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Re: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Alan
Yes, a fine day. A nice, noisy Pileated
flyover this morning and a young Northern Flicker. There were at least two Ruby-throats at my window feeder today. Clear skies, Alan
On 9/6/2021 4:03 PM, Scott Varney wrote:
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Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scott Varney
While sitting on my upper deck just a moment ago, I got a quick visit from a Ruby-throated Hummingbird with great looks (2 times) as he (she?) hovered next to one of my buoy bells 4 feet away! I'm guessing I wont be seeing that again until Spring. Beautiful breezy day, Scott Varney Salem, NY
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Great Horned Owl Fledgling at Five Rivers
Barbara Beebe
Noon today, Debra and I spotted a Great Horned Owl Fledgling sitting in the western part of Heron Pond up in the tree where the Great Blue and Egrets have perched this past month. A kingfisher was trying its best to knock it off the branch. We had great views including an almost 360 head turn :-). I went home to get my camera and returned within 1/2 hour to find the Great Blue Heron sitting on the adjacent branch, no owl in sight, and the Kingfisher enjoying its usual water way flights. Searched but no luck. Keep your eyes open.
Happy Labor Day. Barb Beebe
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Wright's Loop and Saratoga battlefield
scottjstoner
Denise and I stopped at Wright's Loop in Stillwater mid-afternoon today; no shorebirds visible but one Great Egret was in the tall wet grass north of the north leg of Wright's loop, along with a Great Blue Heron. About 40 tree swallows milled about overhead. Before that we checked most of the numbered stops at Saratoga battlefield; no through-migrants. Scott Stoner, Loudonville NY Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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Early evening grosbeak
Susan
Late this morning, I saw an evening grosbeak on the Bog Meadow Trail, close to Meadowbrook Road in Saratoga County. It was perched and had its back to me, but I was able to see the wide, bight yellow eyebrows and the large white wing patch. When the bird turned its head briefly, I was able to see a very large pale bill. It didn’t stay long, flying off to the east.
Susan Beaudoin
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This week's destination: 9/2
Naomi Lloyd
Hey Thursday birders! Another week another monsoon... but it looks like the rain should be over by early morning tomorrow. Let's meet at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center at 8:00am. We'll walk the usually birdy stretch from the parking lot to the landfill. Looks like there's been a good migrant push, and maybe the rain will have held them in place. If the forecast changes dramatically, I'll update. Hope to see you! Keep an eye out for any storm-trapped vagrants too! https://www.google.com/maps/place/Albany+Pine+Bush+Preserve/@42.7190687,-73.8641946,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89de74ae0451a73f:0x10e3ed25d957150a!8m2!3d42.7193564!4d-73.8644145?hl=en&authuser=0 Naomi
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Canada Goose hunting season opens Sept. 1st
Richard Guthrie
Just a reminder: Canada Goose hunting starts September 1st in much of New York State. Upstate, it runs till Sept. 25th; and on Long Island until Sept. 30th (eastern) or Oct. 24th (western) In September, hunting is permitted from 1/2 hour before sunrise till 1/2 hour after sunset. [These are not intended to be specific details. If those are needed, refer to the regulations published by NYS DEC https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28888.html ] Richard Guthrie New Baltimore, The Greene County, New York
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Extralimital siting: Brown Booby
adir46er
Extralimital siting: First found yesterday by new birders, a Brown Booby is continuing today at Lake Paran in North Bennington, VT. Attached is the first eBird report submitted this morning. The bird was still being seen when we left around 1pm.
Rita Reed East Hoosick, NY
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Green heron fledgling at swimming pool
Robin Lyle
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HMBC Field Trip synopsis - Counting Common Nighthawks 8/26
scottjstoner
On a very hot and muggy evening, a max of 7 birders tallied a total of 7 Common Nighthawks. All but one were between 7:10 and about 7:30 PM. They exhibited no consistent direction of travel, with nighthawks heading west, north, and south! Other species included goldfinch, red-tailed hawk, Am. Robin and Mourning Dove. Scott Stoner and Denise Hackert-Stoner, Loudonville Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message -------- From: "trwdsd via groups.io" <trwdsd@...> Date: 8/25/21 20:45 (GMT-05:00) To: hmbirds@groups.io Subject: Re: [hmbirds] HMBC Field Trip reminder- Counting Common Nighthawks 8/24-8/26 Tom Williams Colonie
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Shorebirds at Stillwater Riverfront Park
Naomi Lloyd
Following Alison's report, the Thursday birders went looking for shorebirds at Wright's Loop and Stillwater River Front Park. In the grassy circle at the park, we found 15+ Least Sandpipers, several Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, and Solitary sandpipers. We picked out two Pectoral Sandpipers that eventually gave good looks. Best bird of the morning was a beautiful pale SANDERLING among the Leasties. The shorebirds were fairly approachable and didn't spook easily.
