Swimming Waterbirds – Page 11

Weekend Wrap-up, 3/8/15

~Immature Bald Eagle at Croton Point Park, 3/8/15.~

To be honest, I was feeling pretty uninspired about my birding for this weekend. I think I might just be tired of winter birding and ready for spring migration to get into full swing. It will be nice to get out of the car and back onto the trails, which is certainly my preferred type of birding.

That being said, I did get out quite a bit. On Saturday morning I went up to Ulster County to try for the Gyrfalcon but came up empty. The highlight of the morning was running into and catching up with fellow birder/photog/nice guy Eddie Rodriguez, who I had not seen in ages. In the afternoon, Tricia and I stopped by Piermont Pier on our way to my Aunt Judy’s 75th birthday party in the Bronx. I picked up two year birds – Greater Scaup and White-winged Scoter, but the highlight of the stop was getting photos of a male Ruddy Duck with some blue on his bill. I’m not really sure how it works, but I imagine that this bird is just starting to show his breeding colors.

~This male Ruddy Duck made Tricia’s day – she always wanted to see a Ruddy with a blue bill. Piermont Pier, 3/7/15.~

On Sunday I went over to the Hudson to look for Bald Eagles. I typically don’t go out of my way for Bald Eagles, but I like to go at least one day in the winter when they congregate at the river. On my way there, I was worried if I had waited too long, it has finally warmed up a bit and I wasn’t sure how successful I would be. I had a total of 51 Bald Eagles as seen from the following four locations: the scenic overlook off route 9 near Bear Bridge, the Peekskill Metro North Station, Charles Point Pier Park, and Croton Point Park. At the scenic overlook I picked up two more year birds: Wood Duck and Common Raven, and at Croton Point I saw my first two Killdeer of the year.

One more shot of the immature Bald Eagle that flew over me at Croton Point Park. I like the nice blue background in this photo, but the bird is soft. — ~One more shot of the immature Bald Eagle that flew over me at Croton Point Park. I like the nice blue background in this photo, but the bird is a little soft.~

~Twenty-three Great Cormorants seen from Charles Point Pier Park, 3/8/15.

On Sunday afternoon I did a brief tour of the black dirt and did not have any unexpected birds. I was happy with a couple of photos, however:

~I didn't want to post a Horned Lark photo unless I got something a little different. I sort of like this shot, HOLA at Onion Avenue, 3/8/15.~ — ~I didn’t want to post a Horned Lark photo unless I got something a little different. I sort of like this shot, HOLA at Onion Avenue, 3/8/15.~

~Eastern Bluebird on a rock on Onion Avenue in New Hampton, 3/8/15.~

Good Birding in Westchester and Rockland Counties, 2/28/15

*Click on photos to enlarge*

~Another one of my favorites! Long-tailed Duck at Piermont Pier Rockland County NY, 2/28/15.~

One of the best things that happened while we were there, however, was running into a couple of birders that had recently been to Piermont Pier. Neither Karen nor I had ever been there, so we were intrigued. They showed us good photos on their cameras of Long-tailed Ducks and mentioned seeing Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, and Ruddy Ducks.

After stopping for a sandwich for lunch, we headed out to find Piermont Pier, which is a great location. The pier, which stretches about a mile into the Hudson River, was built in the 19th century to accommodate river traffic and used during World War II as an embarkation point for troops heading to Europe. It’s a nice walk to get to the end of the pier, where we got great looks at a single Long-tailed Duck as well as many Canvasback and Common Goldeneye. We did not locate any Ruddy Ducks but we did see three Bald Eagles riding the ice floes on the far side of the Hudson River, and with the help of a local birder named Drew, we were able to see a female Peregrine Falcon in its nesting box on the Tappan Zee Bridge. We also added 5 species to our list for the day, bringing our total to 41.

What a super day of birding! I would recommend either of these locations to anyone who is suffering from cabin fever and would like to see some good birds.

~Piermont Pier provided very good looks at Canvasback, 2/28/15.~

~I thought these female Canvasbacks were just beautiful, I love the color of their head! Piermont Pier, 2/28/15.~

~I haven't posted a sparrow photo in ages. This White-throated Sparrow was at the feeders next to the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary visitor center, 2/28/15.~ — ~I haven’t posted a sparrow photo in ages. This White-throated Sparrow was at the feeders next to the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary visitor center, 2/28/15.~

I didn't realize at the time that there was a thin layer of something oily where this drake American was hanging out. Edith G Read Wildlife Sanctuary, 2/28/15.~ — To me this photo looks altered – I didn’t realize at the time that there was a thin layer of something oily where this drake American was hanging out. Edith G Read Wildlife Sanctuary, 2/28/15.~

Bufflehead – Icy Takeoff

I shot this female Bufflehead taking off on the ice at Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye last Saturday, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked them. Though the light never seemed very good that day, I feel like I got a good exposure on these, showing the details of the birds head pretty well. The bird made an icy landing, quite close to the pier, which I watched but didn’t photograph. I took some photos of the bird perched (one of which I posted on Saturday) and then got the following shots of the bird as she took off from the frozen Long Island Sound.

