Orange County – Orange Birding

Sunday Shots, 07/26/26

Well, there is still not very much going on in the local birding scene. New post-breeding birds for me included a couple of Great Egrets (6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary and Middletown Reservoir Trails) and a single Solitary Sandpiper (also at 6 1/2). I did have a couple of interesting observations, however. I stopped by Knapp’s View on Saturday morning, just to see if anything was going on. As soon as I arrived, I heard and saw several Purple Martins. I feel like I might have known at some point that Purple Martin houses had been installed there, but I’d totally forgotten, so it was a pleasant surprise. I hadn’t had any PUMAs in the county yet this year, so I was able to add them to my 2026 Orange County list (#188).

~Great Egret hunting at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 07/25/26.~

~Purple Martin flying overhead at Knapp’s View, 07/25/26.~

Then on Sunday, while I was driving on the exit ramp from the highway into Goshen, I saw two Osprey perched in a tree; one of them was eating a fish. The timing made me wonder if maybe they weren’t a local breeding pair. When they flew, the one bird I stayed on eventually flew southwest, in the direction of Goshen Reservoir, which is pretty close as the Osprey flies. I’m going to nose around there one day this week and see if I can’t find a nest.

~One of two Osprey in Goshen NY, 07/26/26.~

~Purple Martin fledgling, Knapp’s View 07/25/26.~

~American Goldfinch with a mouthful, Middletown Reservoir Trails, 07/26/26.~

Barn Swallows, 07/18/26

It’s been a slow couple of weeks, but I’m optimistic that things will start happening pretty soon. The only birds of note that I had in the past couple of weeks was (8) or so Least Sandpipers at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary on Sunday 07/19/26. The highlight of the birding weekend for me, however, was spending some time with a pair of young Barn Swallows at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge’s Liberty Loop platform. Linda Scrima joined me as we observed and photographed this captivating pair of young swallows.

~Young Barn Swallows at Liberty Marsh, 07/18/26.~

~An adult comes in and feeds one of the young on the fly. Barn Swallows at Liberty Marsh, 07/18/26.~

~Tell me these two aren’t excited? Barn Swallows at Liberty Marsh, 07/18/26.~

~More young Barn Swallow excitement. Liberty Marsh, 07/18/26.~

~Barn Swallows at Liberty Marsh, 07/18/26.~

Sunday Shots, 06/28/26

On Saturday morning I hike the Sterling Lake Loop at Sterling Forest State Park. It’s an approximately four and a half mile easy hike which is typically pretty birdy. As expected, most birds were heard and not seen; highlights included a couple of Hooded Warblers, a single Acadian Flycatcher, and a couple of Worm-eating Warblers. My best sighting of the day, however, was not bird related. I found what I’m pretty sure was a Common Five-lined Skink; see photo below.

~I have this as a Common Five-lined Skink. Sterling Forest SP, 06/27/26.~

On Sunday I wasn’t able to find any inspiration, so I just took a cruise in the Black Dirt Region to see if anything was going on. There really wasn’t much going on, but I did get lucky and found a super cute Spotted Sandpiper chick. Probably the cutest thing about this sighting is that, even at this very young age, this little Spotted Sandpiper was bobbing its tail just like we see the adults do all the time.

~Spotted Sandpiper chick in the black dirt, 06/28/26.~

~An adult Spotted Sandpiper was nearby, keeping a close eye on the chick. Black Dirt Region, 06/28/26.~

~Barn Swallow fledglings at Silver Mine Lake on 06/24/26. Look at that hairdo!~

~Barn Swallow fledglings at Silver Mine Lake, 06/24/26.~

~Quick stop at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary on Saturday morning after my hike yielded a young Brown Thrasher, 06/27/26.~

Cliff Swallows, 06/24/26

After work on Wednesday evening, I went to Silver Mine Lake in Harriman State Park. I was following up on an eBird report of Cliff Swallows being observed there. It was quite an evening – I located the Cliff Swallows almost immediately, and I was able to observe and photograph behavior that I’d never seen before – they were nest building. I estimate there were (6) individuals, and they were all collecting mud from the bank of Bockey Swamp Brook and taking it to the underside of the footbridge right near the parking area. I was able to stand on the bridge and watch as they went to work; going to the bank of the brook an returning to the underside of the bridge repeatedly. It was a cool experience, and I am really pleased with the photos I got – they definitely exceeded my expectations. It was species #187 for me in Orange County for 2026.

