Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

JANUARY 2012 MEETING

Our first meeting in 2012 will be on Monday, January 23rd at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Our Speaker will be our own member, Steve Golladay. He will present High Speed Photography of Hummingbirds. Learn about hummingbirds as well as photographic equipment and technique. Steve will demo his hummingbird photography setup, which includes five off camera flashes + one on-camera flash, and will show you some stunning photographs he was able to capture with it. We hope you will join us for a every informative and fun evening. Refreshments will follow our meeting.

James Baird SP Norrie Point Vanderbilt Mills Mansion Tymor Forest Harlem Valley Mansion (w/red maple Rail Trail syrup pails) Amenia

FEBRUARY 2012 & MARCH 2012 FIELD TRIPS WEDNESDAY Feb. 1 James Baird State Park *pg. 66. Meet at the restaurant parking lot at 9:00am. Feb. 8 Norrie Point *pg.78. Meet at the museum parking lot at 9:00am. Feb. 15 Bowdoin Park *pg. 16. Meet at the upper level parking area at 9:00am. Feb. 22 Vanderbilt Mansion *pg. 126. Meet at the visitor parking lot at 9:00am. Feb. 29 Wilcox Park – if closed Thompson Pond. Meet at park’s parking lot (off Rt. 199 east of Parkway) at 9:00am.

Mar. 7 Mills Mansion *pg. 78. Meet at the Mansion parking lot, Staatsburg at 9:00am. Mar. 14 Tymor Forest *pg. 124. Meet at the barns at 9:00am. Hot dog roast after walk (optional). Bring your own. Mar. 21 Harlem Valley Rail Trail – Amenia. Meet at parking lot off Mechanic St. at 9:00am. Mar. 28 Southern Dutchess Rail Trail. Meet at new parking lot, Rt. 376 (just south of old parking lot), Hopewell Jct. at old train station at 9:00am.

Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for February trips call Barbara Butler @ 677-9025. Any questions for March trips call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

* * * WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS ARE ON BACK PAGE * * * 1 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

EXECTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 Vice-Presedent: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 The next Wings deadline is Feb. 13, 2012. Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Send articles to Chuck Martinez and copies to Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 Janet Allison & Barbara Michelin. Contact Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 information is on back page. Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291 RTWBC Membership Report 1/12/2012 Committee Chairs Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Thanks to all those members who have renewed their Circulation: Ruth Greenwood 223-3100 memberships for 2011-2012. And a special thank you Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 to those (approximately 25%) who included an extra Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 contribution with their renewal. As of Jan 12, Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 approximately 60% of last year's members have Barbara Michelin 297-6701 renewed. The renewal rate to date of our on-line Chuck Martinez 896-6455 subscribers is much lower (41 %) than that of members NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 receiving the newsletter by mail (74 %). Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 Not sure if you renewed? Check the membership Historian: Adrienne Popko/Carrie Grey 229-5967 expiration date on your newsletter. And please rejoin Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 us! Publicity: Kateri Kosek – 226-6267 New members since November 2011 newsletter: Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Richard Forman & Christine Luchini, 667 Traver Rd., Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 Glenn A & Rebecca Thompson Atherton,291 Freedom Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 Rd, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477 Holly E. Cusick, 25 Ralph St, Beacon, NY 12508

Eamon Freiburger, 6 Apple Summit Ln., LaGrangeville, NY 12540

Bluebird Program Michael & Julie Kessler, 363 Smith Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538 Looking ahead. There will be a program on Bluebirds on Tuesday, April 23, 2012 at the Freedom Plains Krista Morris, 18 Michael Dr, Wappingers Falls, NY Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across 12590 from Arlington High School. Our speaker will be John Robert and Linda Olivo, 14 Putnam Road, Hyde Park, Ruska from the Bluebird Society. More details in our NY 12538 next issue. Peter Schoenberger, 95 West Saugerties Rd, Woodstock, NY 12601

David M. Schwartz, 176 Cream St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Steve Golladay, Membership Chairman Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive, Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 845-221-6140

Thank You Note

Dec. 4th, 2011 Dear Dora,

Please thank the bird club for the beautiful Thanksgiving floral arrangement we received. It is still looking great, down here where it is 80 degrees, almost.

We will be up to visit our family Dec. 22-30, even tho we can’t stand the cold anymore.

Eastern Bluebird, photo by Steve Golladay Happy Holidays,

Ginny and Otis

2 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Waterman Bird Club Christmas Bird Count December 17, 2011

The 2011 CBC, the 54th annual count for Waterman Bird Club, was very good. The species total, 77, is above average and higher than the previous two years. The unseasonably mild weather was surely a factor. An all time high of 242 Ring-necked Ducks, 8 Bald Eagles, 7 Common Ravens, 299 Tufted Titmice, and 150 White- breasted Nuthatches were seen this year. The 13 Belted Kingfishers this year is only one less than to highest ever and 6 Brown Creepers are the most seen since the 1990. White-throated Sparrows, 346, and Dark-eyed Juncos, 752, are the highest numbers tallied since 1991 Liz Martens found a Northern Shoveler, only the fourth time seen since 1958. Two Sharp-shinned Hawks is the lowest number seen since 1998. I want to thank the Team Leaders for all their help with the CBC. Alan Peterson stepped in to lead a team this year. Eamon Freiburger, age 12, was our youngest participant. Of course, it is all the participants who made this CBC a success. Thank you to Maha Katnani for opening her home for the after-count dinner.

Team Leaders Area Members Species

Barbara Butler Rockefeller Fld. Kelly Liao, Binnie Chase, 45 Sta., Verbank, Debi Kral, Dotty Fleury, Tymor, Clove Carena Pooth ,Herb Thompson Valley

Alan Peterson Lk. Walton, Eamon Freiburger, Abby Dux, 47 Towns of Aimee & Tom LaBarr, Fishkill, Liz Jamison Wappingers

Carol Fredericks Vassar Farm Ken Fredericks 28 Frank Margiotta Kateri Kosek Vassar Campus David Holub 24

Barbara Mansell Salt Point David Grover, Ellen Bender 44 Liz Martins Adrienne Popko

Barbara Michelin Sylvan Lake, Betsy Carswell, Bill Case, 51 Town and Ken Harris, Liz Jamison, City of Pk., Allan Michelin, Rodney Johnson, Wappingers Maha Katnani, Bonnie & Bud Fair, Richard Fitzgerald, Melissa Fischer, Aimee & Tom LaBarr, Adrienne Popko

Krista Morris Moores Mills, Fritz Waterman 41 Barry Haydasz Baird Park Susan & Jerry Gilnack, Maryanne Pitts

Chet Vincent Pleasant Valley Steve Galliday 52 Shelly Redle, Adrienne Popko

Feeder Watchers: Judy Atwood, Karen Jacquith, Evelyn Stevenson, Sandy LaPerche

-Compiler: Herb Thompson

3 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012 Dutchess County Christmas Bird Count Summary - December 17, 2011

Avg. Avg. Avg. Last Last Last # per # per # per Year Year Year of yrs yr of yrs yr of yrs yr Prev. Prev. Prev. Found when Found when Found when SPECIES NAME Found SPECIES NAME Found SPECIES NAME Found 2011 1958- Found 2011 1958- Found 2011 1958- Found 58- 58- 58- now 58- now 58- now 58- now now now now now now Greater White-fronted Goose 3 1 2003 Broad-winged Hawk 0 none House Wren 2 1 2007 Snow Goose 1 15 6 2009 Red-tailed Hawk 89 54 48 2010 Winter Wren 1 35 2 2010 Brant 8 3 25 2002 Rough-legged Hawk 24 2 2008 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 51 10 2010 Canada Goose 5104 41 3083 2010 Golden Eagle 1 1 1980 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 28 2 2010 Mute Swan 26 32 44 2010 American Kestrel 1 49 7 2010 Eastern Bluebird 99 51 53 2010 Tundra Swan 1 2 2002 Merlin 1 1 2008 Swainson's Thrush 1 1 2003 Wood Duck 3 23 4 2010 Peregrine Falcon 2 10 1 2010 Hermit Thrush 3 24 2 2010 Gadwall 7 3 2001 Common Moorhen 1 1 1974 American Robin 297 53 168 2010 American Wigeon 5 4 2000 American Coot 47 34 54 2010 Gray Catbird 2 23 2 2010 American Black Duck 45 54 36 2010 Killdeer 5 1 2009 Northern Mockingbird 53 51 55 2010 Mallard 508 54 406 2010 Wilson's Snipe 13 2 2005 Brown Thrasher 2 1 2009 Blue-winged Teal 0 none American Woodcock 1 1 1997 European Starling 2248 54 2476 2010 Northern Shoveler 1 4 2 2002 Bonaparte's Gull 1 2 1975 American Pipit 6 8 2008 Northern Pintail 15 2 2007 Ring-billed Gull 404 46 267 2010 Cedar Waxwing 92 50 107 2010 Green-winged Teal 3 2 2005 Herring Gull 20 54 36 2010 Lapland Longspur 5 2 1985 Canvasback 17 48 2006 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 2 2007 Snow Bunting 21 53 2010 Redhead 6 3 2006 Great Black-backed Gull 3 40 6 2010 Cape May Warbler 0 none Ring-necked Duck 242 33 58 2010 Gull, species uncertain 1 1000 2006 Palm Warbler 2 1 1991 Greater Scaup 7 2 2005 Rock Pigeon 494 49 405 2010 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 26 5 2010 Lesser Scaup 4 15 2006 Mourning Dove 257 54 373 2010 Eastern Towhee 19 2 2007 White-winged Scoter 1 2 2010 Eastern Screech-Owl 4 43 3 2008 American Tree Sparrow 14 54 251 2010 Long-tailed Duck 1 1 2005 Great Horned Owl 2 49 3 2010 Chipping Sparrow 1 1 2008 Bufflehead 5 2 2001 Snowy Owl 2 1 1996 Field Sparrow 39 5 2010 Common Goldeneye 8 3 1994 Barred Owl 1 35 2 2010 Vesper Sparrow 9 3 1972 Hooded Merganser 41 15 15 2010 Long-eared Owl 6 1 2004 Savannah Sparrow 21 2 2010 Common Merganser 28 35 32 2010 Short-eared Owl 1 1 1978 Fox Sparrow 31 2 2010 Red-breasted Merganser 3 4 2004 Northern Saw-whet Owl 2 1 2007 Song Sparrow 33 54 47 2010 Ruddy Duck 17 20 37 2010 Belted Kingfisher 13 54 7 2010 ***Lincoln's Sparrow 1 1 1 none Northern Bobwhite 4 7 1975 Red-headed Woodpecker 8 1 2009 Swamp Sparrow 1 30 3 2010 Gray Partridge 0 none Red-bellied Woodpecker 106 40 32 2010 White-throated Sparrow 346 54 160 2010 Ring-necked Pheasant 48 31 2010 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4 26 4 2010 White-crowned Sparrow 2 16 2 2010 Ruffed Grouse 36 5 1999 Downy Woodpecker 129 54 90 2010 Dark-eyed Junco 752 54 441 2010 Wild Turkey 55 22 90 2010 Hairy Woodpecker 23 54 20 2010 Northern Cardinal 144 54 125 2010 Common Loon 1 5 1 2008 Northern Flicker 23 51 18 2010 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 1 1966 Pied-billed Grebe 1 16 3 2007 Pileated Woodpecker 18 50 7 2010 Dickcissel 1 2 1982 Horned Grebe 2 1 2002 Eastern Phoebe 5 1 1991 Red-winged Blackbird 4 37 55 2009 Red-necked Grebe 0 none Northern Shrike 14 1 2006 Eastern Meadowlark 27 53 2009 Double-crested Cormorant 1 4 1 2009 Gray Jay 1 2 1975 Rusty Blackbird 15 3 2005 Great Cormorant 1 1 2006 Blue Jay 314 54 236 2010 Common Grackle 1 40 24 2010 Great Blue Heron 7 28 8 2010 American Crow 20000 54 4121 2010 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 51 79 2010 Black-crowned Night Heron 1 1 2000 Fish Crow 800 28 115 2010 Baltimore Oriole 5 1 1987 Black Vulture 4 6 3 2010 Common Raven 7 10 2 2010 Pine Grosbeak 8 42 1992 Turkey Vulture 14 11 6 2010 Horned Lark 43 163 2010 Purple Finch 42 20 2010 Osprey 1 1 2001 Black-capped Chickadee 378 54 328 2010 House Finch 182 47 273 2010 Bald Eagle 8 8 3 2010 Boreal Chickadee 2 4 1975 Red Crossbill 4 3 2008 Northern Harrier 31 2 2010 Tufted Titmouse 299 54 128 2010 White-winged Crossbill 2 6 2008 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 32 5 2010 Red-breasted Nuthatch 33 5 2010 Common Redpoll 12 50 2007 Cooper's Hawk 12 33 4 2010 White-breasted Nuthatch 150 54 82 2010 Pine Siskin 28 23 2008 ***Northern Goshawk 1 7 1 1986 Brown Creeper 6 53 5 2010 American Goldfinch 241 54 145 2010 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 20 2 2010 Carolina Wren 37 38 18 2010 Evening Grosbeak 30 63 1990 House Sparrow 437 54 501 2010 *** Pending review of details TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRDS: 34730 TOTAL SPECIES: 77 (includes 0 count week species) Compiled by Herb Thompson and Carena Pooth TOTAL Field Observers: 47 TOTAL Groups: 21 TOTAL Feeder Watchers: 4 4 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Ulster/Dutchess (NYUD) CBC Red-shouldered Hawk -3 (2 Dutchess) American Kestrel -2 The inaugural Ulster/Dutchess (NYUD) Christmas Bird Lesser Black-backed Gull -1 (Dutchess) Count was held Wednesday, December 28th 2011. The Eastern Screech Owl -13 (11Dutchess) circle's center is located at the intersection of Rt. 32 Great Horned Owl -4 (3 Dutchess) and Hudson River Road in the Town of Saugerties (lat. Barred Owl -4 (Dutchess) 42.027995 long. 73.953704). As you can see with the Belted Kingfisher -10 (3 Dutchess) attached map of the new circle it included, nearly Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -17 (8 Dutchess) thirty miles of Hudson River shoreline, the Tivoli Bays Common Raven -16 (7 Dutchess) complex, the mouths of two major river tributaries, and Horned Lark -25 (Dutchess) various quality green spaces like Esopus Bend Nature Brown Creeper -9 (6 Dutchess) Preserve, Ferncliff Forest, Kingston Point Park, Ulster Winter Wren -3 (1 Dutchess) Landing County Park, and Clermont State Park to Golden-crowned Kinglet -16 name just a few. All bodies of water were free of ice Ruby-crowned Kinglet -1 (Dutchess) and there was no snow cover recorded in the count Eastern Bluebird -164 (60 Dutchess) circle. Temperatures ranged from a high of 46 degrees Hermit Thrush -10 (5 Dutchess) at the 4:00 am start time to a low of 30 degrees at the American Robin -1034 (547 Dutchess) 4:45 pm ending time. Wind speeds were not as bad as Gray Catbird -2 predicted but gusts occasionally reached 20 mph in the American Pipit -30 (Dutchess) afternoon and definitely impacted the detection of Cedar Waxwing -174 (77 Dutchess) passerines. 13 field parties with 49 observers (along Orange-crowned Warbler -1 with 2 feederwatchers) in the ten sectors tallied 83 Yellow-rumped Warbler -10 (2 Dutchess) species. Highlights included a Blue-winged Teal, Field Sparrow -5 (Dutchess) Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Lesser Black-backed Gull Savannah Sparrow -2 (1 Dutchess) in the Town of Rhinebeck, two Gray Catbirds at the Swamp Sparrow -2 (Dutchess) Esopus Bend Nature Preserve (EBNP), six Pine Siskins White-crowned Sparrow -1 (Dutchess) in the Town of Woodstock, a Rusty Blackbird in the Red-winged Blackbird -899 (725 Dutchess) Town of Red Hook, two Wood Ducks in Tivoli Bays, Rusty Blackbird -1 (Dutchess) three Long-tailed Ducks on the Hudson, and a Orange- Common Grackle -6678 (5101 Dutchess) crowned Warbler, Snow Goose, and Cackling Goose Brown-headed Cowbird -84 (82 Dutchess) additional from the Town of Ulster. Two additional Purple Finch -1 (Dutchess) species occurred during the count week scouting with Pine Siskin -6 a Common Yellowthroat at EBNP and a Merlin in the Town of Ulster. Bald Eagles put on a good showing Editor’s note: The following are birds seen on the with 31 individuals counted. Thrushes were also well Dutchess side of this CBC which were added to the represented with 164 Eastern Bluebirds counted in all December Records 2011. but one sector, 1034 American Robins were counted in Leaders: Peter Schoenberger, Jim Clinton, Binnie all sectors, and the reclusive Hermit Thrush observed Chase & Gene McGarry in 5 sectors with ten birds total. Blackbirds, still able to forage on corn fields made up approximately a Not mentioned in above article include: quarter of all individual birds seen including a staggering 6678 Common Grackles. Disappointing Canada Goose – 1117 No. Flicker- 14 misses included Peregrine Falcon, Red-breasted Mute Swan – 4 Pileated Woodpecker – 19 Nuthatch and the Hudson's overall lack of any Am. Black Duck – 132 Blue Jay – 188 substantial waterfowl, grebe, and loon numbers or Mallard – 148 Am. Crow – 562 diversity. Highlights are listed below. The 2nd annual Mallard x Black Hybrid – 2 NYUD CBC will be held on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER Long-tailed Duck – 3 Black-capped Chickadee – 130 26TH, 2012. Bufflehead – 6 Tufted Titmouse – 140 Com.Goldeneye -5 White-breasted Nuthatch – 82 Mark DeDea - co-compiler NYUD Com. Merganser – 19 Carolina Wren - 19 [email protected] - (845) 339-1277 Wild Turkey – 133 No. Mockingbird - 25 Bald Eagle – 10 Starling - 2123 Northern Harrier – 3 Am. Tree Sparrow - 44 Snow Goose -1 Sharp-shinned Hawk – 3 Cackling Goose -1 Cooper’s Hawk – 6 Song Sparrow - 32 Wood Duck -2 (Dutchess) Red-tailed Hawk – 54 White-throated Sparrow -188 Green-winged Teal -1 (Dutchess) Ring-billed Gull – 132 Dark-eyed Junco - 397 Blue-winged Teal -1 Herring Gull – 9 No. Cardinal - 74 Greater Scaup -1 Great Black-backed Gull – 5 Long-tailed Duck -3 (Dutchess) Rock Pigeon – 209 House Finch - 86 Hooded Merganser -10 (1 Dutchess) Mourning Dove- 139 Am. Goldfinch - 190 Great Blue Heron -6 (5 Dutchess) Hairy Woodpecker – 21 House Sparrow - 170 Black Vulture -8 (4 Dutchess) Red-bellied Woodpecker -55 Turkey Vulture -4 (2 Dutchess) Downy Woodpecker – 62

