There is a bird in this photo! You can click on this distant, blurry, grainy shot to get a better look at one of the two Snow Buntings at Skinner Lane, 10/31/13.
Tonight out at Skinner Lane I had 2 SNOW BUNTINGS in a flock of 25 Horned Larks. It was raining and nearly dark which was no good for photographs, but I certainly plan on getting back out there to try for some better photos. Another highlight was a female Northern Harrier chasing what I believe was a Wilson’s Snipe right over my car – it was pretty exciting!
I also made a couple of quick stops looking for waterfowl:
A local Red-tailed Hawk flies over the platform. Mt. Peter Hawk Watch, 10/26/13.
I had a nice day out at Mt. Peter Hawk Watch today. I had nearly 40 migrating raptors which is not too bad considering that we had a Southwest wind all day. I had a nice variety of birds, with the highlight being 5 Bald Eagles – 3 adults and 2 immatures. Many birds flew over pretty low, which gave me the opportunity to take some photos. I was generally disappointed with my efforts, but I did manage a few decent shots.
A low flying Sharp-shinned Hawk, flying right over my head. Mt. Peter Hawk Watch, 10/26/13.
Here’s my report for the day:
Mount Peter
Warwick, New York, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2013
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:15:00
Total observation time: 7.25 hours
Official Counter: Matt Zeitler
Observers: Rob Stone
Visitors:
Girl Scout Troop 670
Weather:
Cool, sunny with a SW wind. Temperatures ranged from 4 degrees Celsius to
12 degrees Celsius.
Raptor Observations:
Three adult Bald Eagles and 2 immature Bald Eagles migrated. Three
Red-shouldered Hawks included 1 unknown, 1 adult, and 1 immature. One
unknown Northern Harrier and 1 male Northern Harrier came through, and the
first bird of the day was a female American Kestrel.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor species: Bluejay (22), American Crow (42), Downy Woodpecker (2),
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1), Tufted Titmouse (3), Black-capped Chickadee
(2), Mourning Dove (1), Common Raven (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1),
American Pipit (5), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1)
And, here is my weekly Turkey Vulture photo. I have started to enjoy the challenge of getting a decent shot of this bird each week. Mt. Peter Hawk Watch, 10/26/13.
Savannah Sparrow at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/24/13.
After work today, I walked both the Heritage Trail alongside 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary and also the trail off of Route 17M, which leads to the pond that is located to the south of the Heritage Trail. I did well with sparrows, seeing Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, and my best birds of the day, four White-crowned Sparrows. At the pond, shorebird numbers where down. I did not locate any yellowlegs and the dowitcher may have moved on. Still present were a half dozen Killdeer and a single Pectoral Sandpiper. Duck numbers seemed down a little bit too, but it was nice to see seven Northern Shovelers present. Here’s my list for the day:
6 1/2 Station Rd. Sanctuary, Orange, US-NY
Red-bellied Woodpecker at 6 1/2 Station Road, 10/24/13.
Oct 24, 2013 4:15 PM – 5:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
24 species
Canada Goose 25
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 9
Northern Shoveler 7
Green-winged Teal 30
Great Blue Heron 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Killdeer 6
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Rock Pigeon 20
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 10
American Robin 2
European Starling 150
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 12
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 3
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 8
After work today, I drove over to the Clay Avenue Wetlands, located in Lyndhurst NJ. I had received a rare bird alert email from eBird, indicating that an American Avocet had been seen at the wetlands. The bird was easily located and what a beautiful bird it is! Unfortunately the bird was pretty heavily backlit and there are not many spots to view the birds from, which made taking photos difficult. I am not really thrilled with the above photo for various reasons, but I had to post this awesome bird. I hope to get back in the morning when the sun will be at my back. Stay tuned for more photos.
Well, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I had another slow day at the hawk watch with a total of 24 migrating raptors (a lot less than the 122 from the day before!). The highlight for me was stumbling upon a Hermit Thrush when I first arrived at the watch in the morning. It’s a miracle that I had the camera out and was able to get a shot. Here’s a shot of a low flying Turkey Vulture:
And, here is my report for the day:
Mount Peter
Warwick, New York, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2013
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 14:30:00
Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Matt Zeitler
Observers:
Visitors:
Lynne Snyder, Eileen Fox, and Allen Herron.
Weather:
Cool and sunny at the start of the watch with very little wind.
Temperatures and clouds both increased and wind picked up from the south as
the day progressed. Temperatures ranged from 11 to 18 degrees Celsius.
Raptor Observations:
The height of the flight was highly variable today with some birds flying
just over the observation platforms and others at the limit of binoculars.
For migrating raptors we had (1) unknown American Kestrel. In the third
hour of the watch (2) adult Bald Eagles were spotted to the west of the
platform and eventually headed northeast. In the fourth hour of the watch a
single adult Bald Eagle soared over the valley for a while before heading
north.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non-raptor species: Brant (10), Blue Jay (11), Tufted Titmouse (4),
Black-capped Chickadee (2), Cedar Waxwing (16), Canada Goose (102), Downy
Woodpecker (1), Red-bellied Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (1), American
Robin (2), Common Raven (2), American Crow (6).
Common Yellowthroat at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/18/13.
