March 2014 – Orange Birding

3/31/14 – Catch Up

Song Sparrow at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 3/31/14.

Okay, so it’s time to play a little catch up. I’ve been getting out a bit in the last week but haven’t been organized enough or had the time to do posts. I’ll start with tonight after work – I stopped by 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary right here in Goshen. I am happy to say that all the ice has melted and the sanctuary was relatively birdy. It was nice to be on foot once again as well. Here’s my list for the night:

Canada Goose 85
Wood Duck 2
American Black Duck 3
Mallard 15
Green-winged Teal 3
Ring-necked Duck 12
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 5
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 35
American Tree Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 12
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 6

So, that was tonight. Now for the catch up over the last week. No great photos to speak of, but I guess that’s just the way it goes sometimes.

Monday 3/24/14

Monday I was out in the Black Dirt Region sorting through Canada Geese with no luck. I was happy to see that 4 Short-eared Owls were still around though.

Tuesday 3/25/14

Tuesday I was out looking for geese in Pine Island and came across a small flock of Snow Geese – approximately 400 birds. This group continues and was seen at the Camel Farm by a couple of people today (3/31/14).

Wednesday 3/26/14

Wednesday was so cold and windy that I did not stay out very long at all. Really, just long enough to get some shots of this mixed flock of blackbirds. This pic looks like all Red-winged Blackbirds, but when I was looking at the birds on the ground there were definitely some Brown-headed Cowbirds in the flock.

Thursday 3/27/14

I actually got it together and did a post on Thursday from my visit to the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge but did not include this Turkey Vulture shot. See Thursday’s post here

Saturday 3/29/14

I had Nature Watch Training at the Basha Kill in the morning and I got out for a little while in the afternoon. Notable observations included 3 Snowy Owls in the Black Dirt and the continuing flock of 400 to 500 Snow Geese as well.

Sunday 3/30/14

On Sunday, I only had a brief window to bird early in the morning. I headed over to the Hudson River to look for waterfowl. On my way over I stopped by the Heron Rookery across from Stewart Airport and noticed that several Great Blue Herons had taken up residence there. There was not many waterfowl to be seen from the Hudson, but I did have 15 or so Tree Swallows hunting over the river, seen from Plum Point. On my way back I stopped at Brown’s Pond, and although it was still mostly ice, there were some waterfowl to be found, including: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, American Wigeon, Bufflehead and Mute Swan.

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge 3/27/14

Ring-necked Ducks in flight at Wallkill River NWR, 3/27/14.

Tonight after work, I walked the Liberty Loop at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge for the first time in ages. It proved to be quite birdy, and a good showing of waterfowl was certainly the highlight:

Canada Goose (1500)
Wood Duck (35)

American Wigeon (4)
American Black Duck (30)
Mallard (60)

Northern Pintail (75)

Green-winged Teal (50)
Ring-necked Duck (120)

Hooded Merganser (6)

Other highlights included 14 Turkey Vultures that appeared as if they might have been moving through, and I also had an attractive looking Skunk that I was able to get a couple of mediocre shots of. It felt really good to be on foot, taking a hike, and out of the car for a change. It has been a long cold winter of car-birding.

Thanks to the gentleman on the trail that gave me the heads-up about this skunk. Wallkill River NWR, 3/27/14.

More RNDUs in flight at the Wallkill River NWR, 3/27/14.

Sunday Shots 3/23/14

Some of my shots from the past week:

This Hooded Merganser took a back seat to the Red-necked Grebe at Algonquin Park, 3/22/14. — This handsome Hooded Merganser took a back seat to the Red-necked Grebe at Algonquin Park, 3/22/14.

Saturday afternoon I walked some of the trails at the Basha Kill and found this Eastern Bluebird.

These Snow Geese are from Thursday evening, 3/20/14. Today, 3/23/14, I had a small flock of 200 fly over when I was at the Camel Farm.

At least one Snowy Owl continued in the Black Dirt as of Friday night, 2/21/14.

One last shot of the sleepy Red-necked Grebe at Algonquin Park, 3/22/14.

Notable Observations

The biggest news of the weekend was John Haas locating TWO CACKLING GEESE at Haven Road at the Basha Kill. Visit his blog to get the full scoop – it is actually an amazing story.

For myself, the best bird of the weekend was definitely the Red-necked Grebe. Additionally I had a few first of season birds this weekend: Tree Swallows (Basha Kill 3/23), Sharp-shinned Hawk (Celery Ave 3/22) and Eastern Phoebe (Algonquin Park 3/22).

Red-necked Grebe

I’m a day late and a dollar short with this bird – this is probably the most photographed bird on Facebook right now. Still, it is a beautiful bird to see and the pond in Algonquin park where the bird is located, is rather small, allowing for very good looks at this bird. Huge thanks to Bruce Nott for locating the bird and having someone post about it, even though he was still out in the field.

The bird spent most of the time I was there this morning tucked in... — The bird spent most of the time I was there this morning tucked in…

Every once in a while it would stretch out a bit... — Every once in a while it would stretch out a bit…

Black Dirt Geese – 3/21/14

Cackling Goose in the Black Dirt Region, 3/21/14. I like this photo because it you can see the difference between the Canada and the Cackling Goose.

I took a quick but productive tour of the Black Dirt Region after work today. I was unable to relocate any large flocks of Snow Geese, but did find some larger groups of Canada Geese, and among them some gems:

Cackling Goose (1)
Grester White-fronted Goose (2)
Snow Goose (60)

Maybe there are still some large groups of Snow Geese around – there are certainly areas I did not get to tonight. Maybe this weekend will produce a Barnacle Goose or even a Pink-footed Goose? A Ross’s Goose? Who knows?