5 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Sharon CBC – 12/18/11 from the Dutchess County sectors. Leaders: Jane Rossman, Art Gingert

Snow Goose: 3 Hairy Woodpecker: 3 Ca. Goose: 4525 Northern Flicker: 3 Mute Swan: 2 Pileated Woodpecker: 2 Gadwall: 4 Blue Jay: 59 Am. Black Duck: 20 American Crow: 695 Mallard: 126 Common Raven: 5 No. Pintail: 2 Horned Lark: 61 Green-winged Teal: 5 Black-capped Chickadee: 129 Hooded Merganser: 14 Tufted Titmouse: 47 Com. Merganser: 8 White-breasted Nuthatch: 28 Ruddy Duck: 3 Carolina Wren: 3 Wild Turkey: 29 Golden-crowned Kinglet: 6 Snow Goose, Overlook Park Bald Eagle: 1 Northern Mockingbird: 1 photo by Maha Katnani Cooper's Hawk: 4 European Starling: 1409 Red-tailed Hawk: 17 American Tree Sparrow: 45 American Black Duck: 27 sev. areas by DK, CV & 1FT; American Kestrel: 1 Song Sparrow: 8 most: 24/8, Round Pd. CV plus 38/22 Hudson opp Cornwall American Coot: 53 White-throated Sparrow: 60 Bay Ken McDermott. Ring-billed Gull: 171 Dark-eyed Junco: 279 Mallard: good numbers of 3-32 sev. areas by BJM, DEidam, Herring Gull: 22 Northern Cardinal: 23 DK, CV & 1 FT. Rock Pigeon: 248 Red-winged Blackbird: 374 Northern Shoveler: 1/24 Rt 82 Pine Plains DK. Mourning Dove: 77 Common Grackle: 5 Northern Pintail: 1/3 The Fly, 7/24 Strever Farm Rd., Pine Eastern Screech-Owl: 1 Brown-headed Cowbird: 1050 Plains, CV; 1/13 Rt 82 Pine Plains DK. Great Horned Owl: 2 House Finch: 20 Green-winged Teal: 2/2, 5/9 Ryder Pd., 55/3 Buttercup Barred Owl: 2 Pine Siskin: 17 West, 4/6 Tivoli Bay, 2/8 Round Pd., 8/24 Strever Farm Rd., Belted Kingfisher: 3 American Goldfinch: 43 CV; 2/16 Thompson Pd FT. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 19 House Sparrow: 76 Ring-necked Duck: 105 sev. areas by BJM, DK, CV & 1 FT Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 2 plus most: 150/2 & 320/9 Ryder Pd. CV; Downy Woodpecker: 21 Lesser Scaup: 9/22 Hudson opp Cornwall Bay Ken McDermott.

November 2011 Records

The beginning of November had surprisingly warm temperatures that were in the 60’s. A record high for the 20th was 67 degrees in Poughkeepsie. By month’s end temperatures were more like winter but no snow storms. There were a few surprises including a Cackling Goose plus Long-tailed Duck, Red-throated Loon, Great Cormorant, Green Heron, Merlin, Spotted Sandpiper, Palm Warbler and 2 reports of Pine Siskins.

Snow Goose: 1 all mo. Overlook Pk., 1/30 (Blue Phase) Round Pd., CV; 225/22 incl. 3 Blue Phase Hudson so. Bannerman Is. Ken McDermott; 1/29 Overlook Pk, Poughkeepsie AMP. Canada Goose: 3,000/3 & 2,500/24 The Fly, 1,000/8 Round Pd., 2,000/9 Ryder Pd. CV; 2 other reports of 150-200. Brant (immature) in Stringham Park, 11/4/11 Cackling Goose: 1/6-8 Ryder Pd DK, John Askildsen. photo by Maha Katnani

Brant: 1/7 & 11 Stringham Rd. Pk, CV; 1/4 Stringham Pk Long-tailed Duck: 2/24 Hudson from Denning’s Pt. Curt MK,AL; 4/20 Marist Col. Waterfront DGo; 2/25 Marist McDermott & Clara Montenegro. boathouse Liz Martens. Bufflehead: 18/5 & 1/22 Sylvan Lk., CV; 43/22 Hudson opp Mute Swan: 3 reports of 2-4 several areas by JA/KJ, BJM & Cornwall Bay Ken McDermott; 2m/6 Abel's Pd., 1m/11 Wapp. CV: most: 22/5 Sylvan Lk., 16/22 Redwing PK CV; 14/11 Lk., 2m/12 Lk. Onaid BJM. Wapp. Lk., BJM. Hooded Merganser: 5 reported 1-2 ea. @ Wapp. Lk. & Wood Duck: 2/2 Ryder Pd., 3/3 Mud Pd., Pine Plains CV; Round Pd. by KH & BJM; most: 26/18 & 44/30 Rudd Pd. CV. 1f/5 Vassar Farm MHB/DEidam. Common Merganser: 33 reported of 2-4 by BJM & DGo. Gadwall: 3/10 Fisherman's Pk KH; 5/11 Wapp. Lk. BJM. Most: 27/3, 26/16, 12/24 Mashomak, Pine Plains CV & 35/26 Fisherman's Pk, Wapp. Lk. KH. Red-breasted Merganser: 1f/10 Fisherman's Pk KH.

6 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Ruddy Duck: 27 reported sev. areas of 2-8 by DK & BJM; Merlin: 1/25 Back of Julie's restaurant Arlington WL. most: 200/5 & 85/22 Sylvan Lk. CV. Peregrine Falcon: 1/15 & 23 on Pok. Tower CV; 1/24 Ring-necked Pheasant: 1/6 CIES WLS; 1/9 Millbrook Schl Sharon Rd. Millerton TG/FG. FT. American Coot: 4-16 sev. areas by BJM & CV; most: 200/5 Wild Turkey: 18/10 Domin Farm, Rombout Rd. CV; 6/12 & 75/22 Sylvan Lk. CV & 40/16 Thompson Pd FT. Myers Corners Rd. BJM; 2-4 occ, MP; 38/24 Sharon Rd. Killdeer: 8/2 & 4/3 Overlook Pk., 1/6 Greig’s farm Red Hook, Millerton TG/FG; 15/2 Dutchess Golf & Country Club ES. CV; 4 most days TSF through 23rd MP. Red-throated Loon: 1/24 Hudson from Denning’s Pt. Curt Spotted Sandpiper: few/16 Norrie Pt. HRA/TLake (late McDermott & Clara Montenegro. record). Common Loon: 1/18 & 30 Rudd Pd., CV; 4/22 Hudson opp Wilson’s Snipe: 5/9 Ryder Pd. flushed by Harrier, 1/18 Cornwall Bay Ken McDermott; 3/29 Hudson @ Denning’s Pt. Round Pd., CV. Rob Stone. Ring-billed Gull: 6/24 Rhinebeck Village MP; 26/29 Pied-billed Grebe: 1/2 Tamarack, 1/3 Mills State Pk., CV; Overlook Pk AMP; 15/30 HVRT Coleman Stn FT; normal CV. 1/5 Striingham Pk. BBF; 1 imm/ 10 Fisherman's Park KH. Herring Gull: 7/8 McEnroe’s CV; 1/29 Overlook Pk AMP. Double-crested Cormorant: 1/1 Hudson River @ Shadows, Great Black-backed Gull: 1/1 Hud. River @ Shadows CV. 4/3 & 1/24 Mashomak, 1/6 Tivoli Bay south, CV; 2/8 Mourning Dove: 1-10 reported by JA/KJ, BB MP, EBR & Fisherman's Park KH; 1/19 Norrie Pt FT; 1/22 Hudson opp CV; most: 60/16 Thompson Pd FT; 24/17 yd ES; 20/30 Cornwall Bay Ken McDermott. HVRT Coleman Stn FT. Great Cormorant: 2/22 Hudson opp Cornwall Bay Ken Eastern Screech-Owl: 3/19 N. Mabbettsville Road, McDermott; 1/29 Hudson from Denning’s Pt. Rob Stone. Millbrook, AMP. Great Blue Heron: 1/6 Tivoli Bay north, 1/7 Sleight Pass Great Horned Owl: 1/5 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/6 Ludlow Rd., 1/27 DRT CV; 1 occ. early mo. then none Rhinebeck Woods Rd DK. MP; 1/18 Red Oaks Mill Creek JA/KJ; 1/30 Tymor Pk BB. Barred Owl: 1/2 Vassar Fm FT; 1/4 h yd. AJM; 2/21 N Green Heron: 1/5 Vassar Farm MHB/DEidam (late record). Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/23 h yd JA/KJ; 1/24 Norrie Pt SBa; h/occ. yd. LaGrange Eamon Freiburger. Belted Kingfisher: 9 reported of 1 ea. by DEidam, BJM & 2/30 Round Pd..CV. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 17 reported of 1-4 by JA/KJ, BB, BAM, MP, EBR & CV; most: 8/5 Dutchess Rail Trl FT. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 14 reported of 1-2 by BB, KH, CP/HT, EBR & CV; most: 3/5 Norrie Pt. SP SB. Downy Woodpecker: 1-4 by most observers: most: 11/5 Dutchess Rail Trl FT. Hairy Woodpecker: 9 reports of 1-2 by JA/KJ,BAM,MP, CV. Northern Flicker: 10 reported of 1-3 by BAM, EShaw & CV Pileated Woodpecker: 1/3 Buttercup West, 1/18 yd., 1/24 Stissing Mt., 1/28 Rombout Rd., CV; 1/5 yd BB; 1/6 yd. & occ. mo. BAM.

Black Vulture, photo by Bill Case

Black Vulture: 1/2 Vassar Farm FT; 1/18 Rombout Rd., CV; 2/19 Noxon Rd LaGrange HT; 1/24 Reese Sanctuary KH Turkey Vulture: 9/1 Rombout Rd. & none after 1st for me, CV; 1/5 Vassar Farm MHB/DEidam; 2/11 1 Myers Corners Rd/1 Rt376 Fishkill Pl. BJM; 4/13 over yd. BAM. Osprey: 1/25 Rhinebeck MP. Bald Eagle: 1/2 No. Mabbetsville Rd., 1/3 Mashomak, 2/9 Tamatack, 1/14 Norrie Pt., 1/24 Strever Farm Rd., CV; 1/24 Sharon Rd. Millerton TG/FG; 1/6,13,19,25, 3/8 Bontecou Lk DK; 1ad/16 Norrie Pt. HRA/TLake; 2ad/18 Twn Pok. Pk. HRA/JKovach; 2/19 Norrie Pt FT. Northern Harrier: 1/9 Ryder Pd., CV; 1/16 Thompson Pd Preserve FT. Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/8 HVRT, 1/29 Sleight Farm, CV; 1/19 Norrie Pt FT; 1/30 HVRT Coleman Stn FT

Cooper’s Hawk: 1/5 Vassar Farm MHB/DEidam; 1/7 Pileated Woodpecker, photo by Maha Katnani Stringham Pk., 1/18 Rombout Rd., CV; 1/19 yd Pok WL; 1/11 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/19 Norrie Pt FT Blue Jay: 5 reports of 1-10 by JA/KJ, BAM, MP, CV & 1 FT; Red-shouldered Hawk: 1/19 yd Pok WL; 1/19 Norrie Pt FT; most: 18/5 Dutchess Rail Trl FT. 1/2 Vassar Fm FT; 1/1-24 h/seen most days Rhinebeck MP. American Crow: 3,000/1 & 4,000/23 Pok. roost CV; 30/24, Red-tailed Hawk: 31 reported of 1-4 by DEdiam, BAM, MP & 25/25 Bedell Rd Pok & 1000/25 Peach Hill Pk MLu; 3 other 1 FT; most: 5/24 Mashomak CV; 6/9 Millbrook Schl FT. reports. Golden Eagle: 1/24 Imm. Stissing Mt. CV. American Kestrel: 1/1 Rombout Rd. CV.

7 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Fish Crow: 1/7 & 16 Plaza's Hopewell Jct. BJM; 2/11 Daley Chipping Sparrow: 2/2 yd. BAM; 1/2 Vassar Fm FT; 2/4 Rd, Lagrange HT. DRT CV; 4/5, 1/22 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP. Common Raven: 2/16 Thompson Pd FT; 1/24 Stissing Mt. Field Sparrow: 4/2 Vassar Farm FT; 1/18 Rombout Rd. CV; CV; 1/24 Sharon Rd. Millerton TG/FG; 2/30 HVRT Coleman 1/23 yd BB. Stn FT. Savannah Sparrow: 1/1 Rombout Rd., 1/9 Bangal-Amenia Rd. CV; 1/2 Vassar Farm FT; 4-6 daily TSFuntil mid-mo. then gone MP. Fox Sparrow: 1/1 Vassar Farm, 2/3 Buttercup West, 1/28 Rombout Rd., CV; 1/1 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP; 2/2 Vassar Farm FT; 1/3 Norrie Point SP SBa; 1/21 Norrie Mills State Park KH. Song Sparrow: 35 reported of 3-5 by MP & CV; most: 7/1, Rombout Rd. CV & 10/2 Vassar Farm FT. Swamp Sparrow: 2/1 Rombout Rd., 1/8 HVRT CV; 1/3 & 24 Norrie Pt SBa; 2/6 Cary/IES WLS. White-throated Sparrow: 4 reports of 1-6 by JA/KJ, BAM & EBR; most: 12/4 DRT, 19/8 HVRT, 25/23 Vassar Campus CV & 22-25 2 FT’s & 40/2 Vassar Farm FT. White-crowned Sparrow: 1/28 adult Rombout Rd. CV. Dark-eyed Junco: 8 reports of 1-20 by all observers; most: 22/2 Vassar Fm FT; 44/5 DRT - Diddell/Titusville Rds FT.

