Orange Birding

Excellent Gulling in Suffolk County, 02/26/22

I went to Long Island today to visit my dad. Since he is not an early riser, I took the morning to try for some good gulls that have been reported recently at Old Field Point and Lighthouse in Suffolk County. It was a cold but very successful morning; I was able to locate 3 of my 4 target birds: ICELAND GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (I missed on the Black-headed Gull). Additionally, I met a birder there named Jay Rand; he got me on an interesting gull that has been reported as well, but as of yet is unidentified.

~Lesser Black-backed Gull at Old Field Point and Lighthouse, 02/26/22.~

The Glaucous Gull was the whitest gull I think I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure if this is just a light individual, or if there some possible sun bleaching going on, but the bird has been confirmed on eBird.

~A very pale Glaucous Gull at Old Field Point and Lighthouse, 02/26/22.~

As for the Gull species, it looked like a Herring Gull, but with a slightly darker mantle and yellowish legs/feet. When I got home I checked my emails and found some reports and a write-up by Shaibal Mitra on the NYSBIRDS list serve. He describes the bird broadly as a Herring Gull type, and offers 3 typical possibilities for this bird:

Smithsonianus Herring Gull, which apparently show some degree of yellow in the legs/feet in the late winter and early spring.
Herring Gull x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid.
Yellow-legged Gull

After viewing the bird, however, he has reservations about these three options and offers a fourth possibility: Northern European L. a. argentatus, to which he found similarities in the mantle color and wingtip pattern. Apparently we will find out what the experts identify it as in the coming days. I will keep you posted. And regardless, it was a really cool bird to see and added some excitement to my morning.

~Gull Sp. at Old Field Point and Lighthouse, 02/26/22. If you look closely you can see the yellowish legs/feet. When viewed next to Herring Gulls, the mantle was clearly darker (sorry no comparison shots).~

~Always a favorite, a beautiful Iceland Gull on the Long Island Sound at Old Field Point and Lighthouse, 02/26/22.~

~There are four species of gull in this photo: (2) Herring Gulls up front, a Lesser Black-backed Gull to the right, the Glaucous Gull, and a Great Black-backed Gull behind the Glaucous. Old Field Point and Lighthouse, 02/26/22.~

~I tried to get a better comparison shot, but this is the best I managed to get. Glaucous and Iceland Gulls within inched of each other. Old Field Point and Lighthouse, 02/26/22.~

Sunday Shots, 02/20/22

One of my goals for 2022 is to break 200 species in Sullivan County (I’m currently at 194). I’ve come up with a short list of possible species to try and catch up with, and Northern Shrike is on it. So, on Saturday morning I headed to the Bashakill to try for the shrike which was there earlier this week. I dipped on my target bird, but it didn’t prevent me from having a nice morning birding the Deli Fields. I ran into and caught up with John Haas (Bashakill Birder). John mentioned that it was a slow morning there, but I had 23 species, which didn’t seem too bad to me. My best bird was a Hermit Thrush that popped up briefly before disappearing into the underbrush.

~Northern Shrike at Wickham Woodlands Park, 02/20/22.~

I was back in Orange County for the afternoon and evening, spending most of my time at the Newburgh Riverfront. I enjoyed birding the river and there was enough going on to keep me entertained. The highlight was (3) first winter Iceland Gulls, which I can’t get enough of, but I won’t torture you with yet another pic.

~Common Merganser at the Newburgh Waterfront, 02/19/22.~

On Sunday morning I tried for the Northern Shrike at Wickham Woodlands Park. With this shrike, I had better luck. The bird was vocalizing frequently and perched close enough at one point to get a decent shot. I was pretty excited, it was fun to actually spend some time with a shrike rather than just a few moments.

~Two Canvasbacks relaxing in the Hudson River at Piermont Pier, 02/20/22.~

Afterwards, I headed to Piermont Pier. Earlier this week a Little Gull was reported there, and while I know the chances of seeing that bird were astronomical, I figured I would go and just enjoy birding the pier. It was good to see some different ducks – Canvasbacks, Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, and a single Common Goldeneye. Gulls were scarce and I only recorded the (3) expected species.

Yard Birds 2022: (25) – No new species since my last post.