All images are Cliff Swallows taken at Silver Mine Lake, 06/24/26. I used my Canon 7d Mark II with the EF 100-400mm IS II lens.

Sunday Shots, 06/21/26

Summer birding is in full swing, so there is not really all that much happening. On Saturday morning I spent some time in the Black Dirt Region, and then enjoyed a nice walk at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge’s Winding Waters Trail. I got my first look for the year at a Grasshopper Sparrow in the black dirt; otherwise it was just the usuals. At Winding Waters it was more of the usuals, but with loads of bugs – little tiny flying insects that were seemingly everywhere but somehow were not bothersome at all.

~American Goldfinch in the Black Dirt Region on Saturday morning, 06/20/26.~

On Sunday, I walked the Mongaup River Trail, which has always been a good summer birding location. Highlights included: a couple pairs of Louisiana Waterthrushes, a glimpse of a single Magnolia Warbler, and a frustrating experience with a calling Blackburnian Warbler – the bird called, and called, and called, but I was never able to locate it. Still, it was a pleasant walk on a cool morning along the river.

~Flying insects at Winding Waters Trail, 06/20/26.~

~My attempt at a close up – bugs at Winding Waters Trail, 06/20/26.~

~Singing Grasshopper Sparrow in the black dirt, 06/20/21.~

~Red-winged Blackbird in the BDR, 06/20/26.~

~Young Killdeer in the black dirt, 06/20/26.~

Sunday Shots, 06/14/26

I was busy last weekend and didn’t get out very much – just for a little while on Sunday morning. This weekend I got out both days, but with spring migration complete, there wasn’t all that much going on. This morning was definitely my favorite outing of the past couple of weeks – I took my yearly hike up to Jupiter’s Boulder in Black Rock Forest. It was waaaay back in June of 2018 that I finally observed Ruffed Grouse in Orange County. I’ve gone back every year since, hoping to get lucky again.

As expected, I dipped on the Ruffed Grouse, but it was still an excellent morning as I always find that hike enjoyable. I also added (3) species to my 2026 OC list – which is a little unexpected in mid-June. The first was a small flock of Wild Turkeys. I’ve had them in the county this year already, but never when I was doing an eBird report. The second was expected – Acadian Flycatcher. They are very reliable at that location. And the third was unexpected – Winter Wren – I’ve never had one at that location before. Photos were tough; I had very few opportunities, plus it was a bit overcast and very dark on most of the trail. I photographed a fledgling Louisiana Waterthrush, but due to the conditions, I shot it at ISO 4000 and the photos were terribly grainy. You can see my best effort to save it in post processing at the bottom of this post.

~It’s been a while since I posted a Canada Goose goslings photo. These little dudes were at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 06/07/26.~

~Song Sparrow with a mouthful. Black Dirt Region, 06/07/26.~

~Louisiana Waterthrush fledgling at Black Rock Forest, 06/14/26.~

OC Prothonotary Warbler and Monhegan Island Teaser

This morning after an early doctor’s appointment, I ran for the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER that’s been seen at Sterling Forest State Park. I believe the bird was originally found by Kathy Ashman; congrats to Kathy on an excellent find. I arrived at the spot and joined Silas Wareham and another birder who I didn’t know. The bird was actively calling not too far off the road; it eventually made its way to the roadside and the three of us were able to get some really good looks and some photos, and wow, what a gorgeous bird. I was excited to get the the bird in Orange County as it was a county life bird, number 282 for me.