Common Raven, original art by Melissa Fischer

Horned Lark: 28/6 Greig’s farm, 15/9 Coole Pk. farm CV. Black-capped Chickadee: 6 reports of 1-8 by most observers; most: 10/8 HVRT, CV; Tufted Titmouse: 5 reports of 2-6 by most observers. White-breasted Nuthatch: 5 reports of 1-3 by JA/KJ, BAM, MP, EBR & CV. Brown Creeper: 1-2/23-30 yd. MP; 2/19 Ludlow Woods Rd, Stanfordville DK; 2/24 Reese Sanc, 1/26 Fisherman's Pk KH. Carolina Wren: 9 reported of 1-2 ea. by BAM, MP & CV. Winter Wren: 1/6 CIES WLS; 1/18 Rombout Rd., 1/23 Vassar Campus CV; 1/27 Norrie Pt SBa 1/30 HVRT Coleman Stn FT. Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1/3 Buttercup West CV; 1/6 yd BB; 3/19 Norrie Pt FT; 2/24 Sharon Rd. Millerton TG/FG; 2/30 HVRT Coleman Stn FT.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 2/2 Vassar Fm FT. Snow Bunting in Freedom Park, photo by Debi Kral Eastern Bluebird: 5 reports of 1-8 by BB, BAM, MP & CV; most: 24/2 Vassar Fm FT; 22/5 Norrie Pt SBa; 47/10 Stony Northern Cardinal: 4 reports of 1-5 by JA/KJ, MP, EBR, CV Kill HRA/TLake; & 2 FT’s; most: 4m/2f/1-19 yd. BAM. Hermit Thrush: 1/1 Vassar Farm, 1/27 DRT CV; 3/25 Peach Red-winged Blackbird: 100’s/1 field mixed flock Stony Kill Hill Park MLu. HRA/TLake; 50/1 & 25/18 Rombout Rd., CV; 25/2 Vassar Fm American Robin: well reported of 6-50 by JA/KJ, MLu, CV; FT; 20/30 HVRT Coleman Stn FT & 2 other reports of 2-6. most: 100/21 yd. HRA/KKraft; 70/5 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Eastern Meadowlark: 1/6 Greig’s farm CV. 75/16 Thompson Pd FT. Rusty Blackbird: 1m/3 Buttercup West CV. Gray Catbird: 1/4 DRT CV; 1/6 Cary IES WLS. Common Grackle: 3/1, 3/28 Rombout Rd., 1/8 HVRT CV; Northern Mockingbird: 5/1, 4/18, 5/28 Rombout Rd., 1/8 1/9 Millbrook Schl FT; 1/17 yd BB; 1/25 Bedell Rd Pok MLu. HVRT, 3/23 Vassar Campus CV; 1-2 occ. TSF MP. Brown-headed Cowbird: 4/5 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 2/11 European Starling: 40/9 Millbrook Schl FT. DRT CV; 1/20 yd BB. American Pipit: 15/1 Overlook Pk., 35/6 Greig’s farm CV; House Finch: 7 reports of 1-6 by most observers; most: 1/5 Norrie Point SP SBa. 18/2 Vassar Fm FT; 3-12/all yd Poughquag CP/HT. Cedar Waxwing: 5 reports of 3-50 by BB, BJM, WLS & CV; Pine Siskin: 2/5 North Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AP; 4/19 most: 42/2 Vassar Fm FT; 300/5 Red Hook yd MHB/EShaw. Norrie Pt. SP FT. Snow Bunting: 2/4 Overlook Pk., 9/21 Stringham Pk., CV; American Goldfinch: 5 reports of 1-6 by JA/KJ, BAM, MP, & 3/4 Stringham Pk MK,AL; 3/5 Stringham Pk. BBF. CV; most: 15/2 Vassar Fm FT; 12/19 Norrie Pt FT; 2-10/all Yellow-rumped Warbler: 2/1 Rombout Rd., 3/3 Buttercup yd Poughquag CP/HT. West, 3/8 HVRT CV; 2/2 Vassar Fm FT; 1/19 Norrie Pt FT. House Sparrow: 31/9 Millbrook Schl FT; 23/15 N Palm Warbler: 2/2 Vassar Farm FT; 1/8 Reagan Rd. CV. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; normal CV; 1/26 yd JA/KJ. Eastern Towhee: 1m/3 Buttercup West CV. American Tree Sparrow: 2/5, 1/6 CIES WLS; 1/5 & 14/24 Beaver 1/2 swimming in & out of lodge near dusk @ Ryder Norrie Point SP SBa; 1/22 yd BB; 2-4 daily beg. 21st yd. MP. Pd. CV. Coyote 1/1 Salt Point DK

8 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

OBSERVERS: Common Merganser: eBird 7 rpts avg 8 ea: 24/5 Dennings JAKJ-Judith Atwood/Karen Jaquith, SBa-Steve Bauer, BB- Pt HRA-Tom Lake; 4/8 Strauss Marsh CV; 19/8, 29/31 Barbara Butler, BBF-Bud & Bonnie Fair, DGo-Dean Goodard, Fisherman’s Pk KV; 5/13 Wapp Lk , 12/19 Hunn’s Lk CV; TG/FG- Timothy & Frank Guida, MK-Maha Katnani, DK- 21/25 Hunn’s Lk CP/HT; 8/30 Red Wing, CV; 1m/3f/30 Debbi Kral, AL-Aimee LaBarr, WL-William Lenhart, MLu- Westage pd. Fishkill BJM: 1/31 Round Pd, CV Mary Lunt, BAM-Barbara & Allan Michelin, MP-Mona Payton, Ruddy Duck: 76/2 Sylvan Lk CV CP-Carena Pooth, AMP-Adrienne Popko, EBR-Edith & Barry Rosen, ES-Ed Spaeth, HT-Herb Thompson, CV-Chet Vincent, WLS- William & Lisa Schlesinger, FT-Field Trip, HRA - Hudson River Almanac, MHB - Mid-Hudson Birds

Abbreviations: TSF - Southlands Farms in Rhinebeck; DRT - Dutchess Rail Trail; HVRT - Harlem Valley Rail Trail

Field Trips (FT): 2nd Vassar Farms; 5th So. Dutchess Rail Trail; 9th Millbrook School; 16th Thompson Pd; 20th Norrie Point; 23rd. Vassar College Campus; 30th Harlem Valley Rail Trail

-Compiler: Barbara Michelin Ruddy Duck (male), photo by Maha Katnani

Wild Turkey: 1most days inj foot BJM; 31/11 Ludlow Wds December 2011 Records Rd. DJK; 30/17 Hunns Lk, WLS; 14/31 Millbrook Sch Rd CV Pied-billed Grebe: 1/12 Fisherman’s Pk KH; 1/26 Bontecou December was a month of freeze-thaw with rollercoaster Lk DJK temperatures ranging from a high of 61 ° on the 6th to a low Double-crested Cormorant: 2/1 Norrie Pt, CV of 29 ° on the 18th. Most of the ponds were still open at the Great Blue Heron: 1/1 Rhinecliff CV; 1/10 Rawls Rd. Pd CV; end of the month. 1/11 Millbrook Sch Rd. DJK; 1/13 Jecose Lk AJM; 1/14 Verbank FT; 1/17 Bontecou Lk WLS; 1/26 Tivoli Bay S CV; Snow Goose: 1/8 “Blue Phase” Strauss’s Pd, CV; 10/10 1/29 Vanderburgh Cove ES, 3/31 Fisherman’s Pk KH Rhinebeck in flight HRA-Phyllis Marsteller; 1/25 Bridle Black Vulture: eBird 5 rpts, avg 2 ea 5/8 Deefield Pds CV; Way/SPT MD, 1/21 Overlook Pk AMP, 1/24 Rt 82 DJK; 2/31st 4+/24 Osborne Hill Rd. DS; 4/26 Fishkill TD, 2/28 CP; 1/29 Round Pd, CV; Wappingers KH Brant: 1/25 Bridle Way/Salt Pt Turnpike MD Turkey Vulture: eBird 3 rpts; 1/3 Myers Cor Rd. BJM; Canada Goose: Many reports. eBird 18 rpts avg. 294 ea. 2/13,22 yd BAM; 2/20 DRT CV; 2/24 Osborne Hill Rd. DS; Largest flocks: 2000/25 Stissing Lk CP/HT; 2000/25 Strever 4/26 Fishkill TD; 5/28 Rt. 9, Wapp Falls KH Pd CP/HT; 3000+ /31Round Pd, CV Bald Eagle: eBird 8 rpts: 2/5 Dennings Pt HRA-Tom Lake; Mute Swan: Many reports eBird reports 10 rpts avg 4 ea. 6/8 Deefield Pd CV; 1/11 Wapp Lk HRA- Terry Hardy; 2/17 Largest flock 4-11/all Fisherman’ Pk KH; 15/2 Red Wing (Gr Bruzgal Rd. CP/HT; 3/19 Mashomack CV; 2/21 No Mabb Rd. Haven) CV; 5/16,17,25,26 Bontecou Lk WLS, DJK; 11/13 AMP; 2/25 Bontecou Lk DJK; 2/28 Norrie Pt KH; 2/31 Wapp Lk, CV; 8/25 Sylvan Lk CP/HT Bangall-Am Rd DJK Wood Duck: 2/14 Bowdoin Pk HRA-Tom Lake Northern Harrier: 1/19 Mashomack CV Gadwell: 3/8 Ore Pit Pd CV; 6/31 Sheffield Hill Rd Pd CV; Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/8 10 Mile River Club CV; 1/14 5/11 Fisherman’s Pk KH Verbank FT; 1/16 yd BAM; 1/19 yd. Poughquag CP; 1/25 yd American Widgeon: 1/10 Strever Pd MHB –Peter DJK Schoenberger American Black Duck: 3/3 Wapp Cr (Salt Pt), 4/13, Traver Pd, 12/16 Conservacy Pd, 17/19 Stissing Lk, 25/26 Tivoli Bay, 3/31/ Round Pd CV eBird – 6 rpts avg 4 ea Mallard: normal #s eBird 21 reports avg 9 ea Northern Shoveler: 4/10 Strever Pd MHB –Peter Schoenberger; 2/25 Stever Pd CP/HT Northern Pintail: 7/2 Stever Farm Rd, CV; 4/10 Strever Pd MHB/Peter Schoenberger; 3/19 “The Fly” Rt 82, Pine Pl. CV Green-winged Teal: 15/3 Buttercup West CV; 1/19 The Fly CV; 1/26 Tivoli Bay So. CV Ring-necked Duck: 15/8 Ore Pit Pd. CV; 35/13 Traver Rd. Pd, CV;14/19 Stissing Lk, CV; 30/25 Traver Pd CP/HT; 1/31 Round Pd, CV Hooded Merganser: 10/8 Strauss Marsh, CV; 10/11, 5/12, 2/13 Fisherman’s Pk KH; 6/13 Wapp Lk, CV; 4/22 Jecose Lk BAM; 4/22 9/31 Round Pd, CV; 30/25 Sylvan Lk CP/HT

Sharp-shinned Hawk, photo by Debi Kral

9 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Cooper's Hawk: 1/4 yd. Pok WL; 1/8 Deerfield Pds, CV; 2/9 Black-capped Chickadee: normal #s Highest numbers: 8/4 Bedell Rd Mlu; 1/9 Stringham Pk CV; 1/18 yd. BAM; 1/19 No. Rombout Rd CV; 8/20 DRT, CV, eBird 31 rpts avg 5 ea Mabb Rd. AMP; 1/27 Hopewell Jct. BJM; 1/30 TSF, MP; Tufted Titmouse: normal # 6/20 DRT CV; eBird 30 rpts, avg Red-shouldered hawk: 1/4 yd Pok ML; 1juv/13 yd. BAM; 4 ea 1/21, 31 heard, yd MP Red-tailed Hawk: Many reports throughout county. eBird – 20 rpts avg 2 ea. Highest numbers: 4/3 Duell Rd. DJK; 3/3 Norrie Pt SP, SBa; 4/8 Deerfield Pds, 1/31 Downy Rd noted to be very white, some dark on head and belly band CV American Kestrel: 1/8,22Market/Salt Pt Trpk – DJK; 1/10 Vassar Farm FT Merlin: 1fe/4 Camby Rd Verbank DJK Peregrine Falcon: 1/15 Walkway HRA-Tom Lake; 1/16 Rombout Rd. CV; 1/29 Mid Hudson Bridge ES American Coot: 6/17 Christie Pd CP/HT; 2/26 Hunn’s Lk DJK Ring-billed Gull: normal #s eBird 6 rpts avg 4 ea; 15/21 Overlook Pk AMP, 44/30 Westage Pd. Fishkill BAM Herring Gull: 1/1 Rhinecliff CV; 1/13, 22 & 9/13 Overlook Lk CV; 42/22 Beacon Waterfront KH; 20/26 Fishkill TD; 5/30 Westage Fishkill BJM Great Black-backed Gull: 1/13 Wapp Lk, CV; 1/15 Beacon

