After an afternoon's birding by my lonesome self at 5 Rivers Daisy and I decided to head up 787 for a walk around Peeble's Island. On the way there I spotted a tern hitting the water in the Dyke Ave Pond. We turned right onto Dyke Ave and parked and the tern, now identifiable as a Caspian Tern, gave great views as it repeatedly worked its way around the pond. Of its four dives only one seemed successful. We watched it for a good five minutes and had just started debating whether to return home to get the camera (as we walked out the door I said, "Well, if we leave the camera behind we will undoubtedly see something really cool") when it flew over Dyke Ave and continued up that branch of the Mohawk. Attempts to relocate were unsuccessful. I hope it sticks around for awhile.

Highlights at 5 Rivers included some of what Will had and also a Black and White Warbler, 2 White-crowned Sparrows (picture posted), and a huge number of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

On Peebles Island the best sighting was a mammal, I think a fisher (it was like a big, dark ferret), on the east side of the island where the path gets down to water level on a little inlet from the river.

Corey Finger



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This week my yard was brimming with recently arrived transients or
migrants.

All are first of season birds:

Baltimore oriole
white-crowned sparrow (subspecies leuk.) (surprisingly not seen this
winter)
black-throated green warbler
house wren
eastern towhee
blue headed vireo


Also, upon inspecting my bluebird houses I found a pair of dead tree
swallows in an empty box with no apparent injuries just some feces on
their tails. Any ideas?

Barbara Brabetz
Lost Valley, Montgomery County

The Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club is holding its "Birds and Breakfast" on
Saturday, May 13. This annual celebration of the arrival of spring will be
held at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center on Game Farm Road in
Delmar. The Center has an excellent trail system through a variety of
habitats. You can expect to see and hear a number of resident species and
migrants, including Canada Geese with their newly hatched goslings, Eastern
Bluebirds feeding their young, and (hopefully) a number of different
warblers. An early group will meet in the parking lot at 6:00 AM; the
building will open at 6:45 with coffee flowing, and groups will leave at
7:00 and 8:00. You may join one of these groups, or go out on your own, as
we try to find as many species as possible. We'll rally at 10:30 a.m. for
coffee, doughnuts, bagels, fresh fruit (approx. $3.00 donation) and a list
compilation.

I usually wait until about the 15th of May to put out the hummingbird
feeder, but decided to put it up this past Tuesday. I was working at the
dining room table a few minutes ago, and looked up to find a male
Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the feeder.

I guess spring is really here.

Clear skies, Alan
Upper Washout Road, Glenville

A few sightings from yesterday and this morning...

T of Wilton 5/4/06: 2 greater yellowlegs

Gansevoort 5/4/06: ruby-throated hummingbird, wild turkey, Savannah sparrow, titmouse on eggs, bluebird on eggs, white-throated sparrow, eastern meadowlark, red-tailed hawk, 4 pine siskin, Baltimore oriole, white-crowned sparrow.

Crescent Ave west of Lake Lonely across from Kaydeross Ave, Saratoga 5/5/06: purple martin colony "in full swing" - looked like about 20 birds (?)

Wright's Loop, Town of Stillwater 5/5/06: 3 spotted sandpipers (courtship behavior), least flycatcher, warbling vireo, 3 least sandpipers, rose-breasted grosbeak, gray catbird, killdeer, yellow warbler, house wren

Lots of activity, but the number of species is still rather low. Highlite was a probable singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, where the Wild Turkey Trail first opens up into the 60 acre hayfield (where all the benches are set up). The bird sang for approx. 10 min repeatedly, and at no point did I hear the downward end note of a Savannah Sparrow. However I am quite deaf and I also know that the end notes of Savannah Sparrow's song can be almost inaudable. The habitat is right, so keep an eye out.

The rest of the morning was well spent, although I missed quite a few 'easy' birds.

The List.

Canada Goose (3 different broods), Mallard, Great-Blue Heron, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-Capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, YELLOW-WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, OVENBIRD, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, *Grasshopper Sparrow*, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-Winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch

Will Raup
Albany, NY

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Lots of activity today. Some FOY birds for me include:

Vischer Ferry:
American redstart
B&W warbler
Warbling Vireo
Green heron
White-crowned sparrow

Saratoga Battlefield with group:
Merlin
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed vireo
Blue-winged warbler
Black-throated green warbler
Pine warbler
(I missed the Parula)
Eastern meadowlark

Stillwater:
Chimney swift
Rough-Winged swallow

Jory Langner
Delmar

I went over to the Rennsalaer Tech Park today at 5 to find the Orchard Orioles...and within two minutes found Frank Murphy, who, with his two dogs (watch out for the little one--it's cute but it'll take your leg off and not even slow down), proceeded to show me to the likely spots. Fittingly enough, a male Orchard Oriole was spotted in an apple tree. Then, a female...both birds cooperatively stayed in sight, foraging near each other, and let us stare for as long as we wanted. Two other birders (Sue? and Brenda) sorry if I got your name wrong)) showed up shortly after the two went into thick brush but a couple more males were quickly refound. I would say that there are at least three males around, but probably more...it seemed whenever one disappeared another would appear. At one point while watching a male foraging in the apple blossoms (do Orchard Orioles eat pollen or nectar?) a Baltimore Oriole did a fly-by.