~This is the shot that I really like, the head is sharp enough while there is some good blurring beginning on the wings. Bufflehead at Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, 2/21/15.~

~She is starting to get air born here as she runs across the ice to pick up speed for the take off. Female Bufflehead at Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, 2/21/15.~ — ~She is starting to get air born here and I love the position of her wings as she runs across the ice to pick up speed for the take off. Female Bufflehead at Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, 2/21/15.~

~Here she looks cute and almost a little dainty as she continues her run to takeoff. Female Bufflehead at Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye, NY 2/21/15. ~

I Got Birds! Rye, NY 2/21/15

~A Gadwall stands on the frozen Long Island Sound at the Edith G Read Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye, NY 2/21/15.~

This extended cold snap has made for some difficult birding. The obvious reason is that the cold has made it uncomfortable to be outside for extended periods of time, but this I can handle. What I can’t handle is staying out in this cold for extended periods of time and not getting birds. Birds have been pretty scarce at the spots I’ve visited in Orange County this week, so with that in mind, I headed to the coast this morning to see if I could do any better there. The answer is a resounding YES! I got an early start this morning and birded the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary and the Rye Town Park and Beach. I finished the morning having seen 44 species, which for me is pretty good at this time of the year. Highlights for me included a half dozen PURPLE SANDPIPERS and 14 different species of waterfowl including distant but good looks at one my favorites, Long-tailed Ducks, of which I saw close to a couple dozen. I also did better with raptors than I have in Rye in the past: I had a Red-tailed Hawk just as I was getting off the highway, and then an adult Bald Eagle, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks at the sanctuary, and finally, I had a Turkey Vulture as I was getting back onto the highway heading home.

~Female Bufflehead at the Edith G Read Wildlife Sanctuary, 2/21/15.~

It takes just over an hour to get to Rye from Goshen, which is really not too bad at all, and it’s definitely worth the trip.

Here’s my list for the morning:

~A Lesser Scaup gets all tucked in. Edith G Read WS, 2/21/15.~

Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Lesser Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merg.
Great Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hk.
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Purple Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great B-b Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Wood.
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Black-cap. Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breast. Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sp.
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sp.
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

~Gadwall at the Edith G Read Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye, NY 2/21/15.~

Brant are expected at this location, but for some reason I have always missed them. Edith G Read WS, 2/21/15. — Brant are expected at this location, but for some reason I have always missed them until today. Edith G Read WS, 2/21/15.

~One of a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that flew over while I walked the trails of the Edith G Read Wildlife Sanctuary, 2/21/15.~

~A pair of Lesser Scaup coming in for a landing. Edith G Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Rye NY 2/21/15.~

Rye, New York, 1/3/15

- Male Hooded Merganser at Edith G Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye NY, 1/3/15. — – Male Hooded Merganser at Edith G Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye NY, 1/3/15.

Karen Miller and I got an early start this morning and headed to the Edith G Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye, New York. It was a cold morning, but also a productive one, as we had 36 species for the day:

One of many Buffleheads seen today at Edith G. Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Rye NY 1/3/15.

Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Black Duck
Mallard
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Mourning Dove
Downy WP
Red-bellied WP
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrows
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Karen and I had an enjoyable morning, Rye is a super location that I would certainly recommend, especially at this time of year. One of the highlights of our day was running into John Haas and Lance Verderame, who joined us briefly before we headed our separate ways. John and Lance are both excellent birders and just nice guys to spend time with. I found out later in the day that it was John’s birthday, so Happy Birthday John!

-Lance Verderame and John Haas, prepared for both the cold weather and the birds at Edith G. Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye, New York 1/3/15.

A pair of female Red-breasted Mergansers at Edith G Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye, New York 1/3/15.

A Ring-billed Gull in flight, Rye NY, 1/3/15.

Point Lookout Town Park, 12/20/14

It was a crazy week at work which left me without much time for birding. On Saturday, however, things worked out pretty well for me. My sister was having a Christmas party at her place on Long Island, and also had to deliver a stained glass window to a residence in, of all places, Point Lookout NY. After making my delivery, Tricia and I stopped by Point Lookout Town Park for a brief visit before the party. Thanks to John Haas and Tom Reichert, both of which helped me out with the lay of the land. I did pretty well for a relatively quick stop, seeing 10 different species of swimming waterbirds:

Brant
Canada Goose
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant

It was a less than ideal day for photos, very gray and overcast, but many of the birds were quite accessible so that helped. I will be back on the island for Christmas, I am hoping to maybe sneak out to Point Lookout again if the weather is better. I highly recommend this spot – you can get great looks at some super birds.

Common Eiders at the end of the first jetty. Point Lookout Town Park, 12/20/14.

This was certainly one of my best looks at a Red-throated Loon. Point Lookout Town Park, 12/20/14.

A Sanderling works the shoreline. Point Lookout Town Park, 12/20/14.

Female Harlequin Duck, Point Lookout Town Park, 12/20/14.

One of two male Harlequin Ducks located near the third jetty at Point Lookout Town Park, 12/20/14.

