days-
Glenmere Lake 3/11/15: Ring-necked Duck (3), Common Merganser (2), and Mute Swan (2).
Warwick Town Hall 3/11/15: Canada Goose (35), Mallard (8), Gadwall (5), Ring-necked Duck (25), Hooded Merganser (2), Common Merganser (2), and American Coot (1, FOY).
~This Red-breasted Merganser in the Hudson River, seen from the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry parking lot, 3/12/15.~~This is my first photo that shows the maroon ‘ring neck’ on a male Ring-necked Duck. It was quite a coincidence as I was just talking about this with Maria Loukeris earlier that afternoon. RNDU at Warwick Town Hall, 3/11/15.~~Ring-necked Ducks in flight, Warwick NY 3/11/15.~~My first American Coot of the year, at Warwick Town Hall, 3/11/15.~
