August 2019 Volume 79 No 4
Bi-monthly publication of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club, Inc.
New Mexico Delights By Jeff Schoonmaker
In all of our travels, including multiple trips to Arizona, we have never seen so Inside This Issue… many Greater Roadrunners as we saw in New Mexico. We took our Spring Break New Mexico there in March primarily to visit Bosque del Apache NWR. We went there four Delights……..….…..…..…...71 times during our seven-day vacation, and we were not disappointed with our sightings, even thought the timing was not ideal for seeing many thousands of President’s Snow Geese and ducks. But we saw roadrunners almost everywhere we went, Corner……………..……...... 72 including one at the top of a utility pole a hundred yards from our rental unit in HMBC Birding Guide..………73 Polvadera. Field Trip Reports…….……..76 The closest sighting was at the Rio Grande Nature Center just west of Albuquerque. I had crossed a footbridge over a side channel of the river and walked up a wide Upcoming HMBC Programs flight of wooden stairs on the other side. While standing at the top of the stairs a ….……………...….….………77 spotted two birds coming over the bridge. They were roadrunners. And they just Upcoming ASCR Programs. 78 kept coming in my direction. Taking Flight Conference…..78
Writer’s Page………………...79
Artists’ Page…………….…...80
Century Run.….……………..81
On Nature…………….…...... 87
Upcoming Field Trips………..……...... 89
(continued on p.74 )
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HMBC BOARD Officers P RESIDENT ’ S C ORNER President: No President’s Column for this issue Patricia Fuller 1301 Sumner Ave Schenectady, NY 12309 (518) 421-2318 [email protected]
Vice-President:: Tristan Lowery [email protected]
Secretary: Debra Ferguson 3 Castle Point Rd Athens, NY 12015 518-221-3857 [email protected]
Treasurer: Ellen Pemrick 117 Western Ave West Charlton, NY 12010 518-882-9163 [email protected]
Directors
Gregg Recer 518-899-2678 [email protected]
Bruce Dudek 518-452-4938 [email protected]
Eric Molho 518-439-6592 [email protected]
Amanda Dillon - [email protected]
Tristan Lowery [email protected]
Cassandra Davis [email protected]
Committee Chairs
Audit: vacant Conservation: Kathy Schneider [email protected] Field Trips: Tom Williams [email protected] Membership: Gregg Recer 899-2678 [email protected] Outreach: Vacant Programs: Scott Stoner 785-6760 [email protected] Publications: Denise Hackert-Stoner [email protected] Records: Will Raup 944-8711 [email protected] Reist Sanctuary: Philip Johnson [email protected] Social: vacant Technology: John Kent 424-2234 [email protected] Youth: Vacant
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You, too, can contribute to Feathers!
Do you have a birding story or photos that might be of interest to other birders?
Have you led a field trip for HMBC?
Have you written short prose or poetry on the subject of birds? We’re starting a Writers’ Page!
Did you take a birding vacation?
Do you have a favorite birding spot?
SHARE them with HMBC members by submitting them to: HMBC Contact Information BIRDLINE of EASTERN NEW YORK: E-mail: [email protected] HMBC website: http//hmbc.net
Please send all electronic submissions for Feathers via e-mail to: Denise Hackert-Stoner at [email protected].
Send all paper submissions to: Denise Hackert-Stoner 6 Knob Hill Road. Loudonville, NY 12211
New printing of Birding New York’s Hudson Mohawk Region is now available
Birding New York’s Hudson Mohawk Region, a new printing of HMBC’s classic book, is now available. A copy is $20 for HMBC members and $25 for non-members. An additional charge of $5 for postage and handling will be added to the price per book. Contact Gregg Recer [email protected] or (518) 899-2678 if you are interested in purchasing a copy. Checks should be made out to Hudson Mohawk Bird Club and should be sent to:
Gregg Recer 23 Scotch Mist Way Malta, NY 12020
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NEW MEXICO (continued………)
I was standing right out in the open, but because I was already in a fixed position and not moving, the birds didn’t seem bothered by my presence. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, one decided to veer off to its left to climb the hill through the bushes. But the other one started up the stairs!
With camera in hand, I took a few shots as it hopped up step after step. It finally became conscious of how close it was getting to me, and it decided to jump up to the railing and down into the brush.
When it emerged at the top very close to me, I was able to get a couple of more frame-filling images of this extraordinary bird. Does anyone else see a hint of green on the primary feathers as it stood on the bike path contemplating where it would go next? Is that real green pigmentation, iridescence, or some photographic-induced illusion?
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NEW MEXICO (continued………)
Don’t neglect New Mexico in your birding travels. The variety and abundance of bird life in that state is truly fabulous! And I haven’t even mentioned here seeing all three rosy-finches at the top of Sandia Crest!