RR Station ES; 1/20 Longview Pk CV; 14/22 Beacon Tufted Titmouse, original art by Melissa Fischer waterfront KH Rock Pigeon: Normal numbers- 103/14 Verbank FT Red-Breasted Nuthatch: 1/4,10,23,24 yd Millbrook WLS Mourning Dove: Usual numbers, eBird 21 rpts, avg 6 ea: White-breasted Nuthatch: 2-4/daily yd MP; 2/3 Buttercup 16/6 yd No Mabb Rd AMP; 25/18 yd. Pouquag CP; 1-4/7, West , 4/4, 1/22 Rombout Rd., 8/20 DRT CV; eBird 32 rpts, 20,27 yd. Stormville EBR, 1-3/all yd Lagrangeville JA/KJ ave 3 ea Eastern Screech-Owl – 1/11 Wappingers HRA –Tom Lake; Brown Creeper: 1/1 Norrie Pt. CV; 1/daily, 2/4 yd MP; 1/4, 1/17 Recreation Rd. CP/HT; 2/17 Clapp Hill Rd CP/HT 23 yd. Millbrook WLS; 1/7,12,18,19, 21,23-25 yd CV;1/25 yd. Great Horned Owl: 1/3 No Mabb Rd. AMP ;1/17 Clapp Hill Stormville EBR Rd CP/HT; 2/9 Ludlow Woods Rd. DJK; Carolina Wren: 1-2/daily feeder CV; 1-2 h/seen occ yd MP; Barred Owl: 2/2 Stissing Mt CV; 1/10 Rombout Rd. CV 1/3 Wapp Rural Cemetary KH; 2/3 Buttercup West, 2/4 Belted Kingfisher: 1/1 Vandeberg Cove, CV; 1/2 Sylvan Lk, Rombout Rd. CV; 1/5 Fisherman’s Pk KH; 1/15 feeder CV; 1/8 HV RT CV; 1/10 Vassar Fm FT; 1/11Oak Summit Stormville EBT; eBird 15 rpts, avg 1 ea Rd, Verbank DJK; 1/11 CIES WLS; 1/12 Wapp Lk HRA-Terry Winter Wren: 1/3 Norrie Pt. SBa; 1/5 Vassar Farm DJK 1/20 Hardy; 1/14 Pond Gut, CV; 1/16 Traver Pd, CV; 1/17 Bkman DRT CV Rec CP/HT; 1/19 The Fly, CV; 1/31 Round Pd, CV Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1/4 Rombout Rd. CV Red-bellied Woodpecker: Many reports; Highest numbers: Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1/4 Rombout Rd CV 7/20 DRT, CV; eBird reports 28 rpts, avg 2 ea Eastern Bluebird: 12/2 Bowdoin Pk HRA-Tom Lake; 5/2 yd Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1/many yd. Stormville EBR; 1/1 Stormville EBR; 2/4 4/10, 2/24 TSF MP; 20/10 Vassar Farm Vanderbilt CV; 1/3 Norrie Pt. SBa; 1/10 Vassar Fm FT; 1/14 FT; 3/19 Lake Rd, 5/20 DRT, CV; 3/25 Reese Pk KH; 8/26 Verbank FT; 1/16 Conservacy Area CV; 1/20 DRT; 1/22 Tivoli Bay, CV; eBird 12 rpts, avg 5 ea Rombout Rd. CV Downy Woodpecker: Numerous reports throughout county, seen daily at most feeders. Highest numbers: 5/13feeder CV; 5/20 DRT CV; 3-4/all yd CP/HT/DJK Hairy Woodpecker: eBird 17 rpts, avg 1 ea; 1/20 DRT; 2/28 feeder CV; 1-2/all yd Ludlow Woods Rd DJK, 2/3-31 yd. BAM Northern Flicker: 1/3 Buttercup West, CV; 2/4 Norrie Pt. SBa; 4/4 Rombout Rd. CV; 1/9 Bedell Rd MLu; 1/10 Vassar Farm FT; 1/25 TSF MP; 1/27 Bowdoin Pk, KH; 1/31 Sharon Station CV; 1/31 yd BAM Pileated Woodpecker: 1/1 yd CV; 2/2 Stissing Mt. CV; 1/4 Rombout Rd. CV; 1/19 Mud Pd CV; 2/26 yd. Stormville EBR; 1/27 yd BAM; eBird 14 rpts avg 1 each Blue Jay: normal # Highest number: 10/1,6 No. Mabb Rd AMP; 15/19, 13/28 Bedell Rd. MLu; 10/14 Verbank FT; 10/20 DRT CV; 10/25 yd. Poughquag CP/HT American Crow: Many reports. Largest flocks 15,000/9

Poughkeepsie Roost CV; 1500/26 Peach Hill Pk MLu Eastern Bluebird, photo by Maha Katnani Fish Crow: 1/15 Walmart (Fishkill) CV; 2/16 Plaza Hopewell Jct. BJM; 2/22 Rombout Rd. CV; 1/28 Waryas Pk KH Hermit Thrush 1/3 Norrie Pt. SBa Common Raven: 1/2 Stissing Mt. CV; 1/13 Old Hopewell Rd American Robin: Many reports : 30/10 Vassar Farm FT; DJK; 1/20 CIES WLD; 6/26 Bard College CV 4/26 Tivoli Bay, CV; eBird 5 rpts, avg 5 ea Northern Mockingbird: Many reports: 3/4 Rombout Rd CV

10 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

European Starling: Many reports: 300/18 Silver Mt. Rd DJK; 150/21 Baird Pk FT Field Trip Notes

Cedar Waxwing: 40/10 Vassar Farm FT; 34/21 Baird Pk FT; Saturday, November 19, 2011 – Norrie Point State eBird 5 rpts, avg 16 ea Park. Jim Clinton and I arrived at the Norrie Point Yellow-Rumped Warbler: 2/17 New Bkmn Rec CP/HT; 3/19 parking lot at the same time and Jim immediately (with bluebirds) Lake Rd. at Mud Pd CV; spotted a mature Bald Eagle in a nearby tree. The American Tree Sparrow: 2/3 Buttercup West, CV; 3/4 adult bird remained perched for quite awhile and most Rombout Rd. CV; 10/20 CIES WLS; 1/31 Sheffield Hill Rd. of the 10 birders on the trip were able to get a good CV; eBird 11 rpts, avg 2 ea view of the bird. Maha was able to move close enough Field Sparrow: 2/4,12 Norrie Pt. SBa to take some excellent photos. A second eagle Song Sparrow: 1/3 ButtercupW CV; 2/4, 1/20 Rombout Rd (immature) approached and landed next to the adult. CV; 1/21 yd BAM; 2/22 DRT CV;3/27 Bowdoin Pk, 3/31 There was a vocal exchange between the 2 birds and Fishrmans Pk KH; 1/31 Downy Rd. CV; eBird 8 rpts, avg 2 ea the immature eagle quickly flew away. Swamp Sparrow: 1/3 Buttercup West CV; 3/25 CIES WLS White-throated Sparrow: Many reports throughout county: 17/14 Verbank FT; 3/20 DRT, CV; eBird 27 rpts, avg 3 ea Dark-eyed Junco: Many reports throughout county/feeders Highest numbers: 14/3 Buttercup West CV; 20/14 Verbank FT; 12/20 DRT, CV; 19/27 Reese Pk KH; 20/29,30 yd Poughquag CP/HT Northern Cardinal: Many reports: 1-2/all yd Lagrange JA/KJ; 1/1 Millet Farm CV; 5-6/3-31 yd. BAM; 3/4 Rombout Rd. CV; 8/10 Vassar FT; eBird 17 rpts, avg 2 ea Red-winged Blackbird: 200/2 (coming to roost) Thompson Pd CV; 6/3 Buttercup West CV Common Grackle: 1/9 Bedell Rd MLu; 1/10 yd MP; 3/10 Rombout Rd. Cv Brown-headed Cowbird: 1/22 Rombout Rd. CV. Purple Finch: 1/11 TSF MP; 2/4,1/19,21 yd No Mabb Rd AMP

House Finch: 2-7/all yd Poughquag CP/HT; 10/10 Verbank Bald Eagle (adult & immature), photo by Maha Katnani FT; 14/14 Verbank FT; eBird 24 rpts, avg 4 ea American Goldfinch: Many reports 5/28 yd, CV, 2-4 daily, (After examining the photos, Maha noticed that the up to 8 beginning 12/25 MP; eBird 27 rpts, avg 3 ea eagle had 2 leg bands (blue & silver). She contacted House Sparrow: Normal numbers Tom Lake (DEC) about the banding and he replied as follows: “The banded adult is very likely from a local Observers: Judy Atwood & Karen Jaquith (JA/KJ),Barbara nest (there are several within a five-minute eagle flight). Butler (BB), Steve Bauer (SBa); Tyler Davis (TD); Michael The blue band is by the DEC and it has a unique Duffy (MD); Ken Harris (KH); Deborah Kral (DJK), William letter/number on it. The silver band is from U.S. Fish Lenhart (WL); Mary Lunt (MLu), Barbara (BJM) & Allan & Wildlife Service. Both were applied when the eagle Michelin (BAM), Carena Pooth (CP) & Herb Thompson (HT), was still a nestling- 5-6 weeks old. Best guess on the Mona Payton (MP); Adrienne Popko (AMP); Edith & Barry immature is that it was a young-of-the-year bird, Rosen (EBR), William and Lisa Schlesinger (WLS), Dominick possibly still hanging around Mama (the female Sherony (DS); Edmund Spaeth(ES), Chet Vincent (CV); ordinarily plays the role of “mentor” with its fledglings Waterman Bird Club Field Trip (FT) ),; MHB - Mid-Hudson until the young birds feel comfortable on their Birds listserve, with last name of observer; HRA - Hudson own….for some it happens within a couple of months; River Almanac, with last name of observer for others it may last well into winter”).

Notes/Abbreviations: Cary IES: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; DRT: Dutchess Rail Trail; TSF: SouthlandsFm

Field Trips (FT): 7th Madam Brett Park; 10th Vassar Farm; 14th Verbank; 21st James Baird State Park; 28th Norrie Point -Compiler: Debi Kral

Please email January records to: [email protected] Or send via US mail to: Barbara Butler 55 Old Camby Road, Verbank, NY 12585

Or enter your records into eBird (ebird.org) and we will get them from there.

Bald Eagle showing leg band, photo by Maha Katnani

11 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Tom is the Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist. We walked up to the bridge over Downey Road and He compiles and edits the Hudson River E-Almanac turned around. On the way back we added two which is published weekly by DEC’s Hudson River Golden-crowned Kinglets and a cooperative Sharp- Estuary Program. To sign up to receive the E-Almanac shinned Hawk that flew and soared over us in good (Free), send a message to [email protected] sunlight. and write E-Almanac in the subject line. A few of us ate lunch at the picnic table next to the Chet Vincent and his grandson David had checked Coleman Station parking lot to talk about our sightings for birds on the river prior to joining the group in the and other bird stories. parking lot. They observed only 1 bird on the river ….a Double-crested Cormorant. -Chet Vincent While still in the parking lot, a Red-shouldered Hawk P.S. The port-a-potties have been removed at HVRT. flew by us just below the tree tops. It perched in a tree near the lot and Maha and Debi Kral tried for some Saturday, December 10, 2011 – Vassar Farm. Ten photos. A third raptor species (Cooper’s Hawk) flew birders met in the parking lot at the barns. We talked over us (pretty good for the parking lot……we spent a while about upcoming Christmas Counts, especially approximately 45 minutes there). Shortly after leaving the new Glascow circle count. That circle includes part the parking lot we had our fourth raptor species….a of north-western Dutchess County. Sharp-shinned Hawk. We began by walking past the private gardens, The weather for the trip was good….Mostly sunny (empty now) and along the fence of the community and a little chilly at the start…. trip temperature began garden. (good flock of Bluebirds there). below freezing and steadily rose into the mid 40’s. A Then we entered a wooded part of the trail that was southerly wind was around 10-15 mph with higher pretty quiet. We came out of the woods behind the gusts in the 20’s. composting area and saw 5 White-tailed deer (3 males Observations of several of the birds in the following list and 2 doe) and noticed 1 buck had already shed 1 of were made possible by Jim Clinton’s ability to attract his antlers. them with his usual technique. We sent through the next patch of woods and The birds observed were: Mallard (4), Double-crested stopped to look at the imitation Pileated Woodpecker Cormorant (1), Great Blue Heron (1), Turkey Vulture on a power pole. There was a nice hole next to him but (1), Bald Eagle (2), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Cooper’s no real bird was there for us. A real live Pileated had Hawk (1), Red-shouldered Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk been seen and photographed recently in that hole. (3), Red-bellied Woodpecker (6), Yellow-bellied We walked on past the Education/Ecology building Sapsucker (1), Downy Woodpecker (4), Hairy and on to the lower pond. We saw several Robins in Woodpecker (1), Blue Jay (3), American Crow (4), that area as well as Cardinals, Juncos and sparrows. Black-capped Chickadee (6), Tufted Titmouse (7), We hiked back up the main road and didn’t see White-breasted Nuthatch (6), Golden-crowned Kinglet much, just some Bluebirds, House Finch and (3), Eastern Bluebird (12), American Robin (30), Goldfinch on the wires. Near the Rugby field a few of Northern Mockingbird (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), us saw a Pileated fly past then a Flicker did the same. American Tree Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (2), White- As we said our goodbyes we ended another good throated Sparrow (12), Dark-eyed Junco (9), Northern morning of birding. Cardinal (9), Pine Siskin (4), American Goldfinch (12). Birds we saw or heard were: Canada Goose – 25, (Also- there was a large flock of Blackbirds that were Great Blue Heron – 1 (after most had left), Red-tailed unidentified because they were distant and hidden by Hawks – 2, Kestrel – 1, Mourning Dove – 4, Kingfisher – tree cover) 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker – 4, Yellow-bellied -Frank Margiotta Woodpecker – 1/h, Downy Woodpecker – 3, Hairy Woodpecker – 2, Flicker – 1, Pileated Woodpecker – 1, Wednesday, November 30, 2011 – Harlem Valley Blue Jay – 8, Am. Crow – 4, White-breasted Nuthatch – Rail Trail. On a cool but dry morning 10 birders met 1, Carolina Wren – 2, Bluebird – 20, Robin – 30, at the Coleman Station parking lot. We started Mockingbird – 2, Starling – 10, Cedar Waxwing – 40, walking north and saw a Goldfinch then some Juncos Song Sparrow – 3, White-throated Sparrow – 3, Junco and White-throats. Then there were some Bluebirds, – 19, Cardinal – 8, House Finch – 10, Goldfinch – 4 and Chickadees and a Winter Wren that was not easy to House Sparrow – 10. see. -Chet Vincent A bit further up the trail we saw Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds (mostly streaky females), Blue Jay, a few Wednesday, December 20, 2011 – Baird Park. Five Crows and Song Sparrow. Up near Mill Road we saw Waterman Birders met at the club house parking lot in Red-tailed Hawks, two Ravens plus Robins and a light rain. We decided to start walking and go as Waxwings flying between a crab apple tree and a grave long as we could. of cedar trees. We saw some Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch and Oh! I forgot was saw a couple of Tree Sparrows back a Downy Woodpecker in tall oaks at the four corners. with the Juncos and White-throats, my first good looks As se started down hill towards the old swimming pool at those this fall. area we saw 25-30 Cedar Waxwings, a Goldfinch and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. By the way, a lot of tree damage was obvious in the park (snow/leaf storm) and crews were working in some areas.

12 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

We saw 100+ Canada Geese in the distance and a Red-tailed Hawk as we went towards the ponds where 3 Mute Swan, 15 Mallards and 1 Canada Goose were EDITOR’S NOTE: The following two articles were swimming around. A Mockingbird, another Red-bellied written by past founding member Helen Manson Woodpecker and several Blue Jays were the next birds Andrews when she was writing for the Millbrook we saw. Roundtable, a monthly newspaper back in the 1980’ The rain was light but evident so we decided to circle and 1990’s. This is the time of year to be out looking the north pond on our way back. We did see a Song at the lakes and ponds around Dutchess County for Sparrow, a Ring-billed Gull and some White-throated migrating waterfowl. Hope you enjoy her articles as Sparrows as the rain picked up a bit. much as we do. We cut back over a fairway towards our cars, put up our hoods and covered our binoculars while walking a Owls bit faster and drove away from a short but interesting birding morning. Winter seems to have just started and already some -Chet Vincent owls are thinking spring! Our two large resident owls, the great horned and the barred, are calling. They can Wednesday, January 4, 2012 – Thompson Pond. It be heard evening and early morning. They are already may have been the coldest morning of the winter so far seeking out places to raise their young. but 4 people met at the trailhead to check out the birds of the area. We walked Lake Road at the cattail marsh area but nothing but an occasional crow. We went down the trail and heard a Pileated Woodpecker then heard and saw a Raven. Thompson Pond was frozen so no birds on it but we did hear a few Goldfinch overhead and in high tree tops. We looked at the “old” and “new” Bald Eagle nests on the hillside but no eagles. A few Chickadees scolded us as we got to the lower end of the pond where we turned around and went back the way we came. We were not sure the “bridge” planks over the Wappingers Creek headwaters were repaired.

After an uneventful walk back we went to the Lion’s Club park to eat and looked at waterfowl on Stissing Great Horned Owl, photo by Steve Golladay

Lake that had quite a lot of open water. We saw The great horned owl will take a nest used by a crow, Canada Geese, Black Duck, Mallards, Ring-necked hawk or other large bird; they do not make their own. Ducks, Common Mergansers and Coot as we ate lunch As early as January they lay out one to three eggs that at a picnic table. will take 26 to 30 days to hatch. Since incubation So----not many birds but a nice walk on a crisp starts as soon as the first egg is laid, the chicks hatch winter morning. out a few days apart. The youngest and smallest one -Chet Vincent often does not survive because of lack of food. It is 63 to 70 days before the young are ready to fly and be on their own. These owls live in the forest and feed on all kinds of small mammals, small birds and small owls. It takes a lit of food to bring the young to maturity. The barred owl also lives in the woods but often near a marsh or damp area. They nest in tree cavities and incubate for 28 days and the young are ready to fly in about 42 days. They feed on mice, other small rodents, crayfish and frogs. Mice make up a large part of their diet. Because it takes so long to fledge the young, these owls only have one brood a year and start as early as February. The robin, on the other had, will have three broods a season and have her young on the wing in less then four weeks. It is a thrill to hear these big owls calling on a clear winter night.