~This is a bird I don’t get to photograph very often. Pileated Woodpecker at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 02/19/22.~

~The Deli Fields had loads of Eastern Bluebirds on Saturday morning, 02/19/22.~

~Orange County Barred Owl, my first of the year, 02/19/22.~

~One more shot of the Northern Shrike at Wickham Woodlands Park, 02/20/22.~

Snowy Sunday Shots, 02/13/22

I didn’t have a plan for my birding today. And I didn’t know it was supposed to snow like it did. So I woke up, saw the snow accumulation, and took my time getting out of the house. Since I had no real plan, I figured I would just try for some snowy photos locally. I was thinking about raptors as I was heading out, Rough-legged Hawks in particular, but it was a couple of Northern Harriers that ended up delivering.

~Northern Harrier flying right towards my car. Black dirt, 02/13/22.~

I enjoyed a pleasant and tranquil morning in the snow; I sorted through Horned Larks and found five Lapland Longspurs. Snow Buntings continue, but their numbers appear to be down slightly. I sorted through some geese too, and I finally located what I believe is a Cackling Goose. The bird was on the Wallkill River along Celery Avenue and I was able to get some decent shots of that bird.

I’m digging the stark aesthetic in these wintery photos. What they lack in color in detail, they make up for in atomosphere.

Yard Birds 2022: (25) – I added Common Grackle this week.

~Northern Harrier in the black dirt, 02/13/22.~

~There were loads of blackbirds in the black dirt today. Red-winged on a nice perch, 02/13/22.~

~Cackling Goose in the Wallkill River on Celery Ave, 02/13/22.~

~Cackling Goose with a couple of Canadas, Celery Ave 02/13/22.~

~I was being patient in hopes of getting a better Lapland Longspur photo, but this was my best of the morning. At one point I had (5) LALOs in my binocular view. Black dirt, 02/13/22.~

An Interesting Morning, 02/12/22

My plan this morning was to take a hike in Port Jervis, near Reservoir 3. I decided to take the long way there and meander through the black dirt. Geese were moving around the area, and I sorted through a couple of smaller flocks for rarities but had no luck. Horned Larks were scarce; at one point I heard several birds calling, so I stopped my car and got out. I scanned but was unable to find the larks. I looked to the east, over a field, and a backlit bird was flying about 10 feet above the field straight towards me. I initially figured it was just another crow, but as it got closer I realized it was a Short-eared Owl. The bird flew right to me and sort of did hovering maneuver right in front of me, looking me in the eye the entire time. Then it circled overhead a couple of times and headed on its way. As it flew away, I ran to the car, grabbed my camera, and snapped a few shots. It was a really cool experience, and believe it or not it’s the second time a Shorty has done that to me. Years ago, late one evening, after sunset, another SEOW did the same thing, only much closer and for a longer duration. It was mind blowing to an even greater extent.

As I made my way towards Port Jervis, I located another flock of Canada Geese. As I was sorting through them, all of the geese went completely silent and motionless. I realized that they were alarmed for some reason and looked around and saw a nice looking Coyote making its way across the field beyond the geese.

~Coyote in the distance, black dirt 02/12/22.~

At Reservoir 3, I hiked just over 5 miles. It was birdy in some areas, but mostly not, as I’ve grown to expect when hiking. I was happy to add several year birds to my list, including two pretty good birds: Hermit Thrush and Brown Creeper. Photo ops weren’t happening, but a nice hike and some fresh air was just what the doctor ordered.

Sunday Shots, 02/06/22

Well, it was yet another gorgeous, cold, sunny, and icy weekend in our area. I wasn’t very adventurous; I stuck to the black dirt and the Hudson River for the most part, but the nice light and the icy conditions made for some really nice photo ops. I enjoyed several continuing good birds: Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspurs, American Pipits, and Iceland Gulls. Interesting new birds for me included the bird of the weekend, a Northern Shrike, as well as a Chipping Sparrow and a Field Sparrow.

~Snow Bunting taking a look around in the black dirt, 02/05/22.~

This week’s photos are heavy on Snow Buntings; I had some good opportunities and I tried to make the most of them because before you know it they will be gone until next winter. I think next weekend I will think about mixing it up a little bit and getting out to some different spots since I’ve been in such a routine recently.

Yard Birds 2022: (24) – No new birds since my last post.