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FIELD TRIP REPORTS
Saturday, June 1, 2019 - Cherry Plain State Park
Eleven birders met on a fine morning to explore the Rensselaer plateau. This was a first visit for several participants, so I was glad both the weather and bugs cooperated.
As usual, we heard more than we saw, with Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, and (surprisingly) Least Flycatcher being the most numerous singers. We found 14 warbler species, all local breeders except a late Bay-breasted. These included Northern Waterthrush, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Blackburnian, and both the Black-throated. Near Black River Pond we had two counter-singing Brown Creepers, a lively Winter Wren, and a ragged flyover Red-shouldered Hawk. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were seen in four locations. Suprisingly low on woodpeckers, with only a Flicker and fewer than usual Sapsuckers.
As the group went our separate ways we had good sightings in different directions - a Black-billed Cuckoo on CCC Dam Rd, and a Broad-winged Hawk over the Taborton fire dept.
Thanks to all who came along - see you next year! eBird checklist of all species seen: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S57243908
Naomi Lloyd West Sand Lake
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Upcoming HMBC Programs
Date and Time: September 9, 2019 7-9 PM Location: Boght Community Firehouse, 8 Preston Drive, Cohoes, NY 12047 Speaker: Sarah Walsh Topic: Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy Come learn about Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC), who we are, what we do and more about our public and private lands. In 2018, MHLC expanded our volunteer programming to include citizen science initiatives such as wildlife cameras and eBird surveys of our lands. Learn about these initiative and how HMBC members can help us do more for birds in the Capital Region. Bio: Sarah is Conservation Director for MHLC, responsible for oversight of land stewardship and assisting with property acquisitions. Sarah brings nearly ten years’ experience in habitat restoration initiatives for bird habitat, riparian and wetland areas as well as experience in protection of conservation lands, non-profit program development, and trail planning. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science from SUNY ESF and her Master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Albany in 2012. Sarah is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys back-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, paddling, sailing, and bird watching.
Date and Time: October 7, 2019, 7-9 PM Location: Boght Community Firehouse, 8 Preston Drive, Cohoes, NY 12047 Speaker: John Hershey Topic: Indian Safari In this program John will share experiences and photos he took on a birding tour and safari in northern India in March 2019. Some of the beautiful birds that will be illustrated include Indian Peafowl, Red Junglefowl, Ruddy Shelduck, Painted Stork, Crested Serpent Eagle, Great Hornbill, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Rufous Treepie, Indian Paradise-flycatcher, Indian Roller, and many more. In addition, he will show safari photos of some of India’s endangered and charismatic mammals including Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, and Indian Rhinoceros. There should also be time for a few photos pertaining to the rich culture of India as well as its people. Bio: John is a former Secretary and Director for HMBC. He has been leading HMBC field trips to Vischer Ferry Preserve, Peebles Island, and Fox Hill Road for many years. Birding has led him to travel throughout North America and more recently to Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, and India. He has presented a number of HMBC programs on some of his favorite birding trips. He is semi-retired and works part time as a psychologist in private practice.
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UPCOMING ASCR PROGRAMS
Bird Walk: First Time Birders at Schodack Island Park Saturday, August 10, 8:00 am 1 Schodack Island Way, Schodack Landing, NY 12156 Space is limited! Please call the park to register at: 518 –732-0187
Bird Walk: at Albany Rural Cemetery Saturday, September 21, 2018, 7:30 am Cemetery Ave, Albany, NY 12204 (main entrance is off of route 378 in Menands) Join us in the Chapel with local historian Dr. John Pipkin for an intro to the history and design of this National Historic Landmark, featuring the resting places of John Boyd Thatcher and President Chester Arthur. Then walk the cemetery's rolling terrain and various paved surfaces to listen and look for fall migrants and avian denizens, guided by ASCR volunteer and expert birder - Tristan Lowry. Rain date is September 28. Space is limited and registration is required! Please call the Albany Rural Cemetery to register: 518- 463-7017
Speaker at Peebles Island State Park: Birds, Insects and their Urban Environments. Saturday October 26, noon Come join ASCR as we host Joe Corra, active ASCR volunteer, in his delivery of his graduate work on Aerial Insectivorous Birds, and how they are interrelated with urban landscapes, water quality and climate.
TAKING FLIGHT CONFERENCE
This year the Catskill Center’s Taking Flight birding conference will be taking place in conjunction with NYSOA’s annual meeting, and will be based in Kingston in September.
Details can be found at http://catskillcenter.org/details. Online registration is available on NYSOA’s homepage, https://nybirds.org/.