Yellow Warblers and Tree Swallows were abundant. A walk a little bit deeper into the bushes yielded a male Towhee. I left briefly at 6:45 to pick up Daisy and when I got back the sun had gone behind the clouds but we still managed to find an Eastern Kingbird, a Gray Catbird, and a Northern Mockingbird and refound two male Orchard Orioles. I'll post a couple (so-so) shots of the Orchard Oriole.

And thanks to Frank for posting on these birds and then helping me find them.

Good birding,

Corey


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I was happy to hear the twittering of CHIMNEY SWIFTS overhead while I was outside in the yard this evening (4 May 2006). I looked up to seeing two swifts flying about overhead. This is one of my favorite summetime birds, and I've been looking for it (unsuccessfully) in Albany on my lunch breaks for the past week, so it's nice to know that at least two are back. Has anybody else seen any swifts--I don't remember seeing any posts from the past week or so, when I would expect them to be arriving back.

Good birding,
Matt Medler
Glenville
Schenectady County

Just returned from Delaware (the state, not the county) this evening and
discovered a male Black-Throated Green Warbler in my backyard... high up in
the treetops. Hooray - it's my first yard warbler of the year!

Ellen P.
Colonie

This is a summary of some of the sightings that were sent to the
Birdline of Eastern New York this past week. Call the birdline
(518-439-8080) for the full report. Please call in YOUR sightings
or email to birdline@...

In Rensselaer Tech Park (4/26): ORCHARD ORIOLE

In Albany (4/27): RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW,
DARK-EYED JUNCOS

At Lake Cossayuna (4/27): immature BALD EAGLE

In Niskayuna (4/27): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

In Guilderland (4/27): LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH and BLUE-WINGED
WARBLER, EASTERN BLUE-BIRD nest with six eggs

In New Baltimore (4/27): WARBLING VIREO

In Halfmoon, (4/27): WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

At Five Rivers EEC (4/28): CANADA GOOSE (WITH YOUNG), WOOD DUCK,
MALLARD, GREAT BLUE HERON (3), MOURNING DOVE, BELTED KINGFISHER (2),
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, EASTERN
PHOEBE, BLUE JAY, AMERICAN CROW, TREE SWALLOW, BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE, TUFTED TITMOUSE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, HOUSE WREN, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET,
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (WITH COWBIRDS ENTERING NEST BOX), AMERICAN ROBIN,
EUROPEAN STARLING, CHIPPING SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW (ABUNDANT), SONG
SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO,
NORTHERN CARDINAL, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE,
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH AND HOUSE SPARROW

In Saratoga Springs (4/28): Two BALD EAGLES over Saratoga Independent
School

In New Baltimore (4/28): LEAST FLYCATCHER

In New Baltimore at the grasslands ponds off 9W (4/28): A pair of
NORTHERN SHOVELERS; 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1
SOLITARY SANDPIPER

At Vischer Ferry NHP (4/29): 2 GREAT BLUE HERON, CANADA GOOSE, WOOD
DUCK, 4 AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 2 GREEN-WINGED
TEAL, OSPREY, 1 VIRGINIA RAIL, MOURNING DOVE, CHIMNEY SWIFT, DOWNY
WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER, 2 NORTHERN FLICKERS, EASTERN PHOEBE, WARBLING VIREO,
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, AMERICAN CROW, WARBLING VIREO, TREE SWALLOW,
BANK SWALLOW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, TUFTED TITMOUSE, 1
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLET, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, AMERICAN ROBIN, GRAY CATBIRD, 3
YELLOW WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, SONG SPARROW,
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, COMMON GRACKLE, BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