~This was one beautiful gull, just super sharp looking and a joy to behold. Iceland Gull at the Newburgh Waterfront, 02/05/22.~

~Snow Bunting on the move, black dirt region 02/05/22.~

~I needed some help identifying this bird – I’ve never had a Chipping Sparrow in February before. Black dirt, 02/05/22.~

~Sharp-shinned Hawk in the black dirt, 02/05/22.~

~Snow Bunting on a nice perch, black dirt 02/06/22

~I rarely get decent photo ops with Blue Jays, believe it or not. I think they are a smart and wary species. BLJA in the black dirt, 02/05/22.~

~American Robin in our backyard, 02/04/22.~

~One final Snow Bunting shot. Black dirt region, 02/05/22.~

Orange County NORTHERN SHRIKE, 02/05/22

This morning I FINALLY caught up with a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Wickham Woodlands Park in Warwick. I say finally because I haven’t seen a Northern Shrike since 2019, and it’s not for lack of trying. Over the past couple of winters I’ve tried more times than I can count – going after reported birds in Liberty, Sullivan County, the Grasslands in Ulster County, and of course locally here in Orange County. Today’s bird is likely the same bird that Kathy Ashman reported this past October. Since then, I’d received several reports that the bird was still around, and I tried for the bird at least a dozen times this winter.

To say I was excited is definitely an understatement. But, that said, the encounter was entirely too brief; the bird darted behind some vegetation and I was never able to find it again. It would have been awesome to spend some time with the bird. One really cool thing about it, was that I found the bird by ear. I could hear it calling, and although I haven’t heard many Northern Shrikes before, I knew it had to be the bird. I followed the sound and sure enough.

2022 Yard Birds: (24) – I added Brown-headed Cowbird and Red-winged Blackbird since my last post.

Sunday Shots, 01/30/22

The weekend got off to a slow start since we were snowed in most of Saturday. In the afternoon I finally got out and headed to the Hudson River, where I enjoyed my evening of birding, in spite of the bitter cold, gray, snowy conditions(it was still snowing in Newburgh!). In addition to the three expected gull species, I had one distant Iceland Gull, and then one that put down in front of the boat launch as it was getting later. Same bird? Hard to say; Bruce Nott had (6) ICGUs one night this week, so likely two birds.

~A nice look at a Fox Sparrow in the black dirt on Sunday morning 01/30/22.~

Saturday was a gorgeous sunny, cold day. Like really cold. I decided to primarily car-bird, so I cruised the black dirt. It was mostly uneventful, but I did run into Linda Scrima, and while we were talking, my best bird of the weekend landed right in front of her car – a fabulous Fox Sparrow. I made it back to the river in the afternoon, but that too proved to be mostly uneventful, with just one gull of note, a very distant first winter Iceland Gull. Bald Eagles were numerous and kept the gulls on their toes.

Yard Birds 2022: (22) Species

~Iceland Gull all tucked in. Newburgh Waterfront, 01/29/22.~

~I finally located a large flock of Horned Larks on Missionland Road, 01/30/22.~

~One more of the very accommodating Fox Sparrow, black dirt, 01/30/22.~

~Horned Lark on the fresh snow. Missionland Road, 01/30/22.~

~Ring-billed Gull in flight through a landscape of gray and white at the Newburgh Waterfront on Saturday afternoon, 01/29/22.~

~Herring Gull at the Newburgh Waterfront, 01/29/22.~

OC Iceland Gull, 01/27/22

This past Thursday was an absolutely gorgeous day here in Orange County. It was my favorite kind of winter weather, cold, crisp, and sunny. I was, of course, working. But the weather was eating at me, plus I was having a hunch that the Newburgh Waterfront might be good. So, I got the okay from my boss, and I left work a little early and headed to the river, where I immediately hooked up with birding bud Bruce Nott. We were barely getting through our salutations when I located a first winter ICELAND GULL on an ice floe directly in front of the boat launch.

~ICELAND GULL in flight at the Newburgh Waterfront, 01/27/22.~

Shortly after locating the bird, all the gulls on the floe took flight. And, for the first time this season, they actually flew closer to us, putting down not too far out after making a couple circles. I was pretty excited because I’d been able to stay with the bird in flight and just because it was such a good look when the bird put down in the river. It was a beautiful, if slightly disheveled bird, and Bruce and I thoroughly enjoyed its presence as we spent a fabulous evening scanning the river for gulls.

~And on the water. ICGU at the Newburgh Waterfront 01/27/22.~

Yard Bird Total as of 01/29/22: (22) – I added a Red-tailed hawk this week, which was exciting because it’s a species that I missed last year.

Sunday Shots 01/23/22

I have to say that I am really enjoying winter birding these days. I love the cold, crisp weather, and the birds have been pretty darn cooperative. I also think that because I can’t bird during the week at this time of the year, I really get into it on the weekends.