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WRITERS’ PAGE
Hummingbirds….Hmmmmm (A poem about Hummingbird facts) By: Marilyn Hamecher
My constant fascination with the Hummingbird is beyond any other. Hummingbirds can fly up and down, left and right and into a hover.
Their tongue is like an elastic pump that works like a straw. And their brain, the largest for its body size, keeps me in awe.
All Hummingbirds love colorful flowers but “red” is the best. Seeing in ultraviolet light, would help them “ace” an eye test.
Their heartbeats at 1,260x’s per minute, faster than you can blink. Flying like a Helicopter and then disappearing into flowers of pink.
Their three sets of eyelids protect them from wind and fear. They fly over 2,000 miles during migration, twice, in one year.
Hummingbirds hear better than humans but have no sense of smell. Memorizing every flower and how long it takes for nectar to refill.
Hummingbirds are the 2nd largest family of birds, part of 332 species. Flitting and humming about and leaving polka dots of tiny birdy feces.
Hummingbirds can fly 25-30/mph and dive up to 50/miles per hour. Remembering every feeder where they ate…now that is brain power!
Their life span is brief averaging five years, yet not more than ten. And…Hummingbirds are never troubled about growing old…Amen.
(Marilyn wrote this educational poem for her Granddaughter. Thanks, Marilyn! DHS)
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ARTISTS’ PAGE
No Submissions for Artists’ Page for this issue
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CENTURY RUN BY LARRY ALDEN, COMPILER
The HMBC’s 74th running of the Guy Bartlett Century Run took place on the traditional 3rd Saturday of the month, May 18, 2019. The Albany International Airport reported a low of 46° at 4:39 a.m. and a high of 73° at 3:46 p.m., giving an average of 60°, one degree above normal for the date. It was a partly cloudy day with a light to moderate breeze. The average wind speed at the airport was 6.0 miles per hour with a maximum gust of 19 mph. Rivers and streams were running high, with little in the way of shoreline to be found. After a rather cool and wet Spring, some trees were still leafing out. Overall, it was a pleasant day to be out birding.
Eight groups, comprised of 24 individuals, were in the field from 2:25 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. Areas covered were in Albany, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties, with five of the eight groups birding a single county (Albany was covered by two teams, Saratoga by two, and Rensselaer by one).
Field parties identified a total of 163 species, with seven of the eight teams reporting 100 or more. Bob Yunick reported a pair of Evening Grosbeaks at his camp on Jenny Lake in northern Saratoga County, which brings the total to 164 species. This total is above the average of totals for the previous ten years (155.2) but well below the maximum of 188 species found in 1986. One of the two teams covering only Albany County had the most species of any group, with 134 (82% of the total), a dozen species above the average of the single party high counts for the previous ten years (122.0), but still well below the record 156 species found by a single party in 1986. However, 134 is the highest single party total since 1999, when the maximum found by a single group was 139 species.
The species total could have been higher if there had been more lingering waterfowl, although a group of at least six female- type Buffleheads on Basic Creek Reservoir was a nice find. As is sometimes the case, there were no grebes of any kind reported, and while shorebird numbers were above average (despite the complete lack of shore at Cohoes Flats), there were no really uncommon ones found. Only four species of gulls and terns was about average these days. We had most of the expected herons, hawks, owls, and songbirds. Of note, warbler diversity was quite good this year, with 27 species, including Hooded, Cape May, Cerulean, Bay-breasted, Canada, and Wilson’s. I don’t think the records for count high and single party high set in 1986 will be touched ever again, even with a “perfect storm” sort of day.
Forty-five species (approximately 27% of the total) were seen by all eight field parties, whereas 17 species (10%) were seen by a single party. See the frequency chart at end of this article. It seemed like many of the species that were likely to have been seen by a single party were in fact seen by more than one party. Sometimes this was because the same bird or birds were seen by multiple parties at a “hot spot” (e.g., Buffleheads at Basic Creek Reservoir), but sometimes, these species were seen far apart, and surely represented separate individuals (e.g., Common Loons seen in Albany and Saratoga counties).
The table accompanying this article details all of this year’s results. It is in the most current ABA checklist order. The 58 species marked with an asterisk (*) are species which have been found on all 74 Century Runs to date.
No new species were added to the 74-year composite of 255 species and three hybrids. The last new species added to the list was Chuck-will’s-widow, last year.
There were five species seen on this count that have been seen on 20 or fewer Century Runs: Brant (20th occurrence), Black Vulture (9th), Olive-sided Flycatcher (17th), Hooded Warbler (13th), and Palm Warbler (13th). Two species are making their reappearance to the list after being absent for a while: Common Tern (last reported in 2011), and Evening Grosbeak (last in 2006).
