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.~ ~ICELAND GULL, Newburgh 01/27/22.~ ~ICELAND GULL, Newburgh 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.
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.~
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.
~And one more shot of the Mountain Bluebird, mid-hover at Esopus Meadows Preserve, 01/16/22.~ ~This was a beautiful little bird. I struggled to get photos through the fence, looking down into one of the tanks at the sewage plant in Newburgh, 01/16/22.~ ~Common Merganser at a surprise location (for me), just off Newport Bridge Road, 01/15/22.~ ~If it wasn’t for the MOBL, I would have spent more time with this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Esopus Meadows Preserve, 01/16/22.~ ~Bald Eagle at the Newburgh Waterfront, 01/15/22.~ ~Common Merganser in the icy Hudson River, Newburgh Waterfront 01/15/22.~
My first stop on this icy, cold, morning with freezing rain was at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, which thankfully is only a mile or so from our house. Peter and Joe Chernak reported a couple of Canvasbacks there late yesterday, and I was hoping the birds were still around. When I first arrived, I was not having any luck with my targets, but I did locate a pretty darn good bird for the county – a single Common Goldeneye. Then, partially hidden by Canada Geese, I located one and then two CANVASBACKS. Canvasback is a really good bird for Orange County – I checked my personal records and I’ve only had them in the county two times prior to today. Huge thanks to Peter and Joe for finding and reporting the birds.
~Two Canvasbacks with a trio of Ring-necked Ducks, a Mute Swan, and some Canada Geese. 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary 01/09/22.~ ~A pair of Black Vultures on Lower Wisner Road, 01/09/22.~ ~It was slim pickins for photos today, so I’m throwing in a shot of the Franklin’s Gull that I took last week and never processed. Newburgh Waterfront, 12/31/21.~
I went to the black dirt this morning and was able to catch up with 3 of my 4 target birds. Early on I got a distant look at my first Rough-legged Hawk of the season, a beautiful light morph bird. A little later I caught up with a flock of Horned Larks; I looked through them and found a single Snow Bunting and a single Lapland Longspur. I tried for the Greater White-fronted Goose which has been reported at the Route 1 pond, but no luck there.
~Always a favorite, Lapland Longspur in the black dirt, 01/08/22~
In the afternoon I headed to Newburgh. I dipped on the Golden Eagle at Storm King State Park, but I cleaned up with gulls, tallying 6 species: Ring-billed, Herring, Great Black-backed, FRANKLIN’S, Iceland, and Glaucous. What a refreshing, cold, beautiful day of birding. Beats sitting at the desk like I did all week, that’s for sure.
~Horned Lark in the black dirt, 01/08/22.~ ~I was happy to get the Franklin’s Gull for my 2022 list. Newburgh Waterfront, 01/08/22.~ ~Common Ravens on a deer carcass in the black dirt, 01/08/22.~ ~I wanted to include this photo as well because it’s really cool to see the Common Ravens alongside the American Crows. Black dirt, 01/08/22.~
Generally speaking, this is a feel-good blog. I’m typically posting when something interesting, exciting, or just fun is happening. Today, unfortunately, is the exception. This morning Tricia and I headed over to the Beacon waterfront; I was hoping for gulls even though I know that early in the day is typically a bust for gulls on the river. As expected, it was very quiet at Long Dock Park when we arrived. Just a handful of Ring-billed Gulls around, and some Common Mergansers and a Great Black-backed Gull way out on the river.
~iPhone shot of the Iceland Gull in Beacon NY, 01/02/22.~
We walked out by the kayak launch, and at the end of the dock there was a single gull. It was a first winter ICELAND GULL, but, it was in some sort of distress. It was very messy looking and kept either trying to call or regurgitate something but was not having any luck. As I watched, a young child ran near the bird and it did not fly, it just slowly walked away.
~Debbie van Zyl brings the carrier to me. Long Dock Park, Beacon NY 01/02/22. Photo by Tricia Zeitler.~
I went to my car to get my carrier (it’s for my gear, but also perfect for bird rescue). When I returned, Debbie van Zyl was with the bird and she helped me capture the bird, which actually proved to be quite easy, an indication of the condition of the bird. Tricia and I drove the bird to the veterinary hospital, where it was going to be picked up by the rehabber. We headed home, hoping for the best. Unfortunately, not too long after arriving home, I received word that the bird did not make it. We know that a high percentage of gulls don’t make it through their first year, that’s just natural, but it’s heartbreaking to be invested and to witness it up close and personal like that. May that bird rest in peace.
It’s hard to believe that yet another year of birding is behind us. It was a good year for me, one where I changed my approach a little bit. I tried to put aside the birding expectations I’ve had in the past and simply strive for the most enjoyable overall experience at any given time. For example, there where times when a good long hike is what I needed in my life; we know these long hikes aren’t nearly as birdy as some other locations, but I enjoyed the experience and appreciated whatever birds came my way. I also focused more and more on the species of birds that I enjoy most – raptors, gulls, and shorebirds. The result was a year where my species counts were the lowest they’ve been in years, but where I enjoyed my birding time immensely.
~Ferruginous Hawk in the black dirt, 02/07/21.~
RARITIES OF 2021
We had some very notable rarities our area this year. Here’s my top five, which include the (2) life birds I saw this year:
Ferruginous Hawk in the black dirt. Originally located by Linda Scrima on 01/16/21, this raptor was a BIG deal and pleased birders for most of the winter.
Franklin’s Gull at the Newburgh Waterfront. Originally reported by Ronnie DiLorenzo on 12/16/21. The bird continues as of this writing, being seen mostly at the sewage treatment plant and sometimes at the boat launch.
Sedge Wrens at Wisner Road. I don’t recall the original finder, but I went for these birds on 7/27/21 and was successful in locating at least (4) birds present. This was especially exciting for me because it was a life bird for me.
Ash-throated Flycatcher at Rockefeller State Park Preserve. This might be considered extralimital, but this location was only about an hour away. On 12/28/21 I enjoyed relocating and getting some decent photos of this surprisingly attractive bird. This too was a life bird for me. I believe this bird continues at this location.
Snowy Owl on the Newburgh Ferry. On 12/04/21, while gulling the Newburgh Waterfront with Bruce Nott, I located a beautiful Snowy Owl perched on top of the ferry. The bird, as suspected, was a one hit wonder and wasn’t relocated.
Rarities Notable Mentions: John Haas found a Wilson’s Phalarope at Morningside Park on 05/31/21. Jeanne Cimorelli located a White Ibis at the Camel Farm on 10/18/21. And finally, a bird that seems to be becoming a true rarity in Orange County – I had (3) Upland Sandpipers flyover at Skinner’s Lane on 08/08/21.
~Snowy Owl on the Newburgh Ferry, 12/04/21.~ ~Beautiful gull – Adult Iceland Gull preening at the Newburgh Waterfront on 02/13/21.~
GULLS OF 2021
It was another great year of gulling in Orange County where I observed a total of (8) species of gull in the county for the second year in a row. This has increasingly become my favorite type of birding; I really enjoy spending the afternoons at the Newburgh Waterfront scanning through all the gulls. Also of note, I ran for the Lesser Black-backed Gull in Sullivan County on 11/21/21, and it was kind enough to stick around for me. It was my 193rd bird in SC.
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
FRANKLIN’S GULL
~FRANKLIN’S GULL in flight on 12/18/21; Newburgh Waterfront.~~American Golden-Plovers in flight at Skinner’s Lane, 09/14/21.~
SHOREBIRDS OF 2021
I had a decent year for shorebirds, with (22) species observed. In Orange County and I totaled (18) species for the year (It very easily could have been (19), but I never went for American Woodcock). The highlight of the year for shorebirds was enjoying the large flock of American Golden-Plovers at Skinner’s Lane for a week or so in mid-September. Other highlights included the Wilson’s Phalarope in Sullivan County on 05/31/21, a flyover of (3) Upland Sandpipers on 08/08/21, and kayaking at Morningside Park to get the Long-billed Dowitcher located by John Haas on 10/17/21.
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semi-palmated Plover
Killdeer
Semipalmated Plover
Ruddy Turnstone (Seneca County)
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper (Westchester County)
Baird’s Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher (Seneca County)
Long-billed Dowitcher (Sullivan and Orange Counties)
Wilson’s Snipe
Wilson’s Phalarope (Sullivan County)
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
~Long-billed Dowitcher at Morningside Park, 10/17/21.~ ~Good yard bird – Ovenbird in my backyard on 04/29/21.~
YARD BIRDS OF 2021
I continued to work from home of 2021, so once again, yard birding was a focal point. I decided early on to keep a list; I was really curious to see what kind of numbers of species I might be able to observe in my own yard. Part of the way through the year, Judy Cinquina and I were talking about it and decided to place a friendly wager on it. I ended the year with (72) species, and Judy finished with an impressive (68) species, in spite of getting a late start. We have already agreed to a rematch in 2022.
I was surprised by how many warblers I had in my yard – (9) species. I never considered my yard a place to get warblers until the past couple of years. And some of them were impressive, including Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Cerulean, and an unexpected Ovenbird. Other surprised include a Hermit Thrush, and my final bird of the year, a Brown Creeper. There were also three birds I would have expected to have a good chance to see, but did not: Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, and Hairy Woodpecker.
TOP TEN PHOTOS OF 2021
Here are my personal favorite photos that I took in 2021, starting with my number one shot of the year, an American Pipit in flight. Each year choosing the top photos seems to get more difficult for me. As I go through the year’s pics, each year I am more and more underwhelmed. I think it’s because now that I’ve been doing this for a good number of years (this spring will be 10 years doing the blog!), it’s becoming more difficult to get new and exciting shots. Anyways, here’s my picks for the top ten photos of the year:
~American Pipit in flight in the black dirt, 10.24.21.~ ~Ring-billed Gulls in the snow at Beacon Waterfront, 11.28.21.~ ~Eastern Coyote in Warwick, 11.06.21.~ ~Great Blue Heron in the small pond in my neighborhood, Goshen NY 04.11.21.~ ~Great Crested Flycatcher at Elks Brox Park, 05.15.21.~ ~Canada Geese at Wickham Lake, 11.06.21.~ ~Blue-winged Warbler at the Bashakill, 05.02.21.~ ~Black-bellied Plover at Skinner’s Lane, 09.13.21.~ ~Black-throated Green Warbler at Mt. Peter Hawkwatch, 10/09/21.~~Double Crested Cormorant, Round Lake 03.28.21.~
As always, I’d like to thank all my birding friends that have helped to make it such an enjoyable year of birding (you know who you are). I’d also like to thank everyone for tuning in to the blog, especially those of you who subscribe and those of you who comment – it makes my day when I get a comment on a post! Happy New Year to everyone, here’s to another great year of birding in 2022.
I spent the last two days birding locally and was lucky enough to get some good birds. Yesterday morning I birded the black dirt; early on I found a handful of American Pipits feeding on some piles of discarded onions, but the real highlight came a little later on Turtle Bay Road, where I located a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE among a flock of approximately 1,000 Canada Geese. In the evening I went gulling at the Newburgh Waterfront with Bruce Nott. While we were together, we had (5) species of gull (Ring-billed, Herring, Great Black-backed, LESSER BLACK-BACKED, and ICELAND GULL), but Bruce was finishing up a remarkable (7) gull day (same as above plus: FRANKLIN’S, and GLAUCOUS).
~Always a favorite of mine – Common Loon at Greenwood Lake, 12/30/21.~
This morning I was sort of taking it easy and I just visited some nearby lakes: Wickham, Greenwood, Round, and Walton. I had a total of (9) species of waterfowl: Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, A. Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, and the highlight of the morning, a relatively cooperative COMMON LOON. The loon was at Greenwood Lake; the bird was not too far out and I stood on the shore patiently until the bird came close enough for some decent shots.
~COLO at Greenwood Lake, 12/30/21.~ ~Regular readers of this blog know how much I like pipits – American Pipit on a pile of onions in the black dirt, 12/29/21.~ ~Can you pick out the ICELAND GULL? Hint: it’s the one with the very pale primaries. Newburgh Waterfront, 12/29/21.~ ~Lesser Black-backed Gull at Newburgh Waterfront, 12/29/21.~ ~Greater White-fronted Goose at Turtle Bay Road, 12/29/21.~ ~One more shot of the COLO at Greenwood Lake, 12/30/21.~
I’m off work this week, so I’ll likely be getting out all week. Yesterday morning was frustrating: I tried for three different locally reported Northern Shrikes and came up empty. But, my luck began to change in the evening at the Newburgh Waterfront. First, I caught up with the continuing FRANKLIN’S GULL. Then, a little later in the evening, I joined forces with Bruce Nott, and we were able to locate two Iceland Gulls on the river.
~Ash-throated Flycatcher on a nice perch, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, 12/28/21.~
This morning I headed over to Westchester County to try for the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER which has been reported recently at Rockefeller State Park Preserve. It was a beautiful morning, with the fog lifting and the sun coming out. I wandered around the park; it was birdy, but initially there was no sign of the flycatcher. I was joined by three other birders, all looking for the bird. I eventually located the bird and got two of the three others on it. It made only two brief appearances before retreating to the tree line. I waited for a while for the bird to show again, but then I decided to leave. I’d gotten good looks and some decent photos of this good looking bird, so I was ready to continue birding elsewhere. The ATFL was a life bird for me (#424) and, of course a NYS bird (#314).
~One more shot of the Ash-throated Flycatcher at Rockefeller State Park Preserve, 12/28/21.~
I enjoyed good birding on both days of the weekend, but the highlight undoubtedly came early Saturday morning when I relocated the FRANKLIN’S GULL which was reported at the Newburgh Waterfront on Thursday and Friday. I feared that with the drop in temperature and the rainy weather the bird might have moved on, but fortunately that was not the case. FRGU is a really good bird anywhere in New York State, and now I’ve seen two right here in Orange County. To say I got a better look at this bird than the one in July of 2020 would be a huge understatement. This bird was very cooperative and I enjoyed fantastic looks.
~Franklin’s Gull in flight, Newburgh Waterfront 12/18/21.~
Sunday was a different kind of day. The weather turned out to be very nice – crisp and cool with a mix of sun and clouds. I headed out to the black dirt, and early on it seemed to be quite birdy, so I decided to count my total species for the morning of birding. Which, surprisingly, is not something I do very often. I cruised the black dirt, spend a few minutes at the viewing platform at Liberty Marsh, went to Wickham Lake, and finished up at Greenwood Lake. I had a total of 43 species for the morning, which doesn’t seem too bad for this time of the year. I had a some nice surprises – a Brown Creeper at Celery Ave, (8) Northern Shovelers at Liberty Marsh, my first Merlin in ages on Onion Ave, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Wickham Lake. I’ve included my complete list below.
~Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Wickham Lake, 12/19/21~~American Goldfinch at Celery Ave, 12/19/21.~~Not a great shot, but it’s been too long since I’ve seen/photographed a Merlin. Onion Ave, 12/19/21.~~Brown Creeper trying to hide from me. Celery Ave, 12/19/21.~~One more shot of the Franklin’s Gull in Newburgh NY, 12/18/21.~
