Wallkill Wildlife Refuge – Page 9

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

I waited for a good while for this female American Kestrel to fly…

I went out to the grasslands yesterday after work in response to a post to the Mearns Bird Club by Ken McDermott. A couple of days earlier, he had eight Short-eared Owls at 3:00 in the afternoon. I was thinking that I had seen my last SEOW of the season before I read the post, though I am not sure when they actually head north. I figured I would give it a try and see if I would get lucky. I did not have any luck with the owls, but it was still a good visit with an interesting combination of what I consider winter birds and spring birds. The Common Redpolls and Horned Larks are still lingering, but I also had Red-winged Blackbirds and my first of season Eastern Meadowlark:

Common Redpoll – Shawangunk Grasslands 3-21-13.

Turkey Vulture 4
Northern Harrier 5
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Killdeer 3
Ring-billed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 8
American Kestrel 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 10
Horned Lark 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Common Grackle 1
Common Redpoll 25

The Common Redpolls were hanging around the parking lot for my entire visit. I was trying to get photos of them in flight (without any luck) and then they decided to line up for a photo. Common Redpolls at Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3-21-13.

Of course the Northern Harriers were flying out at the Shawangunk Grasslands, 3-21-13.

One more Marsh Hawk, Shawangunk Grasslands NWR 3-21-13.

Today I did my usual brief visit to 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, where things were a little less birdy than my last visit, but I still had a good list:

A beautiful Red-tailed Hawk at 6 1/2 Station Rd Sanctuary, 3-22-13.

Canada Goose 30
Mute Swan 2
American Black Duck 2
Green-winged Teal 15
Ring-necked Duck 8
Common Merganser 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Ring-billed Gull 23
Rock Pigeon 2
American Kestrel 1
American Crow 6
Song Sparrow 3

A Great Morning of Birding In Orange County

One of the TWO Ross’s Geese that I saw out at the Camel Farm, 3-9-13.

I made my way out to the Camel Farm this morning, stopping at some of the likely places to find geese, but did not have any luck. The Camel Farm was another story, with approximately 3,000 Snow Geese and more than a few birders present. After about an hour of scanning the Snows for Ross’s Geese, a birder that I don’t believe is local and that I’ve never met, located a Ross’s Goose. We got distant but good looks at this bird that I believe is a first winter Ross’s Goose. The bird was noticeably smaller than the surrounding Snow Geese and the more round head and smaller bill were easy to see. The bird also had a gray wash at the base of the neck, which matches the first winter bird as shown on page 43 of The Crossley Guide. We lost the bird the next time the birds picked up and flew. I tried for the next half hour or so to relocate the bird without any luck.

John Haas showed up not too long after that and located the adult Ross’s Goose in the above photo. It was remarkable really, John found the bird inside of 10 minutes and the birds flew moments after he found it. Once the birds settled down again, John found the bird again, this time in probably less than 5 minutes! This time everyone present (there were many birders there) got a good look at the bird. Thanks again John!

Snows in the air and snow on the ground. Snow Geese at the Camel Farm 3-9-13.

I can’t get enough of these geese, they are so much fun to watch. Snow Geese at the Camel Farm 3-9-13.

The other highlight of the morning was three Tundra Swans, also at the Camel Farm:

Only one of these three Tundra Swans would cooperate for a photo. Camel Farm, 3-9-13.

After the Camel Farm I went to my usual spot to try to get some photos, Wallkill River NWR. I walked part of the Liberty Loop and did well with seeing many ducks (two Northern Shovelers were my FOS), and I managed a couple photos of a male American Kestrel.

A male American Kestrel in flight at Wallkill River NWR 3-9-13.

Hovering AMKE at Wallkill River NWR 3-9-13.

I didn't post this at first because of the wire but I like the image of the bird. AMKE at Wallkill River NWR 3-9-13. — I didn’t post this at first because of the wire but I like the image of the bird. AMKE at Wallkill River NWR 3-9-13.

Make it 3 on March 3rd.

Today I went out in search of the Greater White-Fronted Goose that had been seen in the same area as the Pink-footed Goose. I cruised by Pierce Circle first and found no geese present. My second stop was Breeze Hill Road and Lynch Avenue, where after about 20 minutes of searching I located the GWFG among 200 or so Canada Geese. The bird was foraging on the bank beyond the pond at first and then moved down into the water with approximately 40 Canadas. I got really good looks at the bird in my scope, but it was quite a distance from the road. What a weekend it has been, three really good birds all in Orange County! Here is a heavily cropped long distance shot of the bird:

Greater White-fronted Goose at Breeze Hill and Lynch in Orange County NY, 3-3-13

Update 3-7-13, here’s one more photo of the Greater White-fronted Goose:

Unfortunately the sun was at the birds back, preventing a decent photo. GWFG in Orange County, 3-3-13.

It was a nice sunny day, so I wanted to try to actually get some decent photos, so I headed to Wallkill River NWR. Karen Miller eventually met me over there and we walked the Liberty Loop. We had a lot of birds and I had some decent results with the camera:

I’m still enjoying the N. Harriers. They were abundant today at the Wallkill River NWR.

We were happy to see many Northern Pintails present. Wallkill River NWR 3-3-13.

Northern Pintails in flight at Wallkill River NWR, 3-3-13.

Saturday 1-19-13

Northern Harrier at Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge 1-19-13.

I feel like it has been forever since I got out for a full day of birding with any success. Karen Miller and I met out at Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge right around sunrise this morning. It was really cold out, 25 degrees Fahrenheit with a substantial wind chill. We sat in the car for a while and then on the platform for a bit until it got too cold. There were many raptors to be seen – Red-tail Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, a juvenile Bald Eagle, and several Northern Harriers. We decided to follow up on a post seen on the Mearns Bird Club site; we went to Greenwood Lake.