Overall, participants found most of what was expected to be out there. A few species, noted in the groups at the end of this article, just squeaked into the count with a single sighting. Of these, some are not unexpected to have only a single sighting, but for others it seems difficult to believe only one team found that species. Most notable of these, to me, are American Black Duck and Herring Gull. To put this in perspective, American Black Duck has been found on every count but one, and Herring Gull has been found on all 74 counts! To have these species represented by a single individual across multiple counties with multiple groups out birding is a big surprise. On the other hand, American Black Ducks have become much 82
harder to find around here during breeding season, and the usual spot for gulls, the Mohawk River between the Colonie Landfill and the Hudson River, was a roiling mass of water on count day. Maybe this is just a sign of things to come.
There were ten species that have been seen on 45 or more Century Runs that were missed this year: Blue-winged Teal (57 counts; I spotted one two days before the count!), Ring-necked Pheasant (47 counts), Common Nighthawk (49 counts), Upland Sandpiper (47 counts), Great Black-backed Gull (48 counts; missed for only the second time since 1976!), Black Tern (45 counts although seen infrequently lately), Pine Siskin (46 counts), Henslow’s Sparrow (45 counts, last reported in 2001), Golden-winged Warbler (47, reported only once since 2000), and Blackpoll Warbler (56 counts; last missed in 2009).
Other missed species not already mentioned that have been reported on four or more of the previous ten counts (representing species that may have been seen more recently but not so much in the earlier years of the count): White- winged Scoter (four of ten), Ruddy Duck (four of ten), Horned Grebe (four of ten), and Mourning Warbler (seven of ten).
For next year’s Century Run, the semisesquicentennial anniversary, I plan to do some data mining to analyze the past results, examining how certain species have become established to the list or have become more or less prevalent over the years.
Listed below are the names of the participants, their birding locations and hours afield, and those species reported only by their group. Names marked with an asterisk represent each group’s reporter.
Group A – Tristan Lowery* and Tom Williams. Albany County only. 0415-1930, 124 species. HERRING GULL.
Group B – Cathy Graichen and Gregg Recer*. Saratoga County only. 0530-2117, 108 species. BRANT, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.
Group C – Larry Alden*, Jackie Bogardus, and Steve Chorvas. Albany County only. 0230-2100, 134 species. GADWALL, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, WILSON’S SNIPE, EASTERN SCREECH-OWL.
Group D – Ron Harrower and John Hershey*. Saratoga County only. 0430-2030, 107 species. COMMON TERN, COOPER’S HAWK, ALDER FLYCATCHER.
Group E – Mark Fitzsimmons and David Harrison*. Rensselaer County only. 0225-2130, 124 species. GREAT HORNED OWL, CERULEAN WARBLER.
Group F – Jim Suozzo* and Chris Suozzo. Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties. 0530-2200, 105 species. PALM WARBLER.
Group G – Ruth Brooks, Dan Leonard*, George Shaw, and Nancy Slack. Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties. 0500-2130, 101 species.
Species Frequency Group H – John Blanchard, Chris Cameron, Carl Seen by only 1 team 17 George*, David Gibson, Seen by 2 teams 15 Bill Lee, Kathleen LoGiudice, and Hank Seen by 3 teams 13 Stebbins. Montgomery Seen by 4 teams 14 and Schenectady counties. Seen by 5 teams 15 0800-1900, 70 species. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. Seen by 6 teams 18
Seen by 7 teams 27
Seen by all 8 teams 45
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Frequency 83
A B C D E F G H Brant X Canada Goose X X X X X X X X Mute Swan X X X X Wood Duck X X X X X X X Gadwall X Mallard X X X X X X X X American Black Duck X Ring-necked Duck X X Bufflehead X X Hooded Merganser X X Common Merganser X X X X Ruffed Grouse X X Wild Turkey X X X X X X X Rock Pigeon X X X X X X X Mourning Dove* X X X X X X X X Black-billed Cuckoo X Eastern Whip-poor-will X X X X X X Chimney Swift* X X X X X X X Ruby-throated Hummingbird X X X X X X Virginia Rail X X X X X X Sora X X X X X Common Gallinule X X X X X Semipalmated Plover X Killdeer* X X X X X X X X Least Sandpiper X X X X X X Semipalmated Sandpiper X X X X American Woodcock X X X X X Wilson's Snipe X Spotted Sandpiper* X X X X X X X Solitary Sandpiper X X X X X X X X Lesser Yellowlegs X X X X X X X Greater Yellowlegs X X X X Bonaparte's Gull X X X Ring-billed Gull X X X X X X Herring Gull* X Common Tern X Common Loon X X Double-crested Cormorant X X X X X X X American Bittern X X X X Least Bittern X X X X Great Blue Heron X X X X X X X X Green Heron* X X X X X X X Black Vulture X X X 84