One of the Lock 2 Little Blue Herons continues on the Rensselaer County shore. Naomi Lloyd
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Great Egret, Salem
Scott Varney
I very infrequently observe Great Egrets in Salem but today, I was driving home from the Cambridge transfer station and in Salem, witnessed a gorgeous Great Egret flying low and gracefully along a length of the Battenkill River. Absolutely serene! Scott Varney Salem, NY
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Re: HMBC Field Trip reminder- Counting Common Nighthawks 8/24-8/26
On Tuesday evening, our group of approximately 15 observers counted 15 Common Nighthawks, all from 7:00pm- 8:00pm. A few made very close approaches at low altitude, offering very good looks. This evening, we tallied seven nighthawks, with the last two at 8:06pm. Those birds flew across the parking lot at virtually ground level, apparently looking for insects under the lights. We had some novice birders show up too, which was very refreshing and allowed us to point out resident birds to them during the lull between nighthawks. Tomorrow evening is the final night, keep an eye on the weather before heading over.
Tom Williams Colonie
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This week's destination: 8/26
Naomi Lloyd
Hey Thursday birders- welcome to the end (I hope) of summer! It's tough to think of where to go this week - Cohoes is still under an entire river and the Hudson is high too, mosquitos are vicious and trails are sodden. So let's meet at the Price Chopper in Mechanicville at 8:00am. From there we can go to Lock 2 first for the Little Blue Herons that have lingered, then check Wright's Loop and Stillwater Riverfront Park which should be wet, and points in between. We can try Stillwater School trail before classes start too, and maybe the Wilbur Rd Towpath trail. Use your own discretion if you wish to carpool. Meeting place: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Price+Chopper/@42.9096676,-73.6842422,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89de17c4dae450e7:0x7b0c0c6bb6e79aef!8m2!3d42.910088!4d-73.68524?hl=en&authuser=0 Naomi
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Little Blue Heron at Staats Island Road (Yesterday)
zach schwartz-weinstein
Yesterday morning shortly after sunrise, I found an adult Little Blue Heron foraging east of the tracks on Staats Island Road. I forgot to alert this list. My apologies.--
Zach Schwartz-Weinstein 203 500 7774
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belated report, 5 Rivers last Friday
scottjstoner
apologies for the delay...last Friday Aug 20 I birded Five Rivers Env Ed Cntr in Delmar, focusing on the beaver and heron pond areas. Highlights included Virginia Rail, Common Raven, Double-crested Cormorant, and Great Egret. -Scott Stoner, Loudonville
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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today at Round Lake
scottjstoner
Denise and I paddled Round Lake and its outlet, the Anthony Kill, in Saratoga Co. Biridng highlights included an adult Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Great Blue and Green Herons. Scott Stoner, Loudonville Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
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Re: Terns sp?, Nassau Lake
Naomi Lloyd
Update: Rich Guthrie ID'd them as Black Terns. Still pretty nice for RensCo! Naomi
On Monday, August 23, 2021, 01:33:17 PM EDT, Naomi Lloyd via groups.io <naomi_kestrel@...> wrote: Squinting through the rain and mist I made out at least 6 Terns feeding on Nassau Lake. Not Caspian or Black, too big for Least, too small for Royal, pretty sure not Sooty. So, Common or Forster's? Middle of the lake but closer to the east side - my best bad look was from Lake Shore Circle Drive. Hope they stick after the rain ends! Point is where I had the best look: Also many swallows. Naomi
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Terns sp?, Nassau Lake
Naomi Lloyd
Squinting through the rain and mist I made out at least 6 Terns feeding on Nassau Lake. Not Caspian or Black, too big for Least, too small for Royal, pretty sure not Sooty. So, Common or Forster's? Middle of the lake but closer to the east side - my best bad look was from Lake Shore Circle Drive. Hope they stick after the rain ends!
Point is where I had the best look: https://www.google.com/maps/dir//42.5397973,-73.5986384/@42.5382084,-73.6031339,16z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en&authuser=0 Also many swallows. Naomi
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HMBC Field Trip reminder- Counting Common Nighthawks 8/24-8/26
Tuesday, August 24 - Thursday, August 26, COUNTING COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (Albany County; evenings) Coordinators: Tom and Colleen Williams twill0526@... The Common Nighthawk is an aerial insectivore that feeds at dusk and dawn. It breeds throughout much of North America, although in decline as it is no longer observed during the summer in many urban and suburban areas. A long-distance migrant, Common Nighthawks travel in large flocks, on one of the longest migration routes of any North American bird. Most travel over land through Mexico and Central America to reach their wintering grounds in southern South America. Common Nighthawks are among the last migrants to return to their breeding grounds in spring. In the Capital Region, the bulk of southbound migration occurs from mid-August until early September with a peak around the end of August. We will conduct our viewing from the parking lot at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, located at 195 New Karner Rd. (Rt. 155) in Albany. Bring a chair and binoculars. We will begin each night at 6:00 p.m. Check the expected weather conditions, and visit this website before venturing over, in case of a cancellation.
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