At Black Creek Marsh and vicinity (4/29): AMERICAN BITTERN, TURKEY
VULTURE, CANADA GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, MALLARD,
HOODED MERGANSER, RED-TAILED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, WILD TURKEY,
VIRGINIA RAIL, KILLDEER, ROCK PIGEON, MOURNING DOVE, RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, HAIRY
WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO,
BLUE JAY, AMERICAN CROW, TREE SWALLOW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, TUFTED
TITMOUSE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HOUSE WREN, MARSH WREN,
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, EASTERN BLUEBIRD,
AMERICAN ROBIN, GRAY CATBIRD, EUROPEAN STARLING, EASTERN TOWHEE,
CHIPPING SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, NORTHERN CARDINAL, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD,
COMMON GRACKLE, PURPLE FINCH, HOUSE FINCH, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, HOUSE
SPARROW

In the grasslands preserve in New Baltimore (4/30): 3 GREEN HERONS,
KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WILSON'S SNIPE, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER,
MARSH WREN, VESPER SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS

In Coeymans Hollow (4/30): CANADA GOOSE (FLYOVER), RUFFED GROUSE
(DRUMMING), WILD TURKEY, TURKEY VULTURE, KILLDEER, AMERICAN WOODCOCK
(peenting at dusk), MOURNING DOVE, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, DOWNY
WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, BLUE JAY, AMERICAN
CROW, TREE SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, TUFTED
TITMOUSE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, AMERICAN
ROBIN, BROWN THRASHER, EUROPEAN STARLING, SONG SPARROW,
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, NORTHERN CARDINAL, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD,
COMMON GRACKLE, PURPLE FINCH AND AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

In Rensselaer Tech Park (4/30): 37 species including BLUE-WINGED
WARBLER AND male EASTERN TOWHEE

At Black Creek Marsh (5/1) GREAT BLUE HERON, TURKEY VULTURE, RUFFED
GROUSE, BELTED KINGFISHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, BARN SWALLOW, EASTERN
BLUEBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, FIELD SPARROW, RUSTY
BLACKBIRD, HOUSE FINCH

At Vischer Ferry NHP (5/1): WARBLING VIREO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER,
AMERICAN ROBIN, NORTHERN CARDINAL, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, YELLOW
WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER

At Vischer Ferry NHP (5/2): DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, GREAT BLUE
HERON, CANADA GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, MALLARD, GREAT-BLACK BACKED GULL,
MOURNING DOVE, BELTED KINGFISHER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, DOWNY
WOODPECKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, EASTERN KINGBIRD, WARBLING VIREO,
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, BLUE JAY, AMERICAN CROW, FISH CROW (flyover,
calling), TREE SWALLOW, BANK SWALLOW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, TUFTED
TITMOUSE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER, AMERICAN ROBIN, GRAY CATBIRD, BROWN THRASHER, AMERICAN
REDSTART, YELLOW WARBLER, several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, CHIPPING
SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW,
NORTHERN CARDINAL, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE, BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

At Camp Saratoga in the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park (5/2):
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, BELTED KINGFISHER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, WINTER
WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, PINE WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER,
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

In Schenectady (5/2): CANADA GEESE, CHIPPING SPARROW, BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRD, NORTHERN CARDINAL

In Rensselaer Tech Park behind the Children's Museum (5/2): ORCHARD
ORIOLE AND BALTIMORE ORIOLE

In Town of Glen (5/2): 6 PURPLE MARTINS

In Guilderland (5/3) : BROAD-WINGED HAWK, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

In New Baltimore (5/3): NORTHERN HARRIER, MARSH WREN, RUSTY
BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE

In Slingerlands (5/3): 5 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS

In Rensselaer Tech Park behind the Children's Museum (5/3): 3 ORCHARD
ORIOLES AND BALTIMORE ORIOLE

Went out early again looking for migrants...from 6:30-7:15 at Blueberry Hill West in the Pine Bush where the thick fog was just burning off by the time I left. The fog made id'ing in any way but by sound difficult, and I'm not the best by ear (Ex. Me "Did you hear that owl!" Other birdwatcher, "That was a Mourning Dove Corey".

I finally just started trying to figure out what songs I didn't recognize and tried to get as close as I could and this led me to a singing male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (fos). Unfortunately, the Eastern Towhees were drowning everything else out so I decided to head over to Ann Lee Pond. On the ride out along Washington Ave Extension there were at least 4 Killdeer.

By the time I got to Ann Lee the fog had burned off and birds were singing. I saw both a Blue-headed Vireo and a Warbling Vireo. A Wood Thrush started singing but I couldn't figure out where the heck it was. It sounded like it was all around me. After peering at every bump and lump on all the trees around I finally looked straight up and there it was, about 25 feet up, directly over my head.

When I walked out on the walkway over the pond several Tree Swallows were flying around and then two Barn Swallows. A very large, odd swallow came directly toward me from the road, low over the water, barely flapping its wings...it landed on some sticks sticking out of the pond and magically turned into a Solitary Sandpiper. Then a three-way Canada Goose fight broke out and when I turned around the sandpiper was gone. A second one flew to the exact same spot, but this one was a Spotted Sandpiper. Both sandpipers were new for the year for me. Oddly, not a single warbler all morning.