Turkey Vulture X X X X X X X X Osprey X X X X X X A B C D E F G H Northern Harrier X X X X Sharp-shinned Hawk X X Cooper's Hawk X Bald Eagle X X X X X X X Red-shouldered Hawk X X Broad-winged Hawk X X X Red-tailed Hawk X X X X X X X Eastern Screech-Owl X Great Horned Owl X Barred Owl X X X X Belted Kingfisher* X X X X X X X X Red-bellied Woodpecker X X X X X X X Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X X X X X X Downy Woodpecker* X X X X X X X X Hairy Woodpecker* X X X X X X Northern Flicker* X X X X X X X X Pileated Woodpecker* X X X X X X X American Kestrel* X X X X X X Peregrine Falcon X X X Great Crested Flycatcher X X X X X X X Eastern Kingbird* X X X X X X X X Olive-sided Flycatcher X Eastern Wood-Pewee X X X X X Alder Flycatcher X Willow Flycatcher X X X X X X Least Flycatcher* X X X X X X X X Eastern Phoebe* X X X X X X X Yellow-throated Vireo X X X X X Blue-headed Vireo* X X X X X Warbling Vireo X X X X X X X X Red-eyed Vireo X X X X X X X X Blue Jay* X X X X X X X X American Crow* X X X X X X X X Fish Crow X X X X X Common Raven X X X X X X X X Horned Lark X X Purple Martin X X Tree Swallow* X X X X X X X X No. Rough-winged Swallow* X X X X X X X Bank Swallow* X X X X X Cliff Swallow X X Barn Swallow* X X X X X X X X Black-capped Chickadee* X X X X X X X X 85
Tufted Titmouse X X X X X X X Red-breasted Nuthatch X X X X X X A B C D E F G H White-breasted Nuthatch* X X X X X X X X Brown Creeper X X House Wren* X X X X X X X X Winter Wren X X X Marsh Wren X X X X X X Carolina Wren X X X X X Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X X X X X X X Golden-crowned Kinglet X X Ruby-crowned Kinglet X X Eastern Bluebird* X X X X X X X Veery* X X X X X X X X Swainson's Thrush X X X Hermit Thrush* X X X X X Wood Thrush* X X X X X X X X American Robin* X X X X X X X X Gray Catbird* X X X X X X X X Brown Thrasher* X X X Northern Mockingbird X X X X X X X European Starling* X X X X X X X X Cedar Waxwing X X X X House Sparrow* X X X X X X X X Evening Grosbeak # House Finch X X X X X X X X Purple Finch* X X X X American Goldfinch* X X X X X X X X Eastern Towhee* X X X X X X X X Chipping Sparrow* X X X X X X X X Field Sparrow X X X X X X X Vesper Sparrow X X Savannah Sparrow* X X X X X X X Grasshopper Sparrow X Song Sparrow* X X X X X X X X Swamp Sparrow* X X X X X X X White-throated Sparrow* X X X X X X White-crowned Sparrow X X X Dark-eyed Junco* X X X X X Bobolink* X X X X X X X X Eastern Meadowlark* X X X X X X X X Orchard Oriole X X X X Baltimore Oriole* X X X X X X X X Red-winged Blackbird* X X X X X X X X Brown-headed Cowbird* X X X X X X X X Common Grackle* X X X X X X X X 86
Ovenbird* X X X X X X X X Worm-eating Warbler X X A B C D E F G H Louisiana Waterthrush X X X X X X Northern Waterthrush X X X X X Blue-winged Warbler X X X X Black-and-White Warbler* X X X X X X X Tennessee Warbler X X X Nashville Warbler X X X X X Common Yellowthroat* X X X X X X X X Hooded Warbler X X X American Redstart X X X X X X X Cape May Warbler X X X X Cerulean Warbler X Northern Parula X X X X X X Magnolia Warbler* X X X X X X Bay-breasted Warbler X X X X Blackburnian Warbler X X X X X Yellow Warbler* X X X X X X X X Chestnut-sided Warbler X X X X X X Black-throated Blue Warbler X X X X X X Palm Warbler X Pine Warbler X X X Yellow-rumped Warbler* X X X X X X X Prairie Warbler X X X X X X X Black-throated Green Warbler* X X X X X X X X Canada Warbler X X X Wilson's Warbler X X X Scarlet Tanager X X X X X X X Northern Cardinal X X X X X X X X Rose-breasted Grosbeak X X X X X X X X Indigo Bunting X X X X X
Total 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 2 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 4 8 4 7 4 5 1
* Seen on all previous Century Runs
# Reported by Bob Yunick
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ON NATURE
“Birding Across the Pond” by Scott Stoner
Eurasian Robin
It was to be our first overseas birding venture. Booked on a Field Guides tour of Britain this past May, we looked forward to seeing new birds, new places, and hopefully getting some photos!
