Orange County – Page 79 – Orange Birding

Orange County Saturday

Song Sparrow on the Liberty Loop at Wallkill River NWR, 2/1/14.

I woke up before sunrise this morning and headed out; I was going to spend the morning birding in southern Orange County. My first stop was at Wallkill River NWR, where I walked the Liberty Loop for the first time in a while. The weather had finally warmed up a bit after the extended cold spell, so it felt really good to be outside and walking the trail. During my walk I had many of the expected birds for this time of year, but the highlight of my hike was seeing a Coyote crossing the marsh.

It's amazing to me how easily this Coyote disappeared from view in the marsh. Still it was a thrill to see, Wallkill River NWR 2/1/14. — It’s amazing to me how easily this Coyote disappeared from view in the marsh. Still it was a thrill to see, Coyote out at Wallkill River NWR just after sunrise, 2/1/14.

After walking the loop, I did a car tour of Pines Island and the Black Dirt Region. I hit many of my usual stops as well as some of new ones, such as Cedar Swamp Road, where I saw a couple of falconers flying their birds way off in the distance, and not surprisingly, I did not have any luck with the pair of Snowy Owls that were reported there. I ended up with 26 species for the day which I don’t think is too bad for not being anywhere near open water all day. Species highlights for the morning included seeing the same Snowy Owl that I’ve been seeing all week and a pair of LAPLAND LONGSPURS in a flock of approximately 45 Horned Larks. The real highlight for me, however was running into several birders I know while viewing the Snowy Owl. It was good to spend time and shoot the breeze with fellow Mearns Bird Club members Gerhard and Tracey, as well as Jack Austin and Linda – they are all such nice folks.

A Rough-legged Hawk flies over, Black Dirt Region 2/1/14.

American Kestrel in flight, Black Dirt, 2/1/14.

I will keep posting Snowy Owl shots whenever I get them, not matter how distant. I can't get enough of this bird! Black Dirt Region, 2/1/14. — I will keep posting Snowy Owl shots whenever I get them, not matter how distant. I can’t get enough of this bird! Black Dirt Region, 2/1/14.

Here’s my list for the morning, the numbers are a bit rough since I totaled everything I saw while I was out, but I definitely was very conservative with my counts.

It's not very often an American Kestrel flies towards me. This one was flushed by another vehicle, Black Dirt, 2/1/14. — It’s not very often an American Kestrel flies towards me. This one was flushed by another vehicle, Black Dirt, 2/1/14.

Canada Goose 1000
Turkey Vulture 1
Northern Harrier 3
Red-tailed Hawk 8
Rough-legged Hawk 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 14
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 3
American Kestrel 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 500
Horned Lark 60
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
American Robin 18
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 80
Lapland Longspur 2
American Tree Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 20
Dark-eyed Junco 55
Northern Cardinal 2
House Sparrow 12

American Kestrel perched on some farm equipment. Black Dirt, 2/1/14.

Red-tailed Hawk shot through the grasses at Round Hill Road, Florida NY, 2/1/14.

Cackling Goose? – Wallkill River NWR 1/30/14

A likely Cackling Goose does a flyover at Wallkill River NWR, 1/30/14.

I spent the evening at Wallkill River NWR, the light was really nice and I was hoping to get some hawk photos or that maybe the Short-eared Owls would get up early. Neither of those happened, but there was a steady stream of Canada Geese flying over, so I was checking them out, wishing for a Barnacle or Greater White-fronted Goose. Instead, I saw a smaller goose and took several shots. To me this looks like it is good for a Cackling Goose, mostly because of the small stubby bill and the small squarish head. Please comment if you have thoughts on this ID.

Snowy in the Black Dirt 1/28/14

Snowy Owl in the Black Dirt Region, 1/28/14.

The past two evenings after work, I made my way out to the Black Dirt Region hoping to relocate one of the Snowy Owls that has been seen out there. I was successful on both nights and was rewarded with distant but extended views of the bird. It is very enjoyable for me to watch from such a great distance – I can spend some time watching the bird’s behavior and there is no risk of bothering the bird. I can still snap a few distant photos, and sitting in my car, I can entertain the thought that the bird might decide to come a little closer for better looks and photos. This, of course, didn’t happen (this time!), but I like the idea that it might.

Meanwhile, I think I can now identify Snow Buntings by ear. While looking through my binoculars at the Snowy, I heard some birds passing overhead and I immediately thought they sounded like Snow Buntings. My suspicions were confirmed when the flock landed not too far from my car, revealing approximately 15 Horned Larks and 10 Snow Buntings.

Ten Snow Buntings in the Black Dirt Region, 1/28/14.

I love these Snow Buntings, they’re so sweet to watch. Black Dirt Region, 1/28/14.

SNOWY OWL!

Huge thanks to Rob Stone once again for alerting me that he had located a SNOWY OWL in the Black Dirt Region today. As far as I know, this is the first Snowy Owl reported in Orange County since early December. Additionally, in the same field, not far away, were 5 TUNDRA SWANS. I saw Ken McDermott while I was there and he told me that Judy Cinquina had seen 21 (!!!) Tundra Swans there earlier in the day. Another great day for birders in Orange County!