I split both mornings between the black dirt and Campbell Hall, where two times I caught up with the LARK SPARROW that was found by Jeanne Cimorelli earlier this week. I was pretty happy that bird stuck around til the weekend. The black dirt was productive both mornings; I had loads of Horned Larks, good sized flock of Snow Buntings, (8) American Pipits, and at least (3) LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Also notable were large flocks of both Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles (at two different locations).

~A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds in flight in the black dirt, 01/23/22.~

~Horned Lark in the black dirt on Saturday morning, 01/22/22.~

On Saturday afternoon I went to the Newburgh Waterfront for gulls, where I ended up birding with Bruce Nott, Joe Chernak, and Jeanne Cimorelli. Bruce located one, maybe two Iceland Gulls (the gulls picked up before we could confirm), and I was able to locate a Glaucous Gull. With the expected gulls, that made for a (5) gull day.

~After struggling with photos Saturday morning, I spent some time shooting Ring-billed Gulls when I first arrived at the Newburgh Waterfront. I like this sharp image of a clean sharp Ring-billed Gull in flight, 01/22/23.~

I am also pretty jazzed about the weekend of birding because I feel like this week’s photos are pretty interesting. I struggled mightily to get good shots on Saturday morning; in spite of the beautiful light, I think the cold temperatures were creating a little havoc in the air, leaving most pics with a shimmer effect.

~Lark Sparrow on Station Road West in Campbell Hall, 01/22/22. I waited positively ages for this bird to finally fly to a positition where it wasn’t totally backlit. Then, on Sunday…~

~…I was in the same area trying for Purple Finches (no luck), when the Lark Sparrow landed right next to my car. The light was terrible, but still a pretty good look at this snazzy bird. LASP in Campbell Hall, 01/23/22.~

One final note – I am also really enjoying my yard birding this year. Moving forward I will be putting a note on the bottom of each post with my yard list total for the year. This week I moved up to 21 species, adding three birds: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, and a beautiful adult Bald Eagle flyover.

~Snow Bunting in the black dirt first thing this morning, 01/23/22.~

~American Pipits in the black dirt, 01/23/22.~

~I thought this was a pretty cool look at the topside of a Red-tailed Hawk in the black dirt, 01/23/22. This bird was being totally harassed by American Crows.~

~LAPLAND LONGSPUR photo bombed by a Horned Lark. Black dirt, 01/23/22.~

~White-crowned Sparrow on Missionland Road, 01/22/22.~

~I threw this one in just because I thought it was pretty good that my camera held the focus on this Northern Harrier as it passed behind the vegetation. Black dirt 01/22/22.~

Sunday Shots, 01/16/22

I really enjoy the cold and sunny weather we had for most of this weekend. It’s a pleasure to gear up and get out into the cold, especially when the sun is out, and ended up with some good birds and some decent photo ops. My best bird by far, was the MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD in Ulster County that I ran for today. I drove up to Esopus Meadows Preserve first thing this morning. When I arrived just before 9:00, there were already several birders on the bird. By the time I got out of my car, the bird was no longer in sight. I waited alongside Ken McDermott, and we both got our first glimpse of this beautiful bird as it hovered alongside a tall evergreen across the road. The MOBL was a beautiful and cooperative bird, and my 315th bird in New York State. It wasn’t a lifer, as I’d seen MOBLs in Colorado back in 2013.

~Mountain Bluebird hovering. What a beautiful and accommodating bird! Esopus Meadows Preserve, 01/16/22.~

Afterwards, I tried for gulls/waterfowl at the Hudson River, first trying from Long Dock Park on the Beacon Side, and then from the Newburgh Waterfront. I didn’t have any luck with gulls nor ducks, but I did finally catch up with the Tennessee Warbler which has been hanging around near the sewage plant.

~MOBL at Esopus Meadows Preserve, 01/16/22.~

Saturday was less successful, but it was still good to be out. In the morning I participated with Linda Scrima in Mearns Bird Club’s Orange County Winter Waterfowl Count. Unfortunately it was a bit of bust for me – I had a total of only (5) species of waterfowl (Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, American Black Duck, and Common Merganser). I think this is the first time doing this that we did not find a rare goose of some kind. In the evening I went to the Newburgh Waterfront. It was COLD! And a bust for gulls, but I enjoyed a close up Common Merganser and (4) Bald Eagles flying over pretty low.