Oh, and a co-worker who lives in Saratoga has had a Mourning Dove on nest in the middle of his (small) backyard since Saturday (4/29).

Hopefully this evening I'll have time to go look for those Orchard Orioles.

Good Birding,
Corey Finger


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This morning there was a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER being so-lazy in the tree's in my backyard. Also arriving today were YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and WOOD THRUSH.

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet remain abundant.

Will Raup
Albany, NY

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May 3, 2006, 7 PM - At the Rensselaer Tech Park behind the Children's Museum I saw a Baltimore Oriole before I even got out of the car. Then I took a few steps down the gravel service road where I saw not one - not two - but THREE adult male Orchard Orioles at once in the same tree. There may have been a fourth further on down the road but I couldn't be sure it wasn't one that circled around me. Two of them were singing at the same time. One flew into a small apple tree next to me and practically shook hands with me. This is not a particularly attractive area with all the construction vehicles and debris, but it evidently was once an orchard. Lest some of you out there (Steve) think I've been celebrating Cinco de Maio a bit early, I assure you they were not Robins ;-)

Frank Murphy
Rensselaer NY

Oriole, that is.



This morning, singing away in the apple tree.



Chilly skies, warm welcome.



Also seen/heard this morning:

Marsh Wren;

N. Harrier,

Rusty Blackbird;





Rich Guthrie

New - and improved - Baltimore

New York

gaeltic@...

Hi all,
We had a singing Carolina Wren here in Petersburgh yesterday (May 2), and a singing Rose-breasted Grosbeak here today. We also have an Am. Robin sitting on eggs, and an E. Phoebe nest just about completed.
Good birding,
~Hope Batcheller
Petersburgh, NY

May 2, 2006 - Either Orchard Oriole or Baltimore Oriole can be easily viewed at the Rensselaer Tech Park behind the Children's Museum. You barely have to get out of your car to see them. This evening I watched the chestnut-colored male Orchard Oriole feeding on poplar buds. I'm thinking that this was the same greenish-yellow first-year male that was singing its foolish heart out for two months last year. It will be interesting to see if he attracts a mate this year.

Nothing else unusual yet. Yellow Warblers and House Wrens are in but I haven't seen a Wood Thrush yet. I expect all this to change quickly over the next few days.


Frank Murphy
Rensselaer NY

A Blue-winged Warbler was singing in the yard today along with a
Towhee. Turkeys are displaying in the field back of the house. We are
at about 1,100 feet elevation so hav'nt caught up with you folks by the
rivers.
Nancy Kern

I too spent some time at Vischer Ferry this morning (2 May 2006), and I saw most of the same birds that Corey reported. Additions include a singing male American Redstart, a White-crowned Sparrow, several Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a Yellow-throated Vireo in a different area than the one I saw on Saturday. Yellow Warblers and Warbling Vireos are back in good numbers and singing everywhere. I heard two different Baltimore Orioles singing from high in the treetops, but still haven't managed to catch a glimpse of one yet this spring. I did enjoy watching two Gray Catbirds singing--it's always fun to watch them singing out in the open before they go into hiding in the dense vegetation of late spring and summer.

Good birding,
Matt Medler
Glenville

I had a very productive morning at Vischer Ferry. As soon as I crossed the bridge at the main entrance I had a singing Yellow Warbler (the first of 5). As I approached the Mohawk River I heard Canada Geese honking very loudly and moments later a Red Fox ran across the path not 10 yards in front of me. I wish I was quicker on the draw with my camera! Other highlights included 2 Warbling Vireos (I listened to recordings on-line last night as I had never id'd one before and I figured I needed to do my homework), 3 Catbirds, a Robin chasing a Brown Thrasher, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, at least 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and my FOS Baltimore Oriole.
The best sighting of the day came as I watched a flock of about 15-20 Blue Jays flying just over treetop level. Suddenly a bird came streaking up at them and actually made contact with the last Blue Jay in the flock. What bird would dare sally forth against such overwhelming odds? My FOS Eastern Kingbird, who, very pleased with himself, proceeded to contentedly preen after successfully driving away the Blue Jays (I didn't tell him but I think they would have kept flying anyway).

Corey Finger

36 species in 1.5 hours
Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant (flyover on Mohawk River), Great Blue Heron, Great-black Backed Gull (on Mohawk), Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard), Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow (flyover calling), Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Yellow Warbler, Chipping Sparrow (along River Road on way out), Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole and American Goldfinch.


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