One of 5 Tundra Swans that I saw in the Black Dirt Region today (1/16/14).

Orange County Tundra Swans

Five Tundra Swans did a fly-over at the Wallkill River NWR while I was walking the Liberty Loop today (1/15/14).

I got out of work a little bit early today and took the opportunity to walk the Liberty Loop at the Wallkill River NWR. It was a nice walk around the loop where I had 16 species identified. Highlights included 6 Short-eared Owls being very vocal and putting on quite a show, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and on my way back to the car I had 5 TUNDRA SWANS fly over. The birds were heading south along the west side of the loop. They followed the loop into New Jersey and eventually headed back north, this time on the east side of the loop (which is where I was located), flying right over me, and back into New York State. I could tell from the shape of the head/bill that the birds were not Mute Swans, and I was thinking Tundra. Fortunately one of the birds was calling periodically, which lead me to conclude that they were indeed Tundra Swans. Of course, I had to listen to the call on my phone app to know this! What a nice surprise on an unplanned trip around the Liberty Loop!

Sorry for the super grainy photos, but it was just too dark to do any better. TUSW at Wallkill River NWR, 1/15/14.

6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary

It was a rainy and foggy afternoon in Goshen today. I missed out on the nice weather yesterday because of a work obligation, so I was really itching to get out an do some birding. So, I decided to walk the Heritage Trail at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary to get my fix. I did not get a high number of species, but it was quite birdy with large numbers of the birds I did see. I could hear the Canada Geese flying in over my head in the fog, and there was a congregation of approximately 450 geese on the ice in no time at all. I also had a good number of American Robins, mostly perched in trees well off the trail. The sighting of the day for me was 18 Cedar Waxwings, a bird that I have not seen recently for some reason. Here’s my short but sweet list from the day:

6 1/2 Station Rd. Sanctuary, Orange, US-NY
Jan 14, 2014 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.25 mile(s)
8 species

Canada Goose 450
Mallard 45
Mourning Dove 6
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 6
American Robin 55
European Starling 30
Cedar Waxwing 18

I always love having the trail to myself, it is very refreshing. iPhone photo of the Heritage Trail, 1/14/14.

Sunday Shots

Male Northern Harrier on Missionland Road, 1/12/14.

Well, pretty much took the weekend off in terms of birding. Every once in a while, I think I just need to go out and not worry about identifying and counting every bird I see. Instead I just went out and just enjoyed looking for birds and trying to get some decent photos.

I love the markings on this Red-tailed Hawk, seen on Skinner Lane, 1/12/14. — I love the heavy markings on this Red-tailed Hawk, seen on Skinner Lane, 1/12/14.

A sweet looking Ring-billed Gull at Bashakill WMA, 1/12/14. The best birds of the day were a flock of Snow Buntings at Haven Road, but they never came close enough for photos.

One more of the "Gray Ghost" on Missionland Road, 1/12/14. — One more of the “Gray Ghost” on Missionland Road, 1/12/14.

Perched Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk on a foggy and rainy Saturday morning. Jessup Switch Road in Goshen, 1/11/14.

I got out briefly this morning in the rain and fog and managed to get a few shots of the above light morph Rough-legged Hawk. This bird was located on Jessup Switch Road in Goshen, but I initially went out to Indiana Road where I had five RLHAs yesterday evening (2 dark morphs and 3 light).

Greater White-fronted Geese!

Greater White-fronted Goose on Onion Avenue, 1/6/14.

Rob Stone texted me this afternoon to let me know he had located four GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Onion Avenue in New Hampton, NY. When I got there later in the afternoon, just after 4 pm, I could only locate one GWFG among approximately 1200 Canada Geese. I spoke to John Haas after I had left, and he let me know that while he was there, a total of five Greater White-fronted Geese were present. Huge thanks to both Rob and John, what a “great” way to make my day!

Sunday Shots

This immature Bald Eagle was in a tree in the Torches parking lot in Newburgh. The bird was not disturbed by anything, people were walking their dogs right underneath the tree! Newburgh Waterfront, 1/5/14.

When the bird finally flew, I was of course making an adjustment on my camera. I was lucky to get this shot, every other shot was either blurry or had a wing clipped.

Adult Bald Eagle at Lippincott Road in Wallkill, 1/5/14.

NOTABLE OBSERVATIONS:

Just a couple of quick notes: In the afternoon I had a flock of approximately 60 Snow Buntings on MIssionland Road. Also present were a couple of smaller flocks of Horned Larks, one of which had 5 Snow Buntings in it. In the morning, I made it out to Lippincott Road and had 10 Common Goldeneyes. Thanks to Ken McDermott for posting about them, they were great fun to see. They were a bit distant for photos, but here is one shot:

Common Goldeneyes in flight, Lippincott Road, Wallkill NY, 1/5/14.