July 2025 – Orange Birding

Orange County Sanderling, 07/31/25

With the weather moving in today, I knew I wanted to check the Black Dirt Region for shorebirds after work this evening. It was mostly quiet until I found a single field with a decent sized collection of shorebirds, maybe 40 or so birds. One bird stood out immediately; I did what I could to document it before the rain came down in full force. While I sat in my car in the rain, I put the word out and sent photos. John Haas responded very quickly, identifying the bird as a SANDERLING. Sanderling was on my short list, but I certainly wasn’t sure about it. Big thanks to John and everyone that weighed in. Other species present were Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, and Killdeer. I’ll leave you with this reminder: BAD WEATHER = GOOD BIRDS = TERRIBLE PICS.

~Sanderling in the black dirt, 07/31/25.~

~Semipalmated Plover in an absolute downpour. Black Dirt Region 07/31/25.~

Sunday Shots -An Overdose of Cuteness, 07/27/25

On Saturday morning I birded the area, hoping for some new fall shorebird arrivals. Unfortunately, I did not add any new species to my list from last week, and I had a total of only 4 shorebird species.

Black Dirt: Killdeer
Camel Farm: Killdeer and Least Sandpipers (2)
Liberty Marsh Platform: Solitary Sandpipers (2)
Beaver Pond: Killdeer and Solitary Sandpipers (5)
Bullville Pond: Killdeer, Least Sandpipers (2), Solitary Sandpipers (2), and Spotted Sandpiper (1)
6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary: Killdeer and Least Sandpipers (2)

The highlight for me was spending some quality time with a young Killdeer foraging under a sprinkler in the black dirt, so I’ll leave you with an overdose of cuteness. All photos taken on 07/26/25 in the Black Dirt Region.

Sunday Shots, 07/20/25

I was able to get out early both mornings this weekend and things are starting to happen. Shorebirds are on the move. On Saturday morning, I had a couple of Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers at the Camel Farm. Then, this morning I had two fields in the black dirt that were loaded with Killdeer, and at the Camel Farm, I found 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Least Sandpipers, and 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers. And finally, at Beaver Pond (near Glenmere Lake), I had 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, and a handful of Killdeer.

~A calling Killdeer in the black dirt, 07;20/25. I’m really looking forward to shorebird season – it should be interesting. ~

Shorebirds aside, my first stop, super early on Saturday morning, was at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, where I kayaked again. I was trying for Red Crossbills, but unfortunately I didn’t have any luck with that species. Still, it was an enjoyable paddle, birdy enough and even though it was sunny, it was still nice and cool at that hour. I didn’t track my species for that paddle, but I had mostly the same usuals as last weekend, give or take.

~Black-and-white Warbler at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

~Black-and-white Warbler fledgling at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

~I think this is a beautiful bird. Mourning Dove at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

~Young Bald Eagle at Mongaup Reservoir, 0719/25.~

~Green Heron on the hunt at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

~Green Heron at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/19/25.~

Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25

It’s not very often these days that I get to say I did something completely new locally, but that was the case this morning. I went kayaking at Mongaup Falls Reservoir in Sullivan County. Last night I was flipping through the book Quiet Water New York by John Hayes & Alex Wilson, and I saw their write up for this location. I realized that in spite of how close it is, I somehow never kayaked there before.

It was a cool misty morning went I put in. The mist stopped quickly, but the morning stayed cloudy and pleasantly cool. I wouldn’t have minded a little more light for photos, but what can you do? It was a very birdy paddle; I had over 45 species, and it was really just a peaceful morning to be out. Notable species for me included Common Merganser, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Magnolia Warbler. Merlin heard Purple Finch a couple of times, but that’s a bird I’ve never been very good at identifying by ear. Merlin also identified RED CROSSBILL several times. I kept missing it when it happened, but then I finally I heard something and looked at my phone and it said Red Crossbill. I kept listening, and even though Merlin was no longer picking it up, I was sure I was hearing a Red Crossbill doing its chipa-chipa-chipa call. I was scanning the treetops madly, but frustratingly, I never got a visual.

~A young Common Yellowthroat at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~I was surprised to see this young Green Heron – the habitat didn’t seem quite right for it to me. I guess I was wrong about that – I saw several Green Herons during my kayak around the reservoir.~

~I was less surprised to see this bird. Adult Bald Eagle at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~More young birds. Barn Swallows at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~I’m pretty sure this is an Eastern Wood Pewee (I thought I heard some slight vocalization which sounded Pewee-like). Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~Green Heron at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~Another adult Bald Eagle at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

~And one final shot of the young Green Heron at Mongaup Falls Reservoir, 07/13/25.~

Sussex County White Ibises, 07/12/25

As we know, not much has been happening lately, so I was pretty happy to have some exciting birds to try for this morning. I went to Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge’s Liberty Loop to try for the 2 WHITE IBISES that have been observed there in recent days. Fortunately the birds stuck around for me, and I was able to find them easily. I believe the only other time I’ve seen this species in our area was back in 2017, when Rob Stone found 5 of them at Wickham Lake.

~One of 2 young White Ibises at the Liberty Loop, 07/12/25.~

~And here they are together – 2 White Ibises at the Liberty Loop, 07/12/25.~

~One more ibis image. White Ibis at the Liberty Loop, 07/12/25~

~This was another pleasant surprise – Peregrine Falcon at the Liberty Loop, 07/12/25. This looks like a young bird to me.~

~This little dude was begging to have its photo taken. Chipmunk at the Loop, 07/12/25.~

Sunday Shots, 07/06/25

To me, the summer doldrums of birding are in full swing right now. It was great to have a three day weekend and I got out to do a little birding each morning. And while just I enjoyed being out, there isn’t all that much to report. In fact photos were even difficult for me this weekend. Regardless, here’s some notes from the weekend, as well as the shots was able to get. .

On Friday, I followed up on a report for Ruffed Grouse at Sterling Forest first thing. I, unsurprisingly, did not have any luck with grouse, but I did pretty well with raptors for a relatively short visit, with 4 species (Broad-winged Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Turkey Vulture, and Bald Eagle.
Also on Friday morning, I checked on the Great Blue Heron rookery I discovered back in July of 2019 (off of route 6, just east of Woodbury Commons). Unfortunately, it looks like that rookery no longer exists.
On Saturday I walked the Liberty Loop again. Highlights include a pair of Least Sandpipers, a single Purple Martin, and a remarkable 31 Great Blue Herons in flight at one time.
On Sunday, I kayaked out at the Bashakill. My best bird was Least Bittern – I had a single bird fly across the channel in front of me, and another bird calling, deep in the vegetation. Other good birds included a Brown Thrasher flying across the Bash, and a Common Gallinule that I inadvertently flushed with my approach down the channel.
And finally, on a sad note, in spite of their best efforts, the Great Horned Owl owlet that I helped last weekend passed away at the Avian Wildlife Center. I know this is how it goes sometimes, but for some reason I was optimistic about that little dude.