Orange County Snow Geese Continue

Four Snow Geese in flight, New Hampton NY, 3/20/14.

While I was at work on Thursday, I spoke to Rob Stone and John Haas; the Snow Geese in the Black Dirt Region continued in large numbers. They also continued to be restless, changing locations often. After work, I joined John Haas and Karen Miller as they scanned and photographed a group of 1,800 Snow Geese that included a single Tundra Swan as well. The birds picked up and we relocated them easily enough. The field that they had landed in made it easier to see the birds and after scanning them for a while we were confident that there was not a Ross’s Goose among them.

I love watching these Snow Geese put on a show. New Hampton NY, 3/20/14.

It is very enjoyable to photograph the Snow Geese, though sometimes it's hard to know what to shoot! — Snow Geese – Black Dirt Region, 3/20/14.

At some point, while shooting the geese, I noticed this Red-tailed Hawk over my shoulder and got a few shots. New Hampton NY, 3/20/14.

3/19/14 – Snow Geese Land in Orange County

Just before noon today, Rob Stone called to let me know he had approximately 2000 Snow Geese at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, just across the road from the Liberty Loop. By the time I got out of work after 3:00, the birds had moved on. I got in touch with Curt McDermott and John Haas who were hot on the trail of the birds. They had relocated the flock (which had grown to 8,000 birds), but the birds lifted up once again. The flock had split into two groups and I followed Curt and John in my car as we (they!) relocated the larger of the two groups out in the Black Dirt Region. The three of us agreed that there were perhaps 5,000 Snow Geese in the group. We spent probably over two hours looking for a Ross’s Goose among them without success. With any luck the birds will stick around long enough and someone will find a Ross’s.

Sunday Shots – Orange County Barn Owl

Barn Owl in flight, Orange County NY, 2/14/14. — Barn Owl in flight, Orange County NY, February 2014.

These photos of a Barn Owl in Orange County, NY are from early February, 2014. In the best interest of the bird, I have waited until now to post. I put the Barn Owl in the category of Birds I Never Thought I Would Photograph. What a pleasure and a privilege to see and photograph such an awesome and beautiful bird.

Notable Observations for 3/16/14:

Curt McDermott was birding the Black Dirt Region today and located a total of 4 Snowy Owls. Additionally, I joined him at Onion Avenue, where he had 5 Greater White-fronted Geese and one Snow Goose.

Five Greater White-fronted Geese, Onion Avenue, 3/16/14.

Big Flocks

A flock of mixed blackbirds in flight at Onion Avenue in New Hampton NY, 3/14/14.

I spent Thursday and Friday afternoons of this week in the Black Dirt Region looking for geese. I spoke to John Haas on Thursday during the day and he had located a Greater White-Fronted Goose out on Onion Avenue and a very large flock of mixed blackbirds. On Thursday evening I made it out and I found the flock of blackbirds easily enough; I estimate maybe over 5,000 birds in the flock? Also present were perhaps 2,000 Canada Geese, but I was not able to relocate the GWFG. It was a VERY cold night, which made it tough for me to stay out and sort through thousands of geese!

I went back on Friday and the flock of Canada Geese had grown to maybe 3,500 birds. Out in the fields, within the flock, I had what appeared to be one leucisitic Canada Goose, one Canada Goose hybrid (maybe with a greylag?), many Mallards and American Black Ducks, 3 Wood Ducks (!), and I had 2 Snow Geese that flew over, circled, but never joined the flock. Still no sign of the Greater White-fronted Goose though. Additionally, the number of black birds was down (perhaps 800?), but they were still present as well.

A Common Grackle flies over Onion Ave., 3/13/14.

The flock of Canada Geese out at Onion Avenue were spooked a couple of times and took flight. The first time I looked up and didn't see a cause, the second time I noticed a small dog in the field giving chase.... — The flock of Canada Geese out at Onion Avenue were spooked a couple of times and took flight. The first time I looked up and didn’t see a cause, the second time I noticed a small dog in the field giving chase….

I struck out with the Greater White-fronted Goose that John Haas found, but I did have 2 Snow Geese do an extended flyover. Onion Avenue, New Hampton NY, 3/14/14.

It’s Beginning to Feel Like Spring…

A male Hooded Merganser at Schervier Pavilion in Warwick NY, 3/11/14.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day and I could barely wait to get out of work to do some birding. Today was the first day that felt like spring to me and I took advantage by heading over to Warwick, NY to look for waterfowl. My first stop was at the pond across from Town Hall where I did well, accumulating 7 species waterfowl: Canada Geese (15), Mallards (12), Ring-necked Ducks (22), Wood Ducks (3), Gadwall (5), Hooded Mergansers (3) and a single Green-winged Teal.

An accommodating Gadwall across from Warwick Town Hall, 3/11/14. — An accommodating Gadwall in the pond across from Warwick Town Hall, 3/11/14.

My next stop was at Schervier Pavilion in Warwick, which has a small pond that apparently gets Hooded Mergansers regularly. Nine were present today and they were joined by 2 Canada Geese, 4 Mallards, and 1 Ring-necked Duck.

The Hooded Mergansers at Schervier Pavilion were relatively confiding.

Female Mallard at Schervier Pavilion, 3/11/14.

Finally, I did some driving around the black dirt region to see what I could find. It ended up being a banner night with three species of owl: Snowy Owl (1), Short-eared Owl (3), and Great Horned Owl (1 heard). Additionally, I got my first Killdeer (3) of the season for Orange County:

I had my first Orange County Killdeer of the year on this day - 3 in the Black Dirt and 4 at Lower Wisner Road in Warwick. 3/11/14. — I just love these birds! I had my first Orange County Killdeer of the year on this day – Black Dirt Region, 3/11/14.