Flying there overnight a few days before the tour, our first priorities were rest, recovery from jet-lag, and seeing some of the tourist sites of London. After (mostly) completing the first two, we headed downtown from our Heathrow-area hotel, visiting over two days Trafalgar Square and its incredible National Gallery, Buckingham Palace (no sightings of the Queen), Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Tower of London (with captive bred Rooks) and the beautiful Thames River. Beautiful St. James’s Park, (yes, James’s, like Bridget Jones’s Diary…) had both native and introduced water birds.
We then joined up with our tour group and set off to explore East Anglia. This area generally northeast of London includes coastal marshes, North Sea beaches, heathlands, farmlands, and woodlands, and the grounds of centuries-old estates. At times we felt like we were on the set of Downton Abbey! As the tour unfolded, we began to see and absorb the common and less common species of these varied and lovely locations. Some birds we saw only once or twice, but others were daily occurrences and soon became “old friends."
With the exception of House Sparrow, Eurasian Starling, Rock Pigeon, and some of the water birds, nearly all of the species we encountered were new! Mostly, they were from familiar families, for instance Grey Heron, Little Egret, Little Owl, Great Spotted and Eurasian Green Woodpeckers, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook and Carrion Crow, Blue Tit and Great Tit, Firecrests (like Kinglets), different creepers, different nuthatches, European Goldfinch, and more. Others were from “new” (to us) or at least much less familiar families. For instance, Bearded Reedling is in Panuridae and we were fortunate to see several of these at one marshy reserve. The very vocal and hard to see Cetti’s Warbler is in Scotoceridae (Bush Warblers and Allies). In fact, the Old World species of warblers there in England are quite drab and (for me) harder to tell apart than “our” colorful wood-warblers. They reminded me of Arctic Warbler, which is not surprisingly in one of the same families of warblers found in the UK.
Some of the prettiest birds however, were the thrushes: Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, and Eurasian Blackbird (yes, a thrush), along with some very late Fieldfares. The small, beautiful European Robin is not a thrush, but an Old World Flycatcher (Muscicapidae), along with the actively singing Common Nightingale we were fortunate to encounter at Westleton Heath.
Among the water birds we encountered were Little Grebe, Greylag Goose, Mandarin Duck, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Greenshank and Common Redshank, and Eurasian Spoonbill.
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ON NATURE (continued)
Little Grebe
Greylag Goose Mandarin Duck
Some of the lasting impressions related to the avian protection infrastructure and human infrastructure of the places we visited. There are many very fine wetland reserves, including those at Minsmere and Titchwell, run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Other equally strong locations were carefully managed by other entities or jurisdictions. Many of these, collectively, had extensive trails, visitor centers, and even cafeterias, which were great time-savers that we wish were offered by refuges and preserves in the US! Another impression was the great availability of public walking paths, including at the heathlands near Westleton where we spent our first few nights.
Another is the human infrastructure. While LHR is very modern and so are many of the roads, many of the structures are incredibly old compared to those here. The historic church at Westleton, where we birded several times, dates from the 14th century, as did our hotel and many other buildings. Roads in the small villages are of the very narrow, the villages obviously laid out centuries before the automobile. Rooms were often small, with low ceilings, narrow winding stairways, and brick exteriors covered with pieces of flint. The food was good (including the Common Wood-Pigeon) and plentiful. The one thing I missed was greasy American style bacon! The people were very nice and welcoming to birders, and the reserves were well- birded by many obviously serious and well-equipped birders.
In total, we tallied some 90 life birds, saw the North Sea and some great villages and reserves, and made it back home to once again struggle to bring our bodies back to local time!
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UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS
Sunday, August 11, PEEBLES ISLAND STATE PARK/COHOES FLATS (Saratoga/Albany Counties; morning)
Coordinator: John Hershey 518-371-3114 [email protected]
The wooded areas of Peebles Island are good for seeing a variety of songbirds. The river area and rocky flats around the island are usually good for Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Bald Eagle as well as shore birds, herons, egrets, Chimney Swifts and ducks. From the meeting place, we will check out the Cohoes Flats and then consolidate vehicles before proceeding to Peebles Island since there is a fee for each car entering.
If weather or water conditions are unfavorable for this trip, it may be rescheduled for Sunday, August 18. Please check the Club Calendar at https://hmbc.net/calendar-date to verify that the trip will be taking place on the expected date!
Meet at the NY State Dam Recreation area behind the U-Haul Rental in Cohoes at 8:30 a.m. From 787 going north, turn right onto Route 470 (Ontario Street) in Cohoes. Then turn left onto Clark Ave. and proceed to the end.