Barry Haydasz with the special bread he baked for us Verbank Christmas luncheon, photo by Carena Pooth

13 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Long-Eared Owls MEMBERSHIP FORM One family of birds often overlooked are the owls. They are primarily nocturnal and a roosting owl is not Name(s) ______always easy to see. We had wintering long-eared owls that were Street ______discovered almost by accident. The man whose yard City ______they were in happened to look out as he was reading his paper around Christmas time near a window. In State ______Zip ______Phone ______the cedar tree near the house sat an owl. When they looked closer they found that there were five in the Email ______tree. The long-eared owl look like the great horned owl, 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______though smaller and slimmer with the ear tufts nearer Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______the top of the head and closer together. They are the most nocturnal of the owls, and very easy to pass by. Club Patch $3.00 ______They often winter in groups, sometimes as many as a dozen but they split up into pairs to nest. Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______By mid-February some of us hear about these owls and wondered if they were still there. We went in small Total Enclosed ______groups and sure enough, there they were, in just about Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club the same place where they had been earlier in the Send completed form and check to: Steve Golladay, winter. The ground under two of the trees was gray Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 with a carpet of pellets. On close inspection it was found that most of the pellets contained the fur, bones and skull of mice. The mouse is swallowed hole and the undigestable parts are formed into a pellet and spit THANK YOU FROM A YOUNG BIRDER out. By the number of pellets it would seem that they had consumed a great many mice. These pellets are RTWBC Member Eamon Freiburger about the size of your thumb. It is possible that these owls will nest in the area but not close to the roosting trees. They will select an old crow’s nest, a nest of a hawk, or a squirrel’s nest. They do not make one of their own.

BUS TRIP TO CENTRAL PARK FOR SPRING MIGRATION

A bus trip is scheduled for Saturday, May 5 2012. The bus will depart from Kingston’s Cornell Street parking lot at 5:00 am and will stop to pick up additional participants at the New Paltz Thruway Park and Ride at 5:30 am with arrival at American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West at roughly 7:00 am. Central Park is one of the best migrant traps in the northeast and offers birding without suffering from a case of warbler-neck. Participants are welcome to bird the park, visit museums, or a combination of both. Time spent in New York City will be on your own and individuals will be expected back at the bus (where we were dropped off) for a prompt 3:00 pm departure to allow for arrival in Kingston around 5:00 pm. Personal belongings may be left on the bus but will not be accessible during the day. A small back pack is suggested for a lunch, field guide, and/or rain gear. The cost of the trip is $37.00 per person and payment is expected no later than March 31, 2012. Call or e- mail Mark DeDea, trip organizer at (845) 339-1277 or [email protected] .

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: Mark DeDea, 82 First Avenue, Kingston NY 12401.

14 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012 On this Date in History

Dutchess County bird records exist back tothe 1870s. Indeed significant records exist for every year from 1885 with at least a few records for nearly every month from 1913 and detailed records for all months since 1958. To put these records in perspective, here are some notable events which took place often on the same day county bird sightings were recorded.

Peter de Nottbeck reported his first Phoebe of spring at Fishkill Landing on March 26, 1876, the oldest county record on an explicit day. The telephone had just been invented and the Centennial Exhibition was soon to open in Philadelphia. Edgar Mearns reported numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers at Rhinebeck on March 18, 1878, the year the first telephones were installed in Poughkeepsie, electricity for Poughkeepsie was still seven years away, and radio was not even thought about, never mind television, automobiles, and IBM. When Winfrid Stearns compiled his list of birds about Beacon in 1879-80, Rutherford B. Hayes was our nineteenth president, the United States flag held 38 stars, and the population of all of Dutchess County was 79,184. In the fall of 1879 Stearns collected birds and Thomas A. Edison tested his first practical electric light bulb. There are a few records from 1881 to 1884 during which time the Brooklyn Bridge and the Washington Monument were completed, and the American Ornithologists’ Union was An example, part of which is printed to the left, from Mary formed. In 1885 the Salvation Army was organized, the Hyatt’s birding diary for 1886, the year the Statue of Liberty Poughkeepsie Electric Light & Power Co. first brought was erected. electricity to Poughkeepsie, and in the fall Edwin Kent the Eiffel Tower opened in Paris, and soon after on May 22 the recorded the last known Passenger Pigeon sighting in Dutchess first scheduled train crossed the newly opened Poughkeepsie County. Railroad Bridge. Mary Hyatt of Stanfordville began keeping migration During the 1890s and the early 1900s, Arthur Bloomfield, records in the spring of 1885 as the Statue of Liberty was Lispenard Horton, and Frederic Stack were active birders in being made ready to leave France. In 1886 Hyatt’s birding Dutchess County. During these years James Naismith invented diaries begin; the Statue of Liberty pedestal was completed in basketball, Ellis Island opened to process immigrants, the first April, the statue being erected during the summer with Ferris wheel was built, the Wright brothers made their first dedication in October 1886. Mary records: flight, the first New York City subway opened, and life Mch 22 [1886]. Junco hyemalis [Dark-eyed Junco] is well expectancy at birth was just 48 years. represented here this morn, trilling merrily. Our bluebird By the 1920s Maunsell Crosby was birding almost daily (that is fixing to nest in the Souring apple tree) sang his in Dutchess County thus many of his sightings coincided with very hardest while flying some distance on the wing – and special events. On Sept. 9, 1921 at Rhinebeck he recorded a robin is at it in earnest today. Rough-winged Swallow, recently new to the county, the same time the first Miss America Pageant was being held in Atlantic May 25. Saw an Indigo-bird (Cyanospiza cyanea) [Indigo City. Lindbergh flew solo from New York to Paris on May 20- Bunting] perched on the wood-pile; I heard his song a 21, 1927 and the next day Crosby did a May Census with two week or two ago but did not know what bird it belonged to New York City friends and found 110 species. On Feb. 11, – having forgotten his last summer’s song. The polyglot- 1928 he found a Barn Owl at Grasmere and the second winter chat [Yellow-breasted Chat, then frequently seen] is Olympics opened in St. Moritz, Switzerland. growing quite familiar; had a good view of him today. John Baker’s records span from 1927 to 1966. Certainly The following are from Mary’s list of first spring many of his sightings also occurred on days of notable events. sightings. On May 11, 1888 she saw a Scarlet Tanager, the Much has happened since the first county bird sightings were same day Irving Berlin was born. Then on June 19, 1888, recorded in the 1870s. Surely sightings will continue to be during the week the Republicans nominated Rhinebeck recorded for many years to come. resident Levi Morton for vice-president (he won), she recorded Stan DeOrsey seeing an Orchard Oriole. On April 21, 1889 she had a Towhee when the next day at noon an estimated 50,000 people crossed into Oklahoma for the land rush. Finally on May 6, 1889 Mary recorded her first spring American Redstart while

15 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Coyote - Salt Point, November 1, 2011, photo by Debi Kral

Iceland Gull, Point Lookout Park (Long Island), November 1, 2011 photo by Aimee LaBarr

16 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Poetry Corner

Editor’s note: This poem was first published in Great Backyard Bird Count the March 2005 issue of Wing’s over Dutchess. We Friday – Monday, February 17-20th hope you will enjoy it again.

Mark your calendar. Members are invited to take WINTER WALK part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, a project developed and managed by the National Audubon On a mild winter eve Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with With cabin fever to dispel sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited store owners Fishermen gather and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a To toss their lines division of the USDA. Where waters rush and swell. The Great Backyard Bird Count tracks the Yet, I choose to take a scenic trail abundance and distribution of North America’s winter (And others do as well.) bird to ensure that common birds remain common, As we walk the wooded lane especially when birds face many environmental I watch the sun set and sky colors change. hurdles. Behind a cloud the sun does sink Get a Checklist before February 17 and print out Lining it with hues your checklist form from www.birdsource.org/gbbc for Of purple and pink. each day you plan to do the count. Write down the Oh, for a better view highest number of each species you see together at one Unhampered by the silhouetted trees time. Record them in the period of time you allotted to With budding tips, but no leaves, do the count (like 15 or 20 minutes each day) for the For these colors will not keep. weekend. Then report your data at the above site and I take a gamble, fill out the electronic checklist. You can also view And I ramble. maps and lists as they are updated. Walking toward a muddy seep. Many Wild Birds Unlimited store owners are online I watch my footing, to accept reports and are donating a portion of sales. But not my feet. To get involved contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Suddenly! at (800) 843-2473, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, Startled! NY 14850 or the National Audubon Society at I divert my gaze [email protected] or (215) 355-9588 ext 16, And am amazed Audubon Science office, 545 Almshouse Rd., Ivyland As a lifeless leafy-looking thing PA 18974. Springs forth In a flurry of whistling wings. Taking flight to find shelter In another hidden glade. A woodcock I have seen. A first! Bluebird Report My day is made!

Edmond Spaeth 2011 was a rewarding year for the Bluebird Trail 17 February 2005 Committee. 4 new trails were established, many of the existing trails were updated & expanded. We had 8 new people join us as Tail Monitors. We had an increase of 82% from 2010 of Bluebird fledglings.

Highlights of the year were:

The Trail Monitors at The Fountains gave a wonderful presentations to the residents. Unfortunately a snake was found in a nest box at Buttercup East. The Bluebird Committee had a wonderful exhibit & poster display at the NYSOA Conference. As always your thoughts, suggestions, ideas, trail happenings & new Monitors are very welcome.

-Susan Gilnack

Photo by Maha Katnani

17 Volume 54 Number 1 www.watermanbirdclub.org January 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club

25 Taconic Drive FIRST CLASS Hopewell Jct., NY 12533

President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 [email protected] Janet Allison 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected]

Tues. Mar. 13 Woodcock Watch – Cary IES. Leader: Bill Schlesinger. Meet at the WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS Gifford House, Rt. 44A, Millbrook at Sat. Jan. 28 Norrie Point *pg. 78 - Leader: 7:00pm. Please call Barbara Michelin Barbara Michelin. Weather permitting if you plan to attend @ 297-6701. meet at the museum parking lot, and Sat. Mar. 24 Vassar Farms – Leader: Barbara please call if you plan to attend @ Michelin. Weather permitting, meet 297-6701. at barns @ 9:00am. Please call if you Sat. Feb. 4 Shawangunk Grassland Nat. Wildlife plan to attend @ 297-6701. Refuge at Galeville Airport – for short-eared owls. Leader: Barbara For Weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch Michelin. Weather permitting please and beverage. Rain cancels the walk. Any questions call for time and meeting place @ 297- call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 or trip leader. (* 6701. Listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County or can Sat. Feb. 18 Rye Playland - Leader: Barbara be found at Michelin. Weather permitting call for www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) time and meeting place @ 297-6701. Sat. Feb. 25 Greig Farm/Rockefeller Lane (*p.90) Leader: Chet Vincent. Call for time Notice: Due to family illness the weekend field and meeting place @ 451-3716. trips may have leader changes to cover for me when I Sat. Mar. 3 Croton Point Park - Leader: Barbara am out of town. Please check your Wings issue each Michelin. Weather permitting. Please month to note any changes. Thank you. call for time and meeting place. Barbara Michelin Thurs. Mar. 8 Woodcock Watch in Allen Rd. area – Leader: Barbara Mansell. Meet @ 7:00pm. Please call 266-4611 for directions. Rain date Mar. 9th. Rain date

18 Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

FEBRUARY 2012 MEETING

Our meeting will be Monday, February 27, 2012 at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Our program will be “Bird ID Workshop”. We are using the old footage from 1996. We are starting with Alan Peterson's program given in the Pleasant Valley Library. We are starting with Herons. Everyone is to bring Binoc's and guide books. Ken Fredericks took the old VHS tapes and made Cd's or what ever you call them, we can use with our equipment. It should be fun but not perfect. Refreshments will follow our meeting. In case of bad weather, our meeting will be cancelled. Please listen to local radio stations for an announcement or contact Maury Lacher if you are in doubt. April’ s Meeting we will be Birding Workshop using Marion Van Wagner's tape on Warblers -Binnie Chase

Dennings Point Mills Mansion Tymor Forest Harlem Valley Buttercup West (w/red maple Rail Trail syrup pails) Amenia

MARCH & APRIL 2012 FIELD TRIPS WEDNESDAY Mar. 7 Mills Mansion *pg. 78. Meet at the Mansion parking lot, Staatsburg at 9:00am. Mar. 14 Tymor Forest *pg. 124. Meet at the barns at 9:00am. Hot dog roast after walk (optional). Bring your own. Mar. 21 Harlem Valley Rail Trail – Amenia. Meet at parking lot off Mechanic St. at 9:00am. Mar. 28 Southern Dutchess Rail Trail. Meet at new parking lot, Rt. 376 (just south of old parking lot), Hopewell Jct. at old train station at 9:00am. Apr. 4 Buttercup West *pg. 22. Meet there at 8:30am. Apr. 11 Dennings Point to Long Dock, off Hudson Ave., Beacon. Meet there at 8:30am. Plan to carry lunch. Apr. 18 Montgomery Place: Meet there at 8:30am. Take Rt.9G North of Rhinebeck, turn left on Rt. 199 to Kingston Bridge. Turn onto River Rd. (Dut. 103) to estate parking lot. Apr. 25 Rockefeller Univ. Field Research Station, Tyrell Rd., (off South Rd.) Millbrook. Meet there at 8:30am.

Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for trips call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

* * * WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS ARE ON BACK PAGE * * * 1 All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

EXECTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 Vice-Presedent: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Dutchess County Trails Conference Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 On Saturday, April 21, 2012, Winnakee Land Trust Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 will host the 1st Dutchess County Regional Trails Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 Conference at the historic Cornell Boathouse at Marist Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291 College. With support from the Hudson Valley Committee Chairs Greenway, Winnakee is bringing together all towns, Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 villages and diverse trails groups from across the Circulation: Ruth Greenwood 223-3100 county to share resources, learn from each other, and Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 envision connections that will create a truly regional Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 trails system that will benefit both Dutchess County Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 and the Hudson Valley. Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Chuck Martinez 896-6455 Marcus J. Molinaro, County Executive, will make the NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 opening remarks for the conference. The full day Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 conference(9am-4pm) will have limited registration. Historian: Adrienne Popko/Carrie Grey 229-5967 There is a $10 registration fee that includes continental Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 breakfast and lunch. Publicity: Kateri Kosek – 226-6267 Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 For more information about the conference contact Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Lisa Wilson, Director of Development at 845- 876-4213 Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 or [email protected]. Further information about Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 the Winnakee Land Trust, including conference Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 registration is available at www.winnakeeland.org. Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477

-Frank Margiotta

1962-2012 50 Years BUS TRIP TO CENTRAL PARK FOR SPRING MIGRATION

WELCOME SPRING, A bus trip is scheduled for Saturday, May 5 2012. WELCOME BLUEBIRDS The bus will depart from Kingston’s Cornell Street parking lot at 5:00 am and will stop to pick up The Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club celebrates its 50th additional participants at the New Paltz Thruway Park year of monitoring Bluebird Nest Boxes. Come and see and Ride at 5:30 am with arrival at American Museum a presentation on the Eastern Bluebird by John Ruska, of Natural History on Central Park West at roughly President of the New York State Bluebird Society. 7:00 am. Central Park is one of the best migrant traps John has been President of the New York State in the northeast and offers birding without suffering Bluebird Society for 6 years and has been monitoring from a case of warbler-neck. Participants are welcome Bluebird nest boxes for 20 years. This promises to be to bird the park, visit museums, or a combination of an informative evening. Bring your questions. both. Time spent in New York City will be on your own Admission is free and all are welcome. and individuals will be expected back at the bus (where we were dropped off) for a prompt 3:00 pm departure to Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 allow for arrival in Kingston around 5:00 pm. Personal Time: 7:30 PM belongings may be left on the bus but will not be Place: Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall accessible during the day. A small back pack is Rte. 55, Freedom Plains suggested for a lunch, field guide, and/or rain gear. across from Arlington High School The cost of the trip is $37.00 per person and payment is expected no later than March 31, 2012. Call or e- For more information contact: 845-758-5796 mail Mark DeDea, trip organizer at (845) 339-1277 or [email protected] . Time to Clean your Bluebird Boxes MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: Mark DeDea, 82 First

Avenue, Kingston NY 12401. The 2012 breeding season for the Eastern

Bluebirds is just around the corner. The male Bluebirds start to arrive in the middle of March so The next Wings deadline is Mar. 12, ‘12. remember to clean out your Nest Boxes the beginning Send articles to Janet Allison and copies of March - if you can get to them due to snow - or as to Barbara Michelin & Chuck Martinez. soon as possible. This is going to be another great Contact information is on back page. breeding season. Thank You. Susan Gilnack 2 All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Pawling NY-CT (Hidden Valley) Christmas of 43 intrepid field observers and 4 feeder Bird Count - January 1, 2012 watchers:

NY: Barbara Butler, Binnie Chase, Bill Consiglio, Before dawn on January 1st, while most people Rose Davis, Stancy DuHamel, Eamon & Eric slept, a few others were rubbing the sleep from Freiburger, Dot Fleury, Sibyll Gilbert, Rodney their eyes. They quickly got dressed, slipped Johnson, Judy Kelley-Moberg, Debi Kral, Kelly outside, and drove into the night under a Liao, Chris Luchine, Sariena Masievo, Allan magnificent, starry sky. It wasn’t long before Michelin, Barbara Michelin, Maryanne Pitts, these birders were happily noting that their first Carena Pooth, Adrienne Popko, Shelly Redl, Jane bird of the year was an owl rather than a crow. Rossman, Herb Thompson, Jim Utter, Chet This pre-dawn activity kicked off the annual Vincent, Bill Wallace. Pawling Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This count CT: Pat Bailey, Bob Cartoceti, Jay Coles, Angela includes portions of Dutchess, Putnam, Fairfield, Dimmitt, Jim Dugan, Larry Fischer, Carol Hartel, and Litchfield Counties. Margery Josephson, Anne Kehmna, Bill Liedlich, Nancy Liedlich, Russ Naylor, Nancy Nichols, This year’s count yielded a total of 85 species Wendy Panikker, Sally Spence, Nick Thold, Ricky (including one count week species), just 4 shy of Vogel. the all-time high set 21 years ago. The number of Feeder Watchers: Janet & Dave Hopkins, Karen individual birds tallied, 15087, was 2700 lower Skilling. than last year’s but still 50% higher than average for the 35 years of the count. It should be noted, Angela Dimmitt compiled the Connecticut results however, that the number of field observers has and Carena Pooth handled the NY side of the been much higher in recent years than earlier. So count. bird populations generally have not increased dramatically, as some of the data might suggest. Mark your calendar now for January 1, 2013, when we'll do it all over again! Results this year reflect unseasonably warm December temperatures that largely prevented ice -Carena Pooth formation on lakes and ponds. Temperatures ranged from 32 to 53 with foggy areas in the morning and a frisky breeze in the afternoon. Exciting new records were set this year for Bald Eagle (33) and Eastern Screech-Owl (30). 11 Bald Eagles were counted at Nuclear Lake alone. Wood Duck, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk, Fish Crow, and Common Raven were counted in record numbers, and Common Merganser came close to breaking its record. Aside from those we see at feeders (Dark-eyed Junco and White-throated), most sparrows were hard to find because the lack of snow allowed them to forage in fields and meadows rather than spend their time at road edges.

Once again a new species was added this year. Connecticut birders had been seeing a Barrow’s Goldeneye in December. Unfortunately the little rascal went into hiding on count day, so it was listed only as a “count week” bird.

Other unusual species were Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Red-necked Grebe, and Virginia Rail. Conspicuously absent were Northern Harrier and Purple Finch.

We topped off the day with good food and good laughs at McGrath’s! Many thanks to our team Bald Eagle on Depot Hill, Poughquag, 1/1/12 photo by Carena Pooth 3

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Pawling / Hidden Valley Christmas Bird Count Summary - January 1, 2012

Avg. Avg. Avg. # per Last yr # per Last yr # per Last yr 2011- of yrs yr Prev. 2011- of yrs yr Prev. 2011- of yrs yr Prev. SPECIES NAME 2012 found when found SPECIES NAME 2012 found when found SPECIES NAME 2012 found when found season 76/77- found 76/77- season 76/77- found 76/77- season 76/77- found 76/77- now 76/77- now now 76/77- now now 76/77- now now now now

Snow Goose 1 11 2 07-08 Red-tailed Hawk 108 36 46 10-11 Winter Wren 2 26 3 10-11 Snow Goose (Blue Form) 2 1 02-03 Rough-legged Hawk 7 1 09-10 Marsh Wren 2 2 01-02 Canada Goose 2161 36 1180 10-11 Golden Eagle 3 1 04-05 Wren sp. 1 1 93-94 Mute Swan 58 34 30 10-11 immature 0 none Golden-crowned Kinglet 16 35 31 10-11 Wood Duck 14 16 3 10-11 adult 1 1 04-05 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 23 2 10-11 Gadwall 8 2 08-09 Eagle sp. 1 1 81-82 Eastern Bluebird 111 33 94 10-11 American Wigeon 6 4 06-07 American Kestrel 27 3 08-09 Townsend's Solitaire 1 1 94-95 American Black Duck 76 36 44 10-11 Merlin 1 7 1 09-10 Hermit Thrush 2 29 6 10-11 Mallard 749 36 335 10-11 Falcon sp. 1 1 96-97 American Robin 282 36 212 10-11 Mallard x Black 2 13 3 09-10 Virginia Rail 2 4 2 06-07 Gray Catbird 1 28 4 10-11 Northern Shoveler 3 1 08-09 American Coot 281 29 94 07-08 Northern Mockingbird 31 36 42 10-11 Northern Pintail 3 1 02-03 Killdeer 4 2 98-99 Brown Thrasher 1 cw only 87-88 Green-winged Teal 2 3 2 90-91 Wilson's Snipe 11 2 09-10 European Starling 592 36 1243 10-11 Canvasback 9 6 06-07 American Woodcock 3 1 87-88 American Pipit 4 7 06-07 Redhead 3 8 84-85 Ring-billed Gull 479 36 692 10-11 Cedar Waxwing 145 33 158 10-11 Ring-necked Duck 116 27 36 09-10 Herring Gull 124 36 321 10-11 Snow Bunting 4 8 91-92 Greater Scaup 4 2 5 98-99 Iceland Gull 1 1 91-92 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 28 6 10-11 Lesser Scaup 8 12 7 08-09 Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 1 94-95 Pine Warbler 1 1 08-09 Scaup sp. 25 1 25 none Great Black-backed Gull 11 33 22 09-10 Common Yellowthroat 1 1 10-11 Long-tailed Duck 1 1 08-09 Gull sp. 3 534 92-93 Wilson's Warbler 1 1 06-07 Bufflehead 31 23 12 08-09 Rock Pigeon 101 36 189 10-11 Eastern Towhee 17 2 09-10 Common Goldeneye 8 32 14 10-11 Mourning Dove 308 36 334 10-11 American Tree Sparrow 23 36 142 10-11 Barrow's Goldeneye 1cw 0 cw only none Barn Owl 1 1 81-82 Chipping Sparrow 9 2 10-11 Hooded Merganser 68 34 33 10-11 Eastern Screech-Owl 30 32 10 10-11 Field Sparrow 5 32 9 10-11 Common Merganser 3488 35 861 10-11 Great Horned Owl 5 34 5 10-11 Vesper Sparrow 2 1 10-11 Red-breasted Merganser 4 7 03-04 Barred Owl 4 26 2 10-11 Savannah Sparrow 2 13 5 10-11 Ruddy Duck 268 24 121 09-10 Long-eared Owl 7 1 05-06 Fox Sparrow 20 4 07-08 Duck sp. 1 2 77-78 Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 16 2 10-11 Song Sparrow 60 36 70 10-11 Chukar 2 cw only 84-85 Owl sp. 1 1 77-78 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 2 03-04 Northern Bobwhite 3 3 98-99 Belted Kingfisher 16 36 6 10-11 Swamp Sparrow 16 31 6 10-11 Ring-necked Pheasant 3 31 5 10-11 Red-bellied Woodpecker 69 29 43 10-11 White-throated Sparrow 350 36 289 10-11 Ruffed Grouse 24 4 07-08 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5 26 6 10-11 White-crowned Sparrow 10 2 10-11 Wild Turkey 76 27 95 10-11 Downy Woodpecker 94 36 114 10-11 Dark-eyed Junco 913 36 509 10-11 Common Loon 3 1 05-06 Hairy Woodpecker 30 36 27 10-11 Northern Cardinal 143 36 150 10-11 Pied-billed Grebe 17 4 08-09 Northern Flicker 24 34 21 10-11 Red-winged Blackbird 54 27 164 10-11 Horned Grebe 1 2 90-91 Pileated Woodpecker 22 35 8 10-11 Eastern Meadowlark 6 3 07-08 Red-necked Grebe 1 2 2 05-06 Eastern Phoebe 1 9 1 09-10 Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 1 07-08 Double-crested Cormorant 3 2 07-08 Northern Shrike 1 8 1 04-05 Rusty Blackbird 1 13 14 08-09 Great Blue Heron 10 29 2 10-11 Blue Jay 236 36 288 10-11 Common Grackle 1 20 153 10-11 Black Vulture 13 14 20 10-11 American Crow 1351 36 719 10-11 Brown-headed Cowbird 29 26 53 10-11 Turkey Vulture 20 29 10 10-11 Fish Crow 22 16 5 10-11 Pine Grosbeak 6 12 07-08 Bald Eagle 33 25 7 10-11 Common Raven 29 19 9 10-11 Purple Finch 31 22 10-11 immature 12 8 6 10-11 Horned Lark 9 37 07-08 House Finch 270 36 340 10-11 adult 20 8 6 10-11 Black-capped Chickadee 541 36 588 10-11 Red Crossbill 1 8 08-09 Northern Harrier 21 2 10-11 Boreal Chickadee 1 1 93-94 Common Redpoll 12 61 10-11 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 30 4 10-11 Tufted Titmouse 346 36 239 10-11 Pine Siskin 21 55 10-11 Cooper's Hawk 7 26 5 10-11 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 32 6 10-11 American Goldfinch 203 36 179 10-11 Northern Goshawk 1 19 1 10-11 White-breasted Nuthatch 136 36 132 10-11 Evening Grosbeak 18 50 98-99 Accipiter sp. 1 1 76-77 Brown Creeper 10 36 9 10-11 House Sparrow 131 36 257 10-11 Red-shouldered Hawk 7 16 3 10-11 Carolina Wren 51 28 21 10-11 TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRDS: 15083 Broad-winged Hawk 1 1 07-08 House Wren 5 1 08-09 TOTAL SPECIES: 84 + 1cw TOTAL Field Observers: 43 Compiled by Carena Pooth and Angela Dimmitt cw = count week TOTAL Groups: 19 TOTAL Feeder Watchers: 4

4 All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

2012 Waterfowl Count, Jan 14-22 Species Avg The ice conditions for the count reflected the unusually mild winter so far. The 14th was mostly 2000- below freezing, but during the week before every day 2012 2011 2010 09 reached the 40s. The Hudson River was open with Gr White-fronted Goose 1.5 only a little ice along the shoreline and quieter coves. Snow Goose 5 1 4 2.5 Vandenburg Cove was partly open and had 6 species of Canada Goose waterfowl. All but the slowest streams were open. 20513 4599 6641 9513.5 Many of the larger lakes and ponds were iced over. Not Brant 2 thick, but enough to discourage ducks. The smaller Mute Swan 59 10 20 57.3 ponds were more likely to be open than the larger ones. Wood Duck 1 2 11 3.5 We had a total of 17 species plus some Gadwall 8 2 4.0 mallard/black hybrids. There was only one American Wigeon 2.0 Canvasback, a bird we usually find by the hundreds or American Black Duck 68 139 53 231.9 none. Single Brant were found at Waryas Park and Clinton Corners; the first since 1988. Mallard 1481 1684 1922 1776.1 Mallard x Black 2 2 1.2 Canada Goose numbers were the highest in the past 10 years. Round Pond had 6000, Stissing Blue-winged Teal 5.0 Lake 3800, and 2000 at The Fly and Redwing Park on Northern Pintail 6 1 8.1 Green Haven Road. They were found at over 60 other Green-winged Teal 4 2 5 4.0 locations in numbers from less than 10 to several Canvasback 1 392.2 hundred. Most of the swans were on Wappingers Lake (18) and Lake Oniad (6), with only one on the Hudson. Redhead 1.0 The Gadwalls were on the Webatuck Creek at Reagan Ring-necked Duck 115 76 20 90.0 Road. The Green-winged Teal and most Pintails were Lesser Scaup 1 3.0 at The Fly. Nearly all the Ring-necked Ducks were at White-winged Scoter 2.0 Green Haven’s Redwing Park and the pond off Tompkins Road in Verbank. The Bufflehead and all Bufflehead 1 4.0 the Common Goldeneyes were on the Hudson from Common Goldeneye 21 27.9 Marist north. More than 200 of the Common Hooded Merganser 21 44 28 25.1 Mergansers were on the Hudson, most at Rhinecliff Common Merganser 289 125 209 300.6 and Tivoli. About half the Hooded Mergansers were on the Ten Mile River. The coots were on Stissing, Ruddy Duck 39.5 Wappingers, and Hunns Lakes. Common Loon 1.0

Thanks to the counters and especially the group Pied-billed Grebe 3.3 leaders who sent in their results promptly. Double-crested Cormorant 1 3.0 Barb Michelin, Betsy Carswell, Aimee LaBarr, Sue Great Cormorant 2.0 Infante, Ken Harris Chet Vincent, Binnie Chase, Peggy Rudis, Kelly Liao, American Coot 11 1 6 75.7 Eamon Frieberger Unidentified 20 12.7 Barbara Butler, Mona Payton, Greg Esch, Rodney Total Birds 22628 6686 8923 12374 Johnson Total Species 17 12 14 16.6 Barb Mansell, Liz Martens, Janet Allison

Fritz Waterman, Krista Morris

Adrienne Popko, Maryanne Pitts, Maha Katnani

Art Jones, Vangie Jones Bill and Lisa Dellwo Schlesinger, Deb Kral, Alan January 2012 Records Peterson -Barbara Butler, compiler We waited for winter weather, but it didn’t come. The average temperatures were about 6.5 degrees above normal. Only 70% of the usual precipitation fell and that was mostly rain. The ground was bare and water mostly open.

Curt McDermott found several Iceland Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Beacon RR station. A few days later, an even more exciting find: a Slaty-backed Gull, a new county record, if accepted by NYSARC. Fortunately, Curt got several quite good photos. Many folks visited the Hudson shoreline at Beacon over the next several days, but the Slaty-backed Gull was not found again.