~Prothonotary Warbler at Sterling Forest SP, 05/28/26.~

~Beautiful bird! PROW at Sterling Forest, 05/28/26.~

MONHEGAN ISLAND 2026 TEASER

~Red Crossbill on Monhegan Island, 05/24/26.~

Tricia and I just returned yesterday afternoon from a 5 day trip to Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. The island was loaded with songbirds as expected, but this year’s visit also included a rare raptor surprise. It will take be a few days to get through all the photos, so I am planning on publishing the post sometime this weekend – stay tuned!

An Accommodating American Bittern, 05/12/26

I joined birding bud Linda Scrima out at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary this evening after work. We were going there to try for the Snowy Egret that had been reported there a day earlier. We both were pretty sure it would not be around, as it had not been reported all day, but it provided a good excuse to get us out of our houses on a Tuesday evening. We were sorting through shorebirds, and I had just located a single Dunlin. I figured it would be the best bird of the day until moments later Linda got my attention and had me look down at the near shore. To my surprise, it was an AMERICAN BITTERN, out in the open, right below us. We watched and photographed as the bird caught two crawfish just yards away. If you know the typical behavior of bitterns, you will understand how amazing this was. The bird then took a short flight and landed among the vegetation – a much more familiar way of seeing an American Bittern. All photos were taken tonight at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 05/12/26.

Sunday Shots, 05/10/26

I had another fantastic weekend of birding. It’s actually hard to remember when I’ve had a more birdy weekend. I added 26 species to my Orange County 2026 year list; I’m including a screenshot from eBird with the new birds and their locations at the bottom of this post. Notable birds included White-winged Scoters – four of them at Wickham Lake this morning – a very nice find by Kyle Knapp. It’s the first time since 2022 that I had all three scoters in Orange County (Surf, Black, & White-winged). Also at Wickham Lake, I had my first Wilson’s Warbler in several years. It was a crafty little stinker, but I managed to get a couple shots to at least document it. Also at Wickham Lake, I had a Northern Waterthrush – that’s a bird that’s not a guarantee for me on any particular year.

Here are my shots from the week – I’m starting off with one of my favorite shots of the year so far – of a young Horned Lark in the Black Dirt Region. I was out on Monday 5/4/26, hoping for Lapland Longspurs, and although didn’t have any luck in that regard, this bird was an excellent consolation prize.

~I love this bird and this shot. Young Horned Lark in the Black Dirt Region, 05/04/26.~

~Chestnut-sided Warbler at Middletown Reservoir Trails, 05/10/26.~

~Veery at Middletown Reservoir Trails, 05/10/26.~

~White-winged Scoters at Wickham Lake, 05/10/26.~

~Wilson’s Warbler at Wickham Lake, 05/10/26.~

~This bird would not come out into the open. Wilson’s Warbler at Wickham Lake, 05/10/26.~

~Brown Thrasher at Wickham Lake, 05/10/26.~

~It was a Brown Thrasher kind of weekend, this bird was at Laurel Grove Cemetery, 05/09/26.~

~One more shot of the young Horned Lark in the black dirt on 05/04/26.~

Sunday Shots, 05/03/26

It’s the time of year when there are plenty of birds around, so it made for a very pleasant weekend of birding. I added (18) new species to my 2026 Orange County year list. I had a decent showing of shorebirds on Saturday, with six species observed. At the Camel Farm, Linda Scrima and I had Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and Killdeer. I added Spotted Sandpiper at the Liberty Loop platform. I did alright with songbirds too; I added (9) new species of wood warblers to my OC year list, including my favorite new species from the weekend, a beautiful Cape May Warbler.

~Cape May Warbler at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Jervis, 05/03/26.~

I also spent some time in the black dirt looking for and finding Lapland Longspurs. On Saturday I was pleasantly surprised to see the flock of Horned Larks was still around and although it took a while, I was able to locate a single LALO in non-breeding plumage. Today I was able to get on a couple of LALOs pretty quickly, and one was in breeding plumage. Unfortunately, the birds are moving around a lot, and the spots they have been favoring are distant enough to make getting photos very challenging, and I failed on both days. I was still pretty excited though, as these are my first observations ever of this species in the month of May.