The amazing Rob Stone strikes again, locating a NELSON’S SPARROW earlier this week, on the trail near 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, just off Route17M. This is another first for Orange County. You can visit John Haas’ blog for photos and more details. In an effort to see and photograph the bird, I have spent the last three evenings searching. I had no luck at all on Wednesday. On Thursday I ran into fellow Mearns Bird Club members John and Mary (sorry, but I don’t know their last names). John successfully re-located the bird and got a good look at it. By the time I got to where he was, I could see the bird moving in the grasses but I did not get to see the bird. Ajit and Liza Antony showed up shorty after and we relocated what we presumed was the bird. Liza and I got a very brief look at the bird – enough for me to know that we were likely looking at the correct bird, but not enough for me to positively identify it. Tonight I tried my luck again but it was very windy, making it very difficult to see such a small bird moving in the grasses. I plan on giving it one more try tomorrow morning.
Swamp Sparrow at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/17/13.
The birding was still very good without getting the Nelson’s Sparrow. In the pond at the end of the trail, shorebirds are still making a good showing, with one of the two Long-billed Dowitchers still present, as well as Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, and Least Sandpipers. For waterfowl I had: Canada Geese, Mallards, Green-winged Teals, Blue-winged Teals, Mute Swans, and Northern Shovelers.
Five Lesser Yellowlegs and one Long-billed Dowitcher congregate on the near side of the pond. 6 1/2 Station Sanctuary, 10/18/13.
I went out on a photo mission to Glenmere Lake first thing this morning. I was on the lake in my kayak before the sun was up, with the goal of trying to get some Pied-billed Grebe photos. Last year I got some grebe photos out at the Basha Kill, but this year I never saw a Pied-billed Grebe while I was kayaking there. I have stopped by Glenmere Lake without the kayak several times recently and noticed a decent number of grebes present. I was thinking it would be pretty easy to get some good photos by just paddling out to the birds. Boy, was I wrong. The grebes were VERY aware of my presence and kept their distance and dove under when I got too close. I was thinking that the reason I was able to shoot the Pied-billed Grebe out at the Basha Kill was because the channels out there are so narrow, so I think they might get a little more comfortable with kayak/boat traffic passing close by. I finally floated very slowly towards one grebe, the light was very pleasing, and I was able to shoot about 12 photos. Here is my best effort:
A Pied-billed Grebe caught in the first rays of sun for the day. Glenmere Lake, 10/13/13.
I only had a little bit of time to be out this morning, but on my way in I found this Ruddy Duck, who was much more cooperative than any of the grebes, and the light was pretty nice too.
This shot is not a crisp as some others, but I can’t resist the water dripping off the bill. Ruddy Duck at Glenmere Lake, 10/13/13.Ruddy Duck on a red lake. Glenmere Lake, 10/13/13.A Double-crested Cormorant takes off. Glenmere Lake, 10/13/13.
I was very pleased to find four Eastern Bluebirds first thing in the morning at Mt. Peter Hawk Watch.
I spent the day counting hawks out at the Mt. Peter Hawk Watch. I feel a little snake bit this year; I had another slow day with a total of only 28 migrating raptors. The highlights for me were an immature Bald Eagle and a Peregrine Falcon in the afternoon. Here’s my report:
Mount Peter
Warwick, New York, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 12, 2013
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Matt Zeitler
Observers: Don Leak
Visitors:
Terry Ann Gmelch, Don Leak, Caroline and Richard Kurtz, and Jeane
Thelander.
Weather:
Sunny and warm with some clouds. There was a light NE wind for the duration
of the watch. Temperatures ranged from 11 degrees to 23 degrees Celsius.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: One immature Bald Eagle and one unknown Northern
Harrier. The local Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures were very active and
could be seen in flight or on the cell tower for the duration of the watch.
Non-raptor Observations:
Non Raptor Species: Canada Goose (713), Eastern Bluebird (4), Blue Jay
(105), White-breasted Nuthatch (1), Downy Woodpecker (1), Red-bellied
Woodpecker (1), American Crow (9), Common Raven (4), Titmouse (2),
Black-capped Chickadee (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), and (4) unidentified
gulls.
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Report submitted by Matt Zeitler (mattzeit@yahoo.com)
It was not a great night for photos, but it was good to see that the pair of LBDOs continue out at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary 10/10/13.
Tonight at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, the two Long-billed Dowitchers continue in the small pond to the south of the Heritage Trail. Additional shorebirds included 11 Lesser Yellowlegs and 4 Pectoral Sandpipers. I also enjoyed a decent showing of waterfowl with Canada Geese, Mallards, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, a single American Black Duck and a single Northern Pintail.
I also tried something new for me tonight: I wore camouflage. I’ve heard many photographers talk about how effective camouflage is for photographing wildlife, and tonight I experienced it for the first time. While shooting Yellow-rumped Warblers, I noticed that the birds seemed far less likely to flush. Also, while shooting the two Dowitchers, 10 Lesser Yellowlegs flew in and landed between myself and the Dowitchers – pretty darn close really. It’s only one outing, but it does appear to make a difference.
Yellow-rumped Warbler at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 10/10/13.One of 11 Lesser Yellowlegs seen today at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary.I had to wait for this LBDO to do some scratching to get a shot with his bill completely out of the water.
As of 5:30 this evening (10/5), the two Dowitchers at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary continue. The consensus is that these birds are in fact Long-billed Dowitchers. I sent John Haas over 20 photos last night and he re-located the birds this morning to get a look himself. John feels that these are Long-billed Dowitchers – see his comment in my original post about these birds and go to his blog to see his post. Both are interesting and informative – well worth clicking over to. I also posted on the NY Birders Facebook page and all comments have been supporting LBDO.
Between these two birds and the Black Scoters located by Bruce Nott, it has been great weekend of birding!