Brant, photo by Maha Katnani 5

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Snow Goose: 100/21 high over river at New Hamburg HRA Red-shouldered Hawk: 3/28 Norrie FT; 10 rpts, avg 1 each. Lake ; 3/7 Strever Fm CP/HT. Red-tailed Hawk: 7/9 Clove Valley BB; 6/9 Haight Rd, Canada Goose: 3000/7 Round Pd, 1500/9 3000/26 The Fly Millbrook AMP; 1 white/7 HVRT CV; 2/30 leucistic Salt Pt CV ; 800/9, 6000/14 Round Pd AMP; 5000/7 The Fly CP/HT. Tpk DK ; 49 PCBC. 50 rpts, avg 2 each 500-800 at Stringham Pk, Strever Fm, Redwing Pd, Stissing Pd. 40 rpts of 10-300. Brant: 1/6&17 Waryas Park CV. Mute Swan: 10-19 Wappinger Lk JAD/KH/BAM; 14/24 Redwing Pd Green Haven Rd CV; 20 rpts, avg 4 each. Wood Duck: 1/1 Depot Hill CP/HT; 2/3 Rudd Pd SP DF; 9 PCBC. Gadwall: 3/7 Sheffield Hill pd, 2/26 Mashomack CV; pr/13 Jecose Lk. BJM; 8/14 Reagan Rd, Millerton AMP. American Black Duck: 10/4 14/9 The Fly, 12/7 Round Pd, 12/13 Conservancy Pd CV; 10/9 Madapen Fm Pond, Millbrook AMP; 30/4 Stissing Pond FT; 12 PCBC. 15 rpts, avg 6 each. Mallard: 100/5 Verbank ponds BB/KH; 103/25 Salt Pt Tpk AMP; 50 rpts, avg 15 each. . Northern Pintail: 1/4 1/9 2/26 The Fly (all males) CV; 5/7 The Fly CP/HT. Canvasback: 20/9 Hudson at New Hamburg HRA Lake. Ring-necked Duck: 18/3 Traver Pd, 86/24 Redwing pd Red-tailed Hawk (leucistic), photo by Debi Kral Green Haven Rd CV; 16 rpts, avg 7 each; 10 PCBC. Greater Scaup: 1/22 Waryas Pk WLS. American Kestrel: 1/1 & 31 Salt Pt Tpk, Stanford JA; 1/8 Sleight Plass Rd, Plass farm CV; 1/19,25 Skidmore Rd DK . Lesser Scaup: a few/30 Hudson at New Hamburg HRA Jackson. Bufflehead: x/1 Wappingers Lake HRA Lake; a few/30 Hudson at New Hamburg HRA Jackson; 1/28 Norrie FT; 3 PCBC. Common Goldeneye: a few/30 Hudson at New Hamburg HRA Jackson; 1/14 Sinpatch Rd at RR xing, Wassaic AMP. Hooded Merganser: 26/3 Rudd Pond DF; 6/8 Chelsea Cove Pds, CV; 5/13 Tivoli Bays GE; 4 PCBC; 8 rpts, avg 4 each . Common Merganser: most in the Hudson; 200/31 Hudson near Dennings Point HRA Lake ; 66/28 Norrie FT; 60/23 Waterfront Pk Beacon AC; 300/1 WhaleyL CP/HT; 1-5 at many ponds and streams; 300 PCBC. 40 rpts, avg 25 each. Ruddy Duck: 8/7 Sylvan Lk, 24/1 Whaley Lk CP/HT; 24 PCBC. Ring-necked Pheasant: 1/9, 26 Haight Rd AMP. Wild Turkey: 27/11 Skidmore Rd CV; 25/14 Schoolhouse Lane, Clinton BM,LM,JA; 28/27 Maloney Rd Pok DK; 9 rpts, avg 12 each. American Kestrel, photo by Debi Kral

Double-crested Cormorant: 1/28 Westage plaza pd., Merlin: 1/4&5 Rombout Rd CV; 1/14 Vassar Fm D Eidam; Fishkill BJM; 1/23 Waterfront Pk Beacon AC . 1/8 376 N. of Standard Glass WL; 1/31 Pugsley Hill Rd AMP; Great Blue Heron: 5/14 Wapp. Lk. BJM,BeC,AL; 3 PCBC; 1 PCBC. 10 rpts, avg 1 each. Peregrine Falcon: 1/21 Beacon bridge Jim Clinton; 1/28 Black Vulture: 2/31 Pleasant Ridge Rd AMP; 2/14 E. Kingston Bridge Jim Clinton; 1/28 Kingston Bridge NG. Fishkill ES; 18/11 Stony Kill FT; up to 35 at roost most nights Virginia Rail: 2 PCBC. in Jan - Beacon Washington Ave SI. American Coot: 2/4 Hunns Lk, 10/8 Sylvan Lk, 6/26 Turkey Vulture: 5/14 2 Stony Kill & 3 Rt. 52 Beacon Stissing Lk CV; 2/14 Hunns Lk WLS; 3/4 Stissing Pond FT; BJM,BeC,AL; up to 35 at roost most nights in Jan - Beacon 3/8 Wappinger Lk JAD. Washington Ave SI. Ring-billed Gull: 250 & 300/22 Beacon Train Stn JH & CF; Bald Eagle: 11/1 Nuclear Lk AMP; 5/9 Deerfield Ponds, 100/8 Wappinger Lk JAD; 57 PCBC; 20 rpts, avg 60 each. Pawling CV, BC; 5 imm/9 over Clove Mountain BB, FM; 4 Herring Gull: All reports along Hudson, most at Beacon imm/18 Whaley Lk FW/KM; 3 ad 4 imm/20 Esopus Is off 1000/22 Beacon Train Stn JH; 200/23 Waterfront Pk Beacon Norrie Point HRA Prockup; 25 PCBC. over 40 rpts, avg 3 AC ; a few at Wappingers Lk, Waryas Pk, Tivoli South Bay; each. 2/1 WhaleyL CP/HT.15 rpts, avg 100 each. These are larger Northern Harrier: 1/13 Tivoli Bays GE; 1/12,13 N. counts of Herring Gulls than usual for Dutchess. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP . Iceland Gull: 1 imm/16 Hudson at Beacon RR station CM; Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/28 yard Red Hook AG; 6 rpts, 1 ea. 5/22 Hudson at Beacon RR station HRA Haas; 2/20,22,23 Cooper's Hawk: 1/10,15,21,22 & 30 yd. BAM; 11 rpts, avg 1 Beacon CM/ABa/AC . each. 6

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

American Crow: 13000/6 roost near Shadows parking lot, Pok CV; 500+/8 7:10am in trees along Rt 9, Pok BJM; 2500/2-3 Peach Hill Pk MLu; 239 PCBC . 92 rpts, avg 66 each. Fish Crow: 4/23 2/31 Vassar Boat House, 2/6 Waryas Pk, CV; 1/28 Norrie FT; 11 rpts. Common Raven: 15/9 kettle over Clove Mountain BB, FM; 7/1 Depot Hill CP/HT; 14 PCBC. 6 rpts, avg 2 each. Horned Lark: 75/22 Grieg Farm fields Elisa Shaw. Black-capped Chickadee: 14/all yard JA/KJ; 212 PCBC; 55 rpts, avg 5 each. Tufted Titmouse: 45 rpts, avg 4 each. 100 PCBC. Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1/8 yd Millbrook WLS; 2/14 yd Pok WL ; 2 PCBC. White-breasted Nuthatch: 3-8 N. Mabbettsville yard AMP; Iceland Gull (imm.), photo by Debi Kral 40 rpts, avg 3 each. 54 PCBC.

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 ad/16 Hudson at Beacon RR Brown Creeper: 1/8,21 yd Millbrook WLS; 1/30 South Bay station CM; 1 ad/23 Hudson at Beacon RR station AL . MF; 1 regular in yard, occ seen more than once per day CV. **Slaty-backed Gull: 1 ad/21 Hudson at Beacon RR 3 PCBC Carolina Wren: 1-2 yard BAM,CV,EBR,MP,AG; 7 PCBC 20 station Curt McDermott and Clara Montenegro. Glaucous Gull: 1 1st yr/17 & 20 Hudson at Beacon RR other rpts, avg 1 each. Winter Wren: 1/1 Reese Sanctuary KH; 1/25 Lkside Pk FT; station Curt McDermott. Great Black-backed Gull: 10/18,20/22 & 30+/25 Beacon 1/28 Norrie FT . Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1/30 Rombout Rd CV ; 1/25 Train Station BAM; 7 rpts, avg 8 each in River or Wapp Lk. Rock Pigeon: 12 rpts, avg 17 each. 35 PCBC. Lkside Pk FT; 2/1 Gardner Hollow Rd, 1/14 Wassaic AMP; 3 Mourning Dove: 40/9 Morse Hill Rd, Amenia AMP; 20-30 PCBC. Eastern Bluebird: 11/14 Wassaic AMP; 10/11 Stony Kill FT; daily Rhinebeck yard MP; 35/all yard BB; 44 rpts, avg 6 21 PCBC. 34 rpts, avg 4 each. each. Hermit Thrush: 1 PCBC. Eastern Screech-Owl: 1/25 West Dover Rd CV ; 1/8,13-15 American Robin: 120/25 West Dover Rd, 42/3 Vassar Fm CIES WLS & DK; 1/1 Gardner Hollow Rd AMP & CP/HT; CV; 45/14 CIES DK; 46/25 Lkside Pk FT; 182 PCBC. 20 rpts. 1/12 Ludlow Woods Rd DK; 1/9 N Mabbettsville Rd, AMP; 5 Gray Catbird: 1/25 Lkside Pk FT. PCBC. 5 rpts, avg 1 each. Northern Mockingbird: 4/3 Vassar Fm, 2/6 3/30 Rombout Rd CV ; 22 rpts, avg 1 each. 10 PCBC. European Starling: 400/31 Bangall-Amenia Rd AMP; 117 PCBC. 26 rpts, avg 37 each. Cedar Waxwing: 53/14 CIES DK; 40/31 CIES ESh; 13/3 Vassar Fm CV; 5 rpts, avg 26 each. 2 PCBC. Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1/6 Rombout Rd, only 1 for Jan for me CV; 1/14 Arborio's BM,LM,JA; 1/2 Tivoli Bays LS . American Tree Sparrow: 4-8 daily Rhinebeck yard MP; 18/21 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP ; 11 PCBC. 30 rpts, avg 5 each. Chipping Sparrow: 1/19 yd. w/juncos BJM. Well seen and in breeding plumage. Field Sparrow: 14/31 Hopeland, Mills/Norrie SB. Song Sparrow: 6/7 HVRT, 7/10 DRT CV; 14 rpts, avg 2 each. 9 PCBC.

Eastern Screch-Owl at CIES, photo by Debi Kral

Great Horned Owl: 1/1 Frog Hollow CP/HT; 2/9 Ludlow Woods Rd DK; 2/9,12 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1 PCBC. Barred Owl: 1-2/22,24,25,28,29 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP . Belted Kingfisher: 11 rpts, 1 each; 3 PCBC. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 48 rpts, avg 2 each. 31 PCBC. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1/many yd Stormville EBR; 3/10 Millbrk AMP; 1 PCBC; 10 rpts, avg 2 each. Downy Woodpecker: 40 rpts, avg 2 each. 41 PCBC; 4 in yard CV,BAM,MP,EBR,AMP; 41 PCBC. Hairy Woodpecker: 25 rpts, avg 1 each. 10 PCBC. Northern Flicker: 9 rpts, avg 1 each. 8 PCBC. Pileated Woodpecker: 20 rpts, avg 1 each. 7 PCBC. Blue Jay: 1-30/all yd Poughquag CP/HT; 13 all yard JA/KJ; 55 rpts, avg 4 each. 97 PCBC. Pileated Woodpecker – probing with tongue photo by Maha Katnani 7

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Swamp Sparrow: 3 PCBC. marsh by Pawling firehouse. White-throated Sparrow: 14/7 Bowdoin Pk KH; 13/10 DRT More about the Slaty-backed Gull CV 34/28 Norrie FT; 117 PCBC. 40 rpts, avg 6 each. White-crowned Sparrow: 3/6 4/30 Rombout Rd at Domin There are only a few state records for Slaty-backed Fm CV; 1/17 Madam Brett AL. Gulls whose usual range is the northwest coast of Asia. Dark-eyed Junco: 30/all yard BB; 20-30/all yd Poughquag One was found in Monticello in 2007. It was seen off CP/HT; 115/1 Pleasant Ridge Rd, 54/14 Shunpike AMP; 405 and on from late January into mid-March and as far PCBC; 67 rpts, avg 12 each. away as New Paltz. So check out the gulls. There are Snow Bunting: 5/22 Greig Fm ESh. other unusual gulls around (Iceland, Lesser Black- Northern Cardinal: 5m/2f all yd. BAM; 12/21 yd Pok WL 51 backed, Glaucous), providing a reward for getting out, PCBC. 35 rpts, avg 3 each. if the Slaty-backed eludes us. Red-winged Blackbird: 50/7 HVRT, 11/14 Salt Pt Tpk Sprouses CV; 15/22 Beacon Train Stn CF; 67/25 Clinton Crs In case the name sounds familiar... yes, Curt is the son AMP. 20 PCBC. 10 rpts, avg 16 each. of Ken McDermott, who many of you know from Rusty Blackbird: 2/21 Red Hook SG . Orange County. Common Grackle: 200/7 HVRT CV; 400/31 Bangall- Amenia Rd AMP; 58/14 yd. AJM; 12 rpts, avg 50 each. Here is Curt’s account of finding the bird from his post Brown-headed Cowbird: 6/15, 22/19, 6/21, 7/22 Rhinebeck on nysbirds listserve of January 21, 2012. yard MP; 150/9 Amenia AMP; 40/25 Hollow Rd AMP; 10- “This afternoon, Clara Montenegro and I returned to the 20/occ yd Poughquag CP/HT; 7 rpts, avg 36 each. Beacon Train Station as has been our ritual for the past Purple Finch: 2/5 Ludlow Woods Rd s DK; 2/3, 1/29 N. week. Earlier in the week we had an adult Lesser Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 3/2 Tivoli Bays LS. Black-backed Gull along with a first year Iceland. The House Finch: 25 rpts, avg 4 each. 46 PCBC. Pine Siskin: 1/3 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/17 Ludlow following day, we had 2 first year Iceland Gulls and a Woods Rd yard DK. first year Glaucous. Yesterday morning we had the American Goldfinch: 22/16 8-10 daily at feeders, 28/8 Glaucous only but returned in the afternoon to find 3 West Dover Rd CV; 37/28 Norrie FT; 20/14 Wassaic; 15/24 first year Iceland Gulls. Today was grand prize, as we North Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 78 PCBC. 35 rpts, avg 6 each. found an adult Slaty-backed Gull which we viewed House Sparrow: 10-20 N. Mabbettsville yard AMP; 24 and photographed from approx. 4-4:30PM. PCBC. 16 rpts. A few things to know before coming. Each morning, the gulls that have roosted on the ice, lift off around 7- Observers - JA Janet Allison, JA Judy Atwood, ABa Andrew 7:15 and fly to mid river or to a dump east of here at one Baksh eB, SB Steve Bauer eB, BB Barbara Butler, BeC of the State Prisons that are along Rt. 84. There is NO Betsy Carswell, BC Binnie Chase, AC Anthony Collerton eB, access to this dump and mid river, puts the gulls at JAD John & Abby Dux eB, GE Greg Esch, CF Corey Finger about 1 mile away. Each afternoon has been the most eB, MF Madison Fletcher eB, DF Dot Fleury, EF Eamon productive, as the birds re-appear around 3 and Freiburger eB, AG Ann Gilbert, NG Natalie Gilbert, SG Susan continue doing so almost until dark (roughly 5PM). Gilnack eB, JH John Haas eB, KH Ken Harris, SI Sue There are several ways into the Beacon Train Infante, KJ Karen Jaquith, RJ Rodney Johnson, MK Maha Station. The southernmost entrance crosses over the Katnani, DK Debi Kral eB, AL Aimee LaBarr, WL William train tracks and brings you along the river. When you Lenhart eB, MLu Mary Lunt eB, FM Frank Margiotta, LM Liz get to a point where the platform is easily viewed on Martens, CM Curt McDermott eB, AJM Allan Michelin, BAM your right, you will notice a series of buildings on your Barb & Allan Michelin, BJM Barbara Michelin, KM Krista left. Continue past the buildings and you will see a Morris, MP Mona Payton, CP Carena Pooth eB, AMP small cove immediately on your left as well. At that Adrienne Popko eB, EBR Edith & Barry Rosen, WLS William point, you should be within 15 feet of the water. You & Lisa Schlesinger eB, ESh Elisa Shaw eB, ES Edmond will see the group of Gulls in this area.” Spaeth eB, LS Laura Steadman eB, HT Herb Thompson eB, FT Field Trip eB, CV Chet Vincent, FW Fritz Waterman. Curt's description of the bird from his eBird entry… eB indicates reports were made through eBird. “Seen and photographed by Curt McDermott and Clara Montenegro. The bird was comparable in size to a Abbreviations – Herring Gull. The mantle was was dark, most like that CIES Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies of an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. The head and DRT Dutchess Rail Trail nape of the neck were streaked with a smudged area HRA Hudson River Almanac (with last name of observer) around the eye. The eye itself was light. The bill was HVRT Harlem Valley Rail Trail yellow with a red gonydeal spot. The legs were "hot" PCBC Pawling CBC (Dutchess part) pink in color. The bird showed wide tertial crescents and the trailing edge of the wing showed a very wide -Compiler – Barbara Butler white strip, as the bird sat with its wings folded. When the bird opened its wings, the wide white trailing edge

Please e-mail records to [email protected] of the wing was very evident and appeared to be Or send via US mail: approx. twice the width of that found in adult Lesser February records to Judy Atwood, Ship Lake Farm, 9 Black-backed Gull. As you followed the wing along the Hennessey Ln, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. trailing edge from the secondaries to the primaries, the "string of pearl's" is evident and easily viewable in the Or simply enter your sightings into eBird. photos that were taken.”