Sunday, August 25 through Thursday, August 29, 2018, COUNTING COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (Albany County; evenings)
Coordinators: Scott Stoner & Denise Hackert-Stoner 518-785-6760 [email protected] (8/25-8/27) and Tom and Colleen Williams 518-857-2176 [email protected] (8/28-8/29)
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 often 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 also 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.
Saturday, August 31, HUYCK PRESERVE/MYOSOTIS LAKE (Albany County; morning)
Coordinator: John Kent 518-424-2234 [email protected]
We will walk the shore of Myosotis Lake looking for migrating warblers, vireos, kinglets, and flycatchers in the shrubby habitat of the Lake Trail. Bald Eagles, all three local falcon species, and several species of hawks have been seen on some of the past years' trips. Depending on the water level, the mudflats at the north end of the lake often host migrating shorebirds. It may be necessary to walk through some mud to get a view, so be prepared. From there we will continue through the woods to Lincoln Pond, where we will check for waterfowl and herons. The total walking distance is around 1.5 miles.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. at New Scotland Town Hall on Route 85 for carpooling. Parking at Myosotis Lake is limited.
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Saturday, September 7, ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY (Albany County; morning)
Coordinator: Tristan Lowery 646-323-8914 [email protected]
Albany Rural Cemetery in the Town of Colonie is one of the most historic burial grounds in the United States – and it’s also a great place for birding in a beautifully-landscaped, park-like setting.
We’ll visit Albany Rural Cemetery at the very onset of the peak weeks for fall songbird migration, so a variety of southbound warblers, vireos, kinglets, and flycatchers may be possible, in addition to many year-round species. Depending on where the birding takes us along the cemetery’s meandering trails, we may also find ourselves by the graves of such national and local luminaries as 21st President of the United States Chester A. Arthur, Erastus Corning and Erastus Corning 2nd, Daniel Manning, Erastus Dow Palmer, Stephen Van Rensselaer, and Thurlow Weed.
Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the cemetery chapel and mausoleum. From Broadway (NY-32) HEADING north through Menands, turn left onto Cemetery Avenue at the prominent Albany Rural Cemetery gate. Continue west on Cemetery Avenue, keeping right at the St. Agnes Cemetery gate and continue past the Albany Rural Cemetery office to the chapel. There is adequate visitor parking at the chapel.
Sunday, September 8, HAND HOLLOW CONSERVATION AREA (Columbia County; morning)
Coordinator:Marion Sole 203-710-9096 [email protected]
Columbia Land Conservancy owns and manages 433 acres at Hand Hollow Conservation Area for the protection of wildlife and open space. The property has an active beaver pond and two lakes, and trails that pass by ponds, creeks, wet meadows and a hemlock ravine. We will be looking for migrant songbirds as well as lingering residents.
Meet 8:00 am at the parking lot. From the intersection of Route 22 and 20 in New Lebanon, take US 20 4.5 miles to CR 9. Take CR 9 south 1.2 miles and turn west (right) into a parking lot at the farmhouse just past the pond.
Saturday, September 14, HAWK WATCHING AND SONGBIRDS AT THACHER STATE PARK (Albany County; morning)
Coordinator: Gary Goodness 518-862-9260 [email protected]
We will be looking for migrating Broad-winged Hawks that use the warming air thermals along the face of the escarpment to continue their migration south. Other raptors may be seen using the thermals for similar reasons. Osprey, Bald Eagles, Red- tailed Hawks, Sharp-shinned and Coopers Hawks are among those that can be seen soaring over the Helderbergs. Ruby- throated Hummingbirds also migrate over the escarpment very low and fast, and sparrows and warblers can also be found along the trails around the overlook.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Key Bank at the southwest corner of Routes 20 and 155 in Guilderland.
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Sunday, September 15, FALL MIGRANTS AT ALBANY PINE BUSH PRESERVE (Albany County; morning)
Coordinators: Tom and Colleen Williams 518-857-2176 [email protected]
We will explore the Karner Barrens East unit of Albany Pine Bush Preserve, via the "yellow" perimeter trail, and "blue" dune overlook trail. We will be looking for warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. The dune overlook trail has a moderate climb and descent. This is approximately a three-mile loop. Take proper precautions to avoid ticks.
Map: http://www.albanypinebush.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1-KBarrensEW-2-pages.pdf
Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center parking lot, located at 195 New Karner Rd. (Rt. 155) in Albany.
Saturday, September 21, SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD (Saratoga County; morning)
Coordinator:Marne Onderdonk [email protected]
This popular trip features beautiful foliage and a good chance to see hawks, woodpeckers, sparrows, bluebirds and late migrants as we walk the woods and grasslands of the battlefield. You never know what will turn up. There is no longer a fee for use of the trails.
Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot near the park’s visitor center off SR 32.
Sunday, September 22, SARATOGA SPA STATE PARK (Saratoga County; morning)
Coordinator: Ron Harrower 518-744-2637 [email protected]
Picnic table graveyard? Hardly! Explore this very productive area at the south end of Saratoga Spa Park. From weedy brush lot to capped landfill, and through woods, this spot has earned attention as a haven for migrants in its many edge habitats. Expect warblers, sparrows, flycatchers and vireos. The path is level and mostly gravel.
Meet at 8:00am at the Carlsbad parking area. From Rt. 50 or Rt. 9, take East-West Road through the south end of the Park. Carlsbad parking lot is just west of the Peerless Pool lot. Admission is charged after 8:30 so please be prompt.
Saturday, September 28, NUTTEN HOOK (Columbia County, morning)
Coordinator: Kathy Schneider 518-248-8665 [email protected]
Nutten Hook is part of Stockport Flats, a Hudson River Estuarine Research Reserve site in Colombia County. The area includes the remains of the largest ice house on the Hudson as well as a loop trail that borders the river for a quarter mile. The return path cuts inland through oak woods, abandoned farmland, and tidal marshes. Bald Eagles and early fall migrants are expected.
Meet at 8:00 AM in the parking area by the pavilion, which is west of the railroad tracks, and the buildings on Ice House Rd. Ice House Rd. is off Route 9J in Stuyvesant.
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Sunday, September 29, WOODLAWN PRESERVE (Schenectady County; morning)
Coordinator: Bill Lee 518-374-3426 [email protected]
The Woodlawn Preserve is in the Southeast corner of Schenectady County abutting the western edge of the Pine Bush. The area contains a flood control pond, forested sand dunes and general wetland habitat. Trips in prior years have seen migrating warblers and sparrows. The pond may attract various waterfowl.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in front of Petsmart in Mohawk Commons at the corner of State Street and Balltown Road (Balltown Rd. side). We will carpool the short distance to the Preserve.
Saturday, October 12, THE BIG SIT! AT ANN LEE POND (Albany County; all day)
Coordinators: Tom and Colleen Williams [email protected]
We will have registered a count circle for the 2019 Big Sit, which will be conducted from the open picnic area at the north end of Ann Lee Pond in Colonie. If you aren't familiar with the Big Sit, you'll find more information here:
About the Big Sit
The idea is for a group of birders to observe as many species as possible in a 24-hour period from a 17-foot diameter circle set up in a strategically located spot. We will only attempt to do the daylight hours for our purposes. A small group of us will set up the location at 7:30 a.m. and staff it until noon. Anyone who wishes to come by at any point during the day is welcome!! Even if you can only stay for an hour, that will enable others to leave the circle for a short time to forage for food and facilities at nearby businesses. Bring a portable chair, your binoculars, and some snacks and drinks. If you want to stretch your legs, there is a nice loop trail around the pond, too. We hope to see you there!
Sunday, October 13, FIVE RIVERS EEC (Albany County; morning)
Coordinator: John Kent 518-424-2234 [email protected]
We’ll walk about 2 miles over generally flat terrain with some small hills, passing through a variety of habitats. Migrating sparrows are often abundant at this time of the year, with a good chance of Lincoln’s and White-crowned as well as more common species. Both species of kinglet may be present, as well as Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo. A late Nashville, Black-throated Green, Blackpoll or Magnolia Warbler might be found. Wood Duck and other waterfowl are possible, as well as Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks and Merlin. Wet grass and muddy spots may be encountered, so waterproof footwear is recommended.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot at Five Rivers EEC in Delmar.
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Friday, October 25, DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS, Rhode Island Coast/Sachuest NWR
Reservsation Deadline Only. Field trip is November 8-11
Coordinators: Gregg Recer and Cathy Graichen 518-330-4552(GR, c), [email protected]
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Contact the coordinators by October 25th for reservations and logistics details.
Saturday, October 26, COLLINS LAKE (Schenectady County; morning)
Coordinator: Bill Lee 518-374-3426 [email protected]
We will visit Collins Lake to view late migrating waterfowl from the beach and the east side of the lake. We will also take a wall east along the north side of the Mohawk River for fall sparrows. Fox Sparrows have been seen in previous years. Foliage will be off the trees to make finding LBJs (Little Brown Jobs) a bit easier.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. near the western end of the Gateway Bridge at Jumpin’ Jacks in Scotia. Bring a scope if you have one.
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Feathers Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club c/o Five Rivers EEC 56 Game Farm Road Delmar, NY 12054