Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the Black Dirt Region, 8/30/14.
This morning a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was located in the Black Dirt Region by Jim Schlickenrieder (who I just met for the first time today). Not only that, the bird was moving around the Black Dirt pretty good, and Jim was able to relocate the bird two more times! To me this is pretty incredible, and thanks to his diligence and John Haas alerting me, I was able to see this amazing bird. Shortly after parting ways, Jim contacted John again to say he had located an American Golden-Plover. Wow, pretty good morning of birding for Jim!
A Glossy Ibis picks through the small pond south of the Heritage Trail at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 8/20/14.
So, yesterday afternoon I located an ibis the small pond to the south of the Heritage Trail at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary. Having just had a very good look at the three Glossy Ibis out at the Liberty Loop just last week, this bird seemed a little different to me. This bird had white at the base of both the upper and lower bill, legs that appeared to be light orange in color (as opposed to the darker legs on the three LL ibis), a much redder overall look that was less iridescent, and to me, the bill appeared to be slightly larger. With all this in mind I started to think about the possibility of a White-faced Ibis. I did some quick, inconclusive research on my phone app and then called Rob Stone and John Haas for some guidance. Apparently, both the legs and the facial skin of a WFIB should be red/pink in color, but the key for this ID, was to see the color of the bird’s eye. If the iris was red then it would make it a White-faced, if dark it would be a Glossy. Well, this bird does not have a very large eye, and I was viewing it from just under 150 yards away, which was going to make it difficult to determine. John showed up in no time at all, but by that time, the had bird picked up and move further out by about another 40 yards. Karen Miller, Linda Scrima, Bruce Nott, and Kathleen Ashman had also showed up. We all agreed that the bird was too far to see the eye color. It was getting darker by the minute, so it was decided that John and I would work our way around the pond to get a closer look. When we did so, it was still tough to determine the eye color; I think the setting sun was playing some tricks on us. Scotty Baldinger eventually joined us, and not long after that we felt confident that the bird’s iris was not red and the bird was therefore a Glossy Ibis. It was really a fun evening for me, spending time observing such an interesting and beautiful bird and to do so with some great people made it that much better.
GLIB at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 8/20/14.
One last thing – John wrote an interesting post about this bird on his blog, and reading it, I learned about another important identifying feature: according to the Crossley Guide, the white at the base of the bill always disappears behind the eye, as opposed to the complete white surround of the White-faced Ibis.
This photo shows that the white does not continue behind the eye. Glossy Ibis at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 8/20/14.
LITTLE BLUE HERON
I did not strike out two days in a row with the Little Blue Heron located in the pond near the intersection of Routes 302 and 17K in Bullville NY, 8/20/14.
It was an eventful afternoon of birding; before I went to 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, I went for the LITTLE BLUE HERON in Bullville again. This time I did not come up empty handed, the bird was easily located and though it was little far out, I got great looks in my scope and the photos were not too bad. This bird had a lot of personality to me – if I was a little closer (and it wasn’t backlit), I could have had some nice photos for sure because the bird kept striking interesting poses.
Quick Post: Tonight after my golf match I stopped by 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary and I had what I believe was a STILT SANDPIPER. It was located at the small pond that is south of the Heritage Trail (I call it the Citgo Trail because you can access it from the Route 17M Citgo Station). Because I came straight from golf, I did not have my camera. I failed miserably at taking photos with the iPhone through my scope, but I did shoot some video of the bird (which is also pretty poor!), which can be seen HERE. Also present were approximately 20 Least Sandpipers, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, and 8 or so Killdeer. I will try for the bird again tomorrow and hopefully get some photos…
A young Northern Rough-winged Swallow waits to be fed, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 7/6/14.
I only got out for an hour this morning – I met Karen Miller and Maria Loukeris at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary. The highlight of this short outing was definitely watching a group of young Northern Rough-winged Swallows being fed by a couple of adults. Thanks to Karen who located the birds – this is the second NRWS photo opportunity this year that I have her to thank for!
NRWS at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 7/6/14.Not the greatest shot, but a food exchange between two NRWS, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 7/6/14.One more shot of a young Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 7/6/14.
One of two Semipalmated Plover at Wallkill River NWR, 5/15/14. They were located in the compound just north of Oil City Road, to the west of Liberty Lane.
I had a small collection of shorebirds at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge this evening:
All the birds, save one Greater Yellowlegs, were located in the compound just north of Oil City Road and on your left as you walk up Liberty Lane. Two of the Greater Yellowlegs flew and eventually put down on the west side of the Liberty Loop, so that might be another good location for shorebirds.
Semipalmated Plover at Wallkill River NWR, 5/15/14.
Also, yesterday evening I met Karen Miller at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, where it was quite birdy with a couple of Blackpoll Warblers being the highlight for me. I had ample opportunity to get shots of these birds, but wow were they moving quickly and in the shadows. Here’s my best effort:
One of two Blackpoll Warblers at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 5/14/14.Warbling Vireo at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 5/14/14.
iPhone shot of Canada Geese on the ice at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 1/14/14.
It was a rainy and foggy afternoon in Goshen today. I missed out on the nice weather yesterday because of a work obligation, so I was really itching to get out an do some birding. So, I decided to walk the Heritage Trail at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary to get my fix. I did not get a high number of species, but it was quite birdy with large numbers of the birds I did see. I could hear the Canada Geese flying in over my head in the fog, and there was a congregation of approximately 450 geese on the ice in no time at all. I also had a good number of American Robins, mostly perched in trees well off the trail. The sighting of the day for me was 18 Cedar Waxwings, a bird that I have not seen recently for some reason. Here’s my short but sweet list from the day:
6 1/2 Station Rd. Sanctuary, Orange, US-NY
Jan 14, 2014 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.25 mile(s)
8 species
Canada Goose 450
Mallard 45
Mourning Dove 6
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 6
American Robin 55
European Starling 30
Cedar Waxwing 18
I always love having the trail to myself, it is very refreshing. iPhone photo of the Heritage Trail, 1/14/14.
Black-capped Chickadee on the Heritage Trail at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 1/3/14.White-breasted Nuthatch at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 1/3/14.
I took advantage of the snow day today by snowshoeing down the Heritage Trail that borders 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary. It was a pretty cold journey, but it was nice to get out and see some birds. I did not see anything out of the ordinary, just a good showing of many of the expected birds. Here’s my list:
I love being the only one out on the trail! Heritage Trail / 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 1/3/14.
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
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.
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.