Red-breasted Merganser fly-by, Point Lookout Town Park, 12/20/14.

Sullivan County Waterfowl, 11/02/14

Since we have not been getting many ducks in southern Orange County, Karen Miller and I decided to head up to Sullivan County and get our fix. It was a very cold and windy day, probably not the best day for going for waterfowl. We went to Swan Lake, the Neversink Reservoir, Morningside Park, and Kiamesha Lake. We did pretty well, but honestly the cold an the wind made it difficult to bird. At the Neversink Reservoir, it was so windy that we could barely see through our scopes – our eyes were constantly tearing and the scopes were shaking in the wind terribly. Bufflehead were the bird of the day with many being seen at all locations except for Morningside Park. In the end we got our fix with 10 types of swimming waterbirds seen and even had some cooperative Ruddy Ducks in sunny weather at our finals stop – Kiamesha Lake for some photo ops. Here’s my list:

Canada Goose
American Black Duck
Mallard
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant

It was really great to see the Bufflehead, it had been a while! Taking off at Swan Lake, 11/02/14.

We had many Common Merganser for the day. These were taken at Swan Lake, 11/02/14.

A shot of one more Ruddy Duck, Kiamesha Lake, 11/02/14.

Pied-billed Grebe, 10/28/14

I had one single Pied-billed Grebe at Glenmere Lake last night, 10/28/14.

Yesterday during the day I received my eBird “Needs Alert” for Ulster County, NY. In it, many grebes had been reported – Pied-billed, Horned, and Red-necked Grebes had been seen in good numbers. Mark DeDea reported 12 Red-necked Grebes and 32! Horned Grebes at Ashokan Reservoir on Monday. With these reports in mind, I headed over to Glenmere Lake after work to see if I would have any luck. It was just this past Friday that I observed 9 Pied-billed Grebes there; I was hoping for some Red-necked and Horned. When I arrived, I was surprised to find a motor boat cruising the lake and several buoys floating at various locations. I eventually talked to one of the guys involved, and he told me that they were installing an aeration system in the lake; the goal is to eventually improve the health of the lake. Meanwhile, in the short term, there were hardly any birds on the lake. I saw several Double-crested Cormorants, a Great Blue Heron, and one single Pied-billed Grebe. Fortunately the grebe was close to the shore and I was able to get some photos before the motorboat came by, at which time the grebe made itself scarce.

It was late in the day and the clouds were passing by, so I shot this grebe in different light conditions. When the bird was closest, I unfortunately had the worst light of the evening. Here’s some more looks at the bird:

PBGR with prey. I’m not sure what type of fish this is, but this grebe ate at least two of them while I was watching. Glenmere Lake, 10/28/14.

I know I say it about a lot of birds, but these Pied-billed Grebes are among my favorites. Glenmere Lake, 10/28/14.

One more closer look with poor lighting. PBGR at Glenmere Lake, 10/28/14.

Orange County White-winged Scoter

This evening after work, I stopped by Glenmere Lake and located what I believe was a single distant scoter. I was not sure which scoter it could be, but after watching the bird for a while, it did some preening and flapping of the wings which exposed the white secondaries – indicative of a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. In the above video (which I know is horrible), right at about the 5 or 6 second mark, you can catch a glimpse of white on the wing. Here’s a heavily cropped grainy photo of the bird; it was actually much darker out than the photo indicates.

White-winged Scoter at Glenmere Lake, 10/23/14.

Blue-winged Teals and Northern Shovelers at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary

One of four Northern Shovelers takes a lap around the Citgo Trail pond at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/6/14.

I had an appointment cancelled, so I got to do some unexpected birding after work this afternoon. I had forgotten my binoculars at home, so I stopped by to pick them up and headed to the closest spot – 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary. I was thinking about sparrows as I took the Citgo Trail, but the wind had picked up pretty good and sparrows were scarce. I had a few pleasant surprises when I got to the pond – a nice sized collection of shorebirds: 22 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, and 1 Solitary Sandpiper. The highlight, however, was seeing my first Northern Shovelers (4) and Blue-winged Teal (3) of the fall. A Northern Harrier cruised through at one point and picked up many of the waterfowl and shorebirds. I think it was about 3 years ago that I would get a harrier at this location regularly, but this is the first one I have seen there in a while. It was a gorgeous night and I had some decent birds, which made me happy. Here’s some more photos and my list for the night:

Eastern Bluebird, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/6/14.

A Lesser Yellowlegs takes flight when a Northern Harrier flew over. 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/6/14.

I had nearly 20 Tree Swallows tonight. 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/6/14.

Canada Goose 65
Mute Swan 4
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 16
Blue-winged Teal 3
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 25
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 8
Northern Harrier 1
Killdeer 9
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Lesser Yellowlegs 22
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 8
Tree Swallow 18
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 85
Common Yellowthroat 1
Palm Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 12
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 20
House Sparrow 25

**One Year Ago at Orangebirding.com: Long-billed Dowitchers at 6 1/2 Station Road and Black Scoters in Orange County. **