Neither one of us had ever been birding at Greenwood Lake, so it was a bit of an adventure for us as we drove around and explored the lake. We ended up having a great visit with many birds. The highlight for me was a large raft of Common Mergansers that we estimated at approximately 500 individuals:

There was no good spot to get a clear photo of these Common Mergansers. It was really a thrill to see all these birds at once. Greenwood Lake 1-19-13.

We stumbled upon Browns Point Park, in West Milford NJ. I totally missed the sign, but Karen saw it and had me turn around. Thank goodness too, because the park provided the best look at ducks that we had all day. We got very good close looks at: Buffleheads, Ring-necked Ducks and Mallards.

Ring-necked Duck at Browns Point Park 1-19-13.

A female Bufflehead makes her way down the canal at Browns Point Park, 1-19-13.

After Greenwood Lake, Karen and I headed back to Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge. We decided to walk the Liberty Loop trail; it had warmed up considerably but it was still really windy. Walking through the wind and snow was tough but we were rewarded by seeing many sparrows, Northern Harriers, and a surprise showing of a Short-eared Owl at 12:45 pm. What a great day of birding! Pretty good for January nineteenth.

Evidence of the high winds out at Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge, a wind blown song sparrow on the Liberty Loop.

I am still trying to get a good photo of a "gray ghost". This is the best I could do today... — I am still trying to get a good photo of a “gray ghost”. This is the best I could do today…

One more Northern Harrier out at Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge, 1-19-13.

Fall Birding Photos

_MG_8470-001 — Red-tailed Hawk at Wallkill River NWR 11-4-12.

_MG_8469 — A close-up of the same hawk – this bird was perched on a wire and was extremely accommodating.

_MG_8157 — My first Dark-eyed Junco of the season. Shawangunk Grasslands 10-27-12.

_MG_8194-001 — I played a hunch and stopped at the parking lot of a cafe on route 207 north of Goshen. It payed off with this adult Bald Eagle in the field across the street.

_MG_8239-002.aJPG — This might be my favorite photo of the year. Ruddy Duck at Kiamesha Lake 10-27-12.

_MG_8495 — This Golden-crowned Kinglet was very cooperative on my first visit to the Wood Duck Trail at the Wallkill River NWR 11-4-12.

Wallkill River NWR – Looking For Black-crowned Night-Herons

_MG_3719 — Black-crowned Night-Heron at Walllkill River WR

I made it out to Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge before sunrise THREE times this week in hopes of finally getting some Black-crowned Night-Heron photos. I identified 37 species of birds (and one really cute mammal) in those three days. Here’s a short list of favorites:

Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Herons(many!)
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Pectoral Sandpiper
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink

I finally got a pretty good look at both an adult and a juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron this morning, and it is thanks to John – a fellow birder I met out at the refuge this morning. He told me when he first arrived that he had never had any luck finding BCNH at this site. Moments later one flew right over our heads! He later found three BCNH in a couple of trees just off of the east side of the trail and he made sure I knew exactly where to find them. Thanks John!

_MG_3727 — I cropped this pretty heavily because I am amazed at the color of this bird’s eyes.

_MG_3743 — This is the best shot I could manage of this young Black-crowned Night-Heron. I love the markings on this bird!

_MG_3632 — I thought this was a beautiful Red-winged Blackbird.

_MG_3693 — I am pretty sure this is a female Bobolink, though when I took the photo I thought it was a Red-winged Blackbird in the yellow early morning sun.

_MG_3673 — This Double-crested Cormorant landed in the water in front of the viewing platform for just long enough to get a couple photos before he was on his way…

_MG_3657 — I thought the light was really nice on this Canada Goose in flight.

_MG_3583 — Karen Miller found this little critter when we were out on Saturday morning. We found out later that it is an Ermine. In the winter it will have a white coat with a black nose! (Thanks for the info Gail).

_MG_3637 — A Green Heron on a wire. A first for me, though I saw it two times this week.

_MG_3712 — One more of the adult Black-crowned Night-Heron.

Memorial Day Weekend 2012 – Photos

_MG_8652 — There were 49 (!!!) Mute Swans at Hyper Humus Marshes.

eb52812 — Female Eastern Bluebird at Hyper Humus Marshes.

_MG_8597 — Great Egret in a tree. Hyper Humus Marshes.

_MG_8648 — Eastern Kingbird at Hyper Humus Marshes.

_MG_8670 — It was hard to keep track of the number of Great Blue Herons out at Hyper Humus Marshes because they were so active. I would say there was at least 8.

gbh52812 — GBH in flight at Hyper Humus Marshes.

_MG_8533 — American Goldfinches were numerous out at Wallkill River NWR.

_MG_8489 — Cedar Waxwing at Wallkill River NWR.

_MG_8515 — Indigo Bunting at Wallkill Wildlife Refuge.

_MG_9353 — ...Sterling Forest State Park

GREEN HERON! First of the season.

I went to the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/wallkillriver/index.htm) today after work and found a Green Heron in a tree. I walked the Liberty Loop trail which is about 2 miles long. I was almost back to my car when I saw the heron fly in and land in a tree nearby. I was able to get the above photo, which I don’t love but it was the best I could do. It was a really nice walk with many birds – I was able to identify 24 species. Highlights for me:

(1) Green Heron
(3) Double Crested Cormorant
(1) Osprey – Hovering and fishing
(4) Lesser Yellowlegs
(2) Common Yellowthroat
(6) Yellow Warblers – Flying very close to me as if I was not there

Here’s a couple more photos from the day: