|
new arrivals
John Kent
At Henry Hudson Park in Selkirk, Rose-breasted Grosbeak arrived yesterday morning, and I there were two of them around this morning. Other new arrivals this morning were Baltimore Oriole, and a singing Black and White Warbler in a spot where they have bred in past years. Otherwise, no warblers this morning other than Yellow-rumped. In the tidal portion of the Vlomankill I saw three river otters together, just below the waterfall at the head of tide.
The Bald Eagle nest across the Hudson from the park failed this year. They appeared to be on eggs briefly back at the usual time, but then within a few days it became clear that they were no longer incubating. This nest was built in October 2019 after their previous nest fell to the ground in August. Maybe they picked a spot that is vulnerable to nest-raiding raccoons. On the bright side, I discovered a new (at least to me) eagle nest not far away, on the west side of River Road across from Moh-He-Con-Nuck Nature Preserve. It's at least a half mile from the river, an indication that all the prime territories are already occupied. John Kent Selkirk
|
|
|
|
Early-ish Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Weiskotten, Kurt
Parked in the driveway and there he was - a sight for sore eyes - a beautiful early male Rose-breasted Grosbeak - right here in Belleview, Schenectady. 7:00pm, April 29th.
Per Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other Nondiscrimination statutes, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. and its related companies will not discriminate on the grounds of race, color or national origin in the selection and retention of subconsultants, including
procurement of materials and leases of equipment. Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. and its related companies will ensure that minorities will be afforded full opportunity to submit proposals and will not be discriminated against in consideration for an award. This
communication and any attachments are intended only for the use of the individual or entity named as the addressee. It may contain information which is privileged and/or confidential under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient or such recipient's
employee or agent, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copy or disclosure of this communication is strictly prohibited and to notify the sender immediately.
|
|
|
|
Potash Mountain Birding
Scott Varney
I hiked to the top of Potash Mountain today in Lake Luzerne (The cascading waterfalls are gorgeous right now). On my trip, I observed a Broad-winged Hawk and 2 Turkey Vultures at the summit. At a nearby lookout I found a single Yellow-rumped Warbler. The deciduous and coniferous sections of the trail were very quiet with avian life, but the omni-present voices of running water and light breezes through the trees made for a wonderful experience. Scott Varney Salem NY
|
|
|
|
Schuylerville Birding
Scott Varney
Hiked the Surrender March Trail trail yesterday and found a FOY single Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. Also saw my second Northern Flicker for the year there. At Hudson Crossing, found 2 more BG Gnatcatchers, several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (lots of drumming), several Wood Ducks, and a beautiful Yellow-rumped Warbler. Nice day. Scott Varney Salem, NY
|
|
|
|
this morning at Five Rivers
scottjstoner
22 species, including pine warbler, eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, and belted kingfisher. We also had a Towhee in our yard yesterday morning! Scott and Denise, Loudonville. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
|
|
|
|
Caspian Tern, Green Heron - Saratoga Lake
Alan Mapes
On a paddle from Waterfront Park on the north end of the lake, I had 11 Caspian terns mid-day today - one fishing near the mouth of the Kayadeross Creek and 10 on a private beach where the ring-billed gulls hang out (Water’s Edge). My first of year green heron flew out near the creek mouth. 16 buffleheads were also near that spot. Alan Mapes Saratoga
|
|
|
|
Re: Need help with a bird question
ConserveBirds
Thanks to everyone who responded to my Mallard hen post. I wasn’t aware they would nest so close to people, so I’ve learned something, too. That’s what I love about birding – always something new! Mona Bearor South Glens Falls
From: Steve M. Chorvas [mailto:schorvas@...]
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2020 7:40 PM To: 'HMBirds' <hmbirds@groups.io>; ConserveBirds <conservebirds@...> Subject: Re: [hmbirds] Need help with a bird question
Ask the writer to take a careful look around her porch for an active nest. Mallards are notorious for nesting in odd locations, including under porches, in window wells, chimneys, etc. Sounds like the hen is defending a nest site.
Steve
Steve M. Chorvas
|
|
|
|
Re: Need help with a bird question
Steve M. Chorvas
Ask the writer to take a careful look around her
porch for an active nest. Mallards are notorious for nesting in odd
locations, including under porches, in window wells, chimneys, etc.
Sounds like the hen is defending a nest site.
Steve
Steve M. Chorvas
Saugerties, NY
|
|
|
|
Re: Banded Canada Goose- Five Rivers
Jay Ciccone
Wow that is a really old bird! Speaking of bands, right around the time that goose was banded is when they stoped using the old vinyl style neck bands that were shaped like a bib/cone and they began using the yellow and orange (in our region) cylinder shaped hard plastic neck tags instead. They made the switch as a result of the cone shaped neck collars icing up, and the geese could not fly because of the weight of the ice. Initially that bib style was created to actually prevent ice up on the collar, however it had the reverse affect instead. If anyone ever sees a Canada goose still sporting one of those bib shaped neck tags, that bird is likely at least around twenty years old. Or more! Those neck bands were initially white, with a black alpha numeric combination on them, and over the years the collars had a tendency to fade to a solid black. I'm just curious, when was the last time any one has seen one of those? - Jason Ciccone Catskill
On Sunday, April 26, 2020, 01:33:03 PM EDT, trwdsd via groups.io <trwdsd@...> wrote:
For as long as I have been birding at Five Rivers, there has been a leg-banded Canada Goose present. It spends its time during the breeding season roaming between Wood Duck Marsh, Fox Marsh and Goose Pond. I've never been able to read the band through binoculars, so during this past week I walked along with, around, behind and in front of the bird to get enough images to be able to capture the bard number. It is paired up with another goose again this season, but clearly they are not currently in a nesting situation. I submitted my findings to the Bird Banding Lab at USGS and they sent back the following reply: INFORMATION FROM OUR FILES: Species: Canada Goose Date banded: 06/25/2002 Banding Location: FEURA BUSH, NEW YORK, USA Age: HATCHED IN 2001 OR EARLIER Sex: FEMALEThis female is therefore at least 18+ years old. Tip your hat next time you encounter her. Photos of the band are attached. Tom Williams Colonie
|
|
|
|
Re: Need help with a bird question
scottjstoner
extreme breeding defensive behavior...? Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message -------- From: "Tom Lake via groups.io" <trlake7@...> Date: 4/26/20 17:44 (GMT-05:00) To: conservebirds@..., hmbirds@groups.io Subject: Re: [hmbirds] Need help with a bird question Hormones? Breeding season.
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: ConserveBirds <conservebirds@...> To: 'HMBirds' <hmbirds@groups.io> Sent: Sun, Apr 26, 2020 5:41 pm Subject: [hmbirds] Need help with a bird question We receive this question through our Southern Adirondack Audubon Facebook page. I haven’t a clue. Anyone have an idea what’s going on here?
"I have a question about a female Mallard duck. I was standing on my porch yesterday in the late afternoon. I am in a second floor apartment overlooking a small lake in Southern Saratoga County. There were two Mallard drakes on the shore and one in the water and one female in the water close to the shore. All of a sudden the female suddenly got out of the water and flew up straight at me. She was maybe two feet from me when I had to wave her away. I thought it was just a one off weird event. Now she was on the grass beneath my porch and began aggressively moving into an small area where a Canada Goose was feeding. The Goose warned her away but she persisted and it wasn't until the Goose became very aggressive that she moved aside but not that far. The next thing i knew she flew up at me again. Once more I had to wave her away when she got alarmingly close. She did once more. this time i used a cushion from my Chaise to wave her away. The next thing I know some drakes were chasing her. Having had enough excitement for the day I went inside. I'm over80, am a life time bird watcher and never experienced anything like it! Have you heard of or seen such behavior? I will be eager to get your reply."
Any help for this lady appreciated.
Mona Bearor
South Glens Falls
|
|
|
|
Re: Need help with a bird question
Tom Lake <trlake7@...>
Hormones? Breeding season.
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: ConserveBirds <conservebirds@...> To: 'HMBirds' <hmbirds@groups.io> Sent: Sun, Apr 26, 2020 5:41 pm Subject: [hmbirds] Need help with a bird question We receive this question through our Southern Adirondack Audubon Facebook page. I haven’t a clue. Anyone have an idea what’s going on here?
"I have a question about a female Mallard duck. I was standing on my porch yesterday in the late afternoon. I am in a second floor apartment overlooking a small lake in Southern Saratoga County. There were two Mallard drakes on the shore and one in the water and one female in the water close to the shore. All of a sudden the female suddenly got out of the water and flew up straight at me. She was maybe two feet from me when I had to wave her away. I thought it was just a one off weird event. Now she was on the grass beneath my porch and began aggressively moving into an small area where a Canada Goose was feeding. The Goose warned her away but she persisted and it wasn't until the Goose became very aggressive that she moved aside but not that far. The next thing i knew she flew up at me again. Once more I had to wave her away when she got alarmingly close. She did once more. this time i used a cushion from my Chaise to wave her away. The next thing I know some drakes were chasing her. Having had enough excitement for the day I went inside. I'm over80, am a life time bird watcher and never experienced anything like it! Have you heard of or seen such behavior? I will be eager to get your reply."
Any help for this lady appreciated.
Mona Bearor
South Glens Falls
|
|
|
|
Need help with a bird question
ConserveBirds
We receive this question through our Southern Adirondack Audubon Facebook page. I haven’t a clue. Anyone have an idea what’s going on here?
"I have a question about a female Mallard duck. I was standing on my porch yesterday in the late afternoon. I am in a second floor apartment overlooking a small lake in Southern Saratoga County. There were two Mallard drakes on the shore and one in the water and one female in the water close to the shore. All of a sudden the female suddenly got out of the water and flew up straight at me. She was maybe two feet from me when I had to wave her away. I thought it was just a one off weird event. Now she was on the grass beneath my porch and began aggressively moving into an small area where a Canada Goose was feeding. The Goose warned her away but she persisted and it wasn't until the Goose became very aggressive that she moved aside but not that far. The next thing i knew she flew up at me again. Once more I had to wave her away when she got alarmingly close. She did once more. this time i used a cushion from my Chaise to wave her away. The next thing I know some drakes were chasing her. Having had enough excitement for the day I went inside. I'm over80, am a life time bird watcher and never experienced anything like it! Have you heard of or seen such behavior? I will be eager to get your reply."
Any help for this lady appreciated.
Mona Bearor South Glens Falls
|
|
|
|
Great Egret...Caspian Tern
Frank Mitchell
2:50 Great Egret at Watervliet Reservoir
2:30 Caspian Tern at Collins Lake Safe birding, Frank Mitchell
|
|
|
|
Re: Banded Canada Goose- Five Rivers
adir46er
Tom,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
What a great story - she obviously likes it at Five Rivers! Robert and I have come across several banded Canada Geese this year. In each case the bird had an orange plastic neck band with a code consisting of 4 white-colored letters/numbers. Like you, I submitted the information to USGS and received certificates for each bird. Although we didn’t consistently take photos of the geese, I would recommend doing so for reference purposes in case a person decides to submit the bird band codes. Rita Reed East Hoosick, NY
|
|
|
|
Banded Canada Goose- Five Rivers
For as long as I have been birding at Five Rivers, there has been a leg-banded Canada Goose present. It spends its time during the breeding season roaming between Wood Duck Marsh, Fox Marsh and Goose Pond. I've never been able to read the band through binoculars, so during this past week I walked along with, around, behind and in front of the bird to get enough images to be able to capture the bard number. It is paired up with another goose again this season, but clearly they are not currently in a nesting situation. I submitted my findings to the Bird Banding Lab at USGS and they sent back the following reply:
INFORMATION FROM OUR FILES: Species: Canada Goose Date banded: 06/25/2002 Banding Location: FEURA BUSH, NEW YORK, USA Age: HATCHED IN 2001 OR EARLIER Sex: FEMALEThis female is therefore at least 18+ years old. Tip your hat next time you encounter her. Photos of the band are attached. Tom Williams Colonie
|
|
|
|
Woodlawn Preserve
j.taft69
I was up in the Woodlawn Preserve this AM had the following, at least 4 Hermit Thrushes, 2 Brown Thrashers, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Cedar Waxwing and Chipping Sparrow, also had a Mourning Cloak. Jamie Taft Schenectady
|
|
|
|
Pack Forest Preserve
Scott Varney
Hiked a 6.7 miler today at Pack Forest Preserve in Warrensburg, NY. The trail basically follows along the perimeter of the lake. Highlights included a pair of Broad-winged Hawks, loads of singing Winter Wrens, Purple Finches, 1 Great Blue Heron, 3 Bufflehead, and one breeding-plumaged Common Loon. Fantastic day! Scott Varney Salem NY
|
|
|
|
Snipe
ConserveBirds
Finally found a pair of Wilson’s Snipe this morning when atlasing, accompanied by my first Lesser Yellowlegs of the year and a Killdeer. All on the edges of a very small pond in a wet meadow in Gansevoort.
Mona Bearor South Glens Falls
|
|
|
|
Slightly Extralimital Virginia Rail family on Rail Trail in Rupert, Vermont
Scott Varney
While hiking next to a small pond and marsh area today, my sister and I stumbled across a group of at least 3 adult Virginia Rails with several little babies. The adults began kiddicking and grunting at about 6 pm and we got lots of photos. Best looks I've ever had at this species! The baby birds were clumsy little black balls of "fur"! Rupert, VT is literally just across the border from Salem, NY on County Route 153. Scott Varney Salem, NY
|
|
|
|
Savannah Sparrow
Earthday49@...
I observed a Savannah Sparrow this morning,4/23, while birding at Ann Lee Pond in Colonie.
There were also some Tree Swallows and a Phoebe. Nothing else notable was seen. A Schroeder
|
|
|