8

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Thanks to Curt for getting the word out and for me. The Bonaparte’s Gulls and a seal were feeding documenting his find. Thanks also to John Haas who has hosted Curt’s photos on his blog - http://bashakillbirder.wordpress.com/

-Barbara Butler

Long Island Birding

Wednesday, January 18 - Sunday January 22: Binnie Chase was gracious enough to set in motion a birding trip to Long Island and even passed on information on reasonable hotels in the area. We all appreciate her efforts specially me who’s always bugging her to plan trips. Binnie also had help from few people. Bob Adamo gave us many tips on where to go see some birds and kept Barbara updated on sightings by email. Jim Clinton also passed on some Bonaparte’s Gull (imm.), photo by Maha Katnani info. So we really appreciate their help. Binnie herself was courageous enough to drive in the lead and right in front of us at Coast Guard Station. A Greater couldn’t have done that without the great navigation White-fronted Goose was hunkered in with the and planning of Peggy Rudis. We thank them too for all Canadas on Artist Lake. Unfortunately the Mountain that work. Bluebird didn’t show up at Hulse Landing Rd., but we Eleven members went on the trip and had a great had a Kestrel and other good birds there. Then at Iron time even during a snow storm in Montauk. We took Pier the Lesser Black-backed and Iceland Gulls, White- the ferry from Bridgeport CT to Port Jefferson LI and winged Scoter, and Long-tailed Ducks were right there back. We did see quite few species of birds on these ferry trips, but no pelagic ones unfortunately. Out of the four days we had one bad weather day when it snowed on Saturday. That was very good considering it was January. I’ll just give you few highlights of the trip. Altogether we had eighty two species with good looks at most of them. I can now easily identify the Common and Red-throated Loons, the three species of Scoters,

White-winged Scoter, photo by Maha Katnani

feeding next to the beach in front of us. I got good pictures and was able to watch a few Long-tailed Duck

Common Loon Red-throated Loon males displaying to the one female. They were very

photos by Maha Katnani and the different gulls and ducks that we saw. We had an adult all white Snowy Owl at Jones Beach, a first

Long-tailed Duck, photo by Maha Katnani

vocal and busy as the Peregrine Falcon was with his prey on Mattituck Inlet. We only found two small bloody bones left after it departed. On Eastport Lake we had a beautiful medley of ducks: Canvasbacks, Snowy Owl, photo by Debi Kral Red-headed, American Wigeon, Ruddies, Ring-necked 9

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012 and even Greater Scaup. The other interesting sighting up eating a spaghetti dinner prepared by Chef Bob was of a group of Northern Shovelers’ feeding frenzy on Infante and his assistant Peggy Rudis. It was a great Agwam Lake. Finally we reach Montauk Point. idea!

Northern Shovelers, photo by Maha Katnani

Thousands of Scoters, the three species represented, Common Eiders, and Northern Gannets flying over.

About half the group, photo by Maha Katnani

Sunday instead of birding Montauk some more the snowy roads made us go home earlier. I honestly can say that what I love most is to being able to bird from morning till night time few days in a row. I never have enough of birding. Thanks to the whole group we had a great trip and great birds.

-Maha Katnani

Field Trip Notes

Wednesday, January 11, 2012, Stony Kill Farm. It Harlequin Duck, photo by Debi Kral must have been mild enough for 18 people to venture out in January. I had my friends Amy and Glen who The next morning we couldn’t go to check the point are interested in birding with me. That’s why I was again because the wind was blowing the snow and the anxious for them to see some birds. As you know it’s visibility was not good. That didn’t deter a few of us slow at this time of the year though. Not many birds from walking from the motel to the beach where we are out, but there’s always something happening. We had few good birds and even got to watch a Merlin started with a Hairy Woodpecker in the parking lot. going for a smaller bird which it didn’t catch. We ended Then we walked on the edge of the field instead of on the road. There were almost no birds for a while till right before the gardens. We found a dead sheep which must have attracted few vultures. Some were flying over and some perched in the trees with their wings open to the sun. We had 18 Black and 4 Turkey Vultures. It was a great opportunity for my two friends to learn the difference between these two flying and perched. Not too far from this scene we were hearing Blue Jays being loud. We counted 15 of them and first I thought they were having a convention of some kind. As I listened more it sounded like a chorus singing with altos and sopranos taking turns. It was very interesting! At the gardens we had looks at American Tree, House, and Song Sparrows. Ten Eastern Bluebirds were also flying around the gardens and perching on posts. I was also happy to see 4 Red- winged Blackbirds and 1 Red-tailed Hawk perched and The one bad weather day, photo by Maha Katnani

10

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012 eating something. At the end a rabbit scurried fast in on an ice floe and then flew up to perched in a tree on front of us. the island. Everyone had good views of the eagles and Altogether that day we saw and heard: 24 Canada ducks. A Belted Kingfisher was heard also. Geese, 1 Mourning Dove, 3 Red-bellied, 1 Downy, 1 We started back to the parking lot and up the road to Pileated Woodpeckers, 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1 the marine docks. The tide was out but we found a few Northern Flicker, 4 American Crows, 3 Black-capped Mallards in the cove. Amilee saw a beaver come out chickadees, 3 Tufted Titmice, 2 White-breasted from under the dock and dive under water. We saw Nuthatches, 1 Carolina Wren, 50 European Starlings, trees that the beaver had been working on. 2 American and 11 White-throated sparrows, 34 Dark- Continuing on we found more Mallards along the eyed Juncos, 3 Northern Cardinal, 2 House Finches, creek and Junco’s, Blue Jays, American Goldfinch, and 14 House Sparrow. Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, Maha Katnani Song Sparrows and Cardinals in the trees and bushes along the edge of the water. We walked under the Wednesday, January 18, 2012 – Vassar Farm. On railroad bridge and up to the huge sycamore tree. We a cold windy morning 5 members met at the barns for added White-throated Sparrows, Red-bellied, Downy, our walk. Many of the members who attend our Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers and American Crows. Wednesday walks had left this morning for a special Then we heard a hawk calling. Down the road we trip to Long Island of birding. While waiting in the found 2 Red-shouldered Hawks in trees ahead for great parking lot Allan Michelin saw a Pileated Woodpecker views. A third Red-shouldered Hawk was spotted fly by. A good bird to start our windy morning. Kelly, soaring nearby. Jim did his screech owl whistle and Rosa and Dora arrived and we started our walk was rewarded with finding a Winter Wren to add to our We decided to take the trail by the first pond into the list. woods to try and stay out of the wind and hopefully On our return back to the parking lot we heard a find some birds in the brush and bushes. We were Carolina Wren and saw Bluebirds, House Finch and a lucky to find a few pockets of birds feeding on berries Red-tailed Hawk overhead. and such. They were: 4 White-breasted Nuthatch, 4 Our list included: 22 Canada Geese, 13 Mallard, 1 Downy and 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 3 Chickadee, 6 Black Duck, 1 Bufflehead, 66 Common Mergansers, 3 Tufted Titmice, Cardinals and a No. Mockingbird as we Bald Eagles, 3 Red-shouldered and 1 Red-tailed came out to the end of the trail. We heard Canada Hawks, 12 Ring-billed and 1 Great Black-backed Gulls, Geese calling and saw 2 flocks of 13 then 40 geese 1 Mourning Dove, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 6 Red-bellied, 1 flying up past the barns. Downy, 1 Hairy and 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, 3 Blue We came out to the back of the rugby field as Jay, 7 Am. and 1 Fish Crows, 12 Chickadees, 10 Richard Fitzgerald arrived and found us. We continued Tufted Titmice, 4 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Carolina our walk and found 4 Juncos, 4 White-throated Sparrows, and a Carolina Wren plus a few more and 1 Winter Wrens, 4 Bluebirds, 2 Song and 34 Cardinals – 5 total for the day. White-throated Sparrows, 44 Junco, 13 Cardinal, 2 Walking down the road we saw 2 Eastern Bluebirds, House Finch, 37 Am. Goldfinch and 4 House Sparrows. 2 Am. Goldfinch, 50+ Am. Crows flying by, 1 No. Flicker, 1 Song Sparrow, and a Red-tailed Hawk sitting -Barbara Michelin in a tree along the hillside. With the wind at our backs and will be in our faces on the walk back we decided Wednesday, February 1, 2012 – James Baird State not to walk out to the second pond. As we turned Park. On a cloudy but mild morning 11 birders met at around a pair of Red-tails were seen soaring in the sky the restaurant parking lot. We walked down the hill and a second Northern Mockingbird was sitting in a towards the old dump area where we discovered 4 bush along side of the road back. Three Red-winged Bluebird nest boxes – inhabited with mice. We then Blackbirds fly over head to farther tree tops to add to proceeded to the pond and then to the old farm house – our list. Even with the wind we had a nice morning of comments were made as to how beautiful it use to be birding. and what a shame to let it deteriorate. Crossing the -Barbara Michelin wooden bridge and heading back to the golf course we found the BOD (Bird of the Day) – a Merlin perched on Saturday, January 28, 2012 – Norrie Point. On a top of a tree. As we got closer it flew to another group cool and some what overcast morning 14 people met of trees where it remained and we were able to get a Allan and I. We came a little early and went around better look at it even though the light was poor. After the Education building to scan the river. Our scope we left Maha & Aimee stayed to take pictures of the was set up along with Jim Clinton’s scope before the Merlin. A few birders stayed to have their lunch as the rest of the group came. Scanning the river and trees sun started to shine even though the wind had picked across the river we spotted a Bald Eagles nest with 1 up. The birds that we saw were: Canada Goose - 24, adult sitting on the edge of the nest. Scoping the river Mallard – 15, Ring-necked Duck – 16, Turkey Vulture – we counted 66 Common Mergansers, 1 Black Duck, 1 2, Red-tailed Hawk – 2, Merlin – 1, Ring-billed Gull – 1, female Bufflehead, 1 Great Black-backed Gull and Mourning Dove – 10, Belted Kingfisher – 1, Red-bellied Ring-billed Gulls. A Fish Crow was heard and then Woodpecker – 3, Pileated Woodpecker – 1, Blue Jay – 6, seen in a nearby tree. I went back to the parking lot to American Crow – 6. Black-capped Chickadee – 13, meet the others. Allan and Jim had their scopes on 2 Tufted Titmouse – 6, White-breasted Nuthatch – 6, adult eagles sitting on the nest. A third adult was seen Eastern Bluebird –9, American Robin - 25, Northern 11

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Mockingbird –1, Song Sparrow – 1, Dark-eyed Junco – Wednesday, February 8, 2012 – Norrie Point State 28, House Finch – 1, House Sparrow –1. Park Nine Club members participated in the bird walk that began on a chilly(20’s) morning. The weather was -Susan Gilnack pleasant(even near the river) due to the absence of wind. The temperature at the conclusion of the Saturday, February 04, 2012- Shawangunk trip(c12:30pm) was in the upper 30’s. The weather was Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. I picked up comfortable enough for some members to remain for Ken Harris and met 3 other members at 3:30pm at the lunch after the walk. Hudson Plaza to car pool. It was a balmy 45 degrees We began our observations of birds near the river at with some clouds. We were to meet 4 other members the usual place behind the Norrie Point Environmental at the town park at about 4:00pm. On the way we Education Center building. We spent 45 minutes there were delayed by an accident and had to take a detour. and the resident, adult Bald Eagle once again We arrived at about 4:25pm and found about 43 accommodated us by perching near its nest. Other people all in a line with binoculars and scopes birds seen at the river were Common Goldeneye, scanning the refuge. Dick Riley had arrived at about Common Merganser, Great Black-backed Gull and 4:00pm and stopped to talk to me as he was driving Ring-billed Gull. out. He said he thought there were about 14 Short- The group was hoping to see/hear the Red- eared Owls. While setting up my scope we could see shouldered Hawks that were previously seen at Norrie th several owls and harriers flying back and forth. I on the January 28 field trip. We went to where 3 of would say we saw about 10-12 Short-eared Owls and them were seen on that Saturday trip but had no luck about 8-10 Northern Harriers. At times an owl would this time. perch on a sign or in a tree. With the scope we all have Twenty six species observed by the group are as wonderful views of the owls and harriers. Also seen follows: Canada Goose (4), Mallard (4), Common were: 1 Rough-legged Hawk, a Great Blue Heron and a Goldeneye( 2 females), Common Merganser (9), Great few flocks of Canada Geese probably going to the Blue Heron (1), Bald Eagle (1 adult), Red-tailed Hawk Walkill River. A Carolina Wren was heard. I was (1), Ring-billed Gull (12), Great Black-backed Gull (2), happy our small group among the larger group were Mourning Dove (3), Belted Kingfisher (1), Red-bellied able to see the owls well as they were new for most of Woodpecker (4), Downy Woodpecker (3), Hairy our group. Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Blue Jay (2), American Crow (3), Fish Meanwhile, there was a post that a Snowy Owl was at Crow (1), Black-capped Chickadee (5), Tufted Titmouse Kingston Point. Allan went up to see it as did some of (12), White-breasted Nuthatch (5), Carolina Wren (4), our members who were going to come on the field trip White-throated Sparrow (40), Dark-eyed Junco (22), to see the Short-eared Owls. The Snowy Owl was a Northern Cardinal (8).. new bird for them. So congratulations to all who saw new owls and hawks to add to their life list. -Frank Margiotta

-Barbara Michelin

Painted Bunting in Florida

photo by Bill Case

12

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Bald Eagle (imm.), photo by Ed Solan

Bald Eagles courtship display, photo by Ed Solan

13

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Membership Report MEMBERSHIP FORM

As of Feb 13, we have 183 paid up memberships for Name(s) ______2011-2012. This is 5 fewer than we had last year on this date. We welcomed two new members in January. Street ______They are: Anamaria Bonilla City ______132 Old Hopewell Rd State ______Zip ______Phone ______Wappingers Falls , NY 12590

Email ______John Calogero & Gina Palmer 1082 Bulls Head Rd 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______Clinton Corners, NY 12514 Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______Steve Golladay, Membership Chairman Club Patch $3.00 ______Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive, Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______845-221-6140 Total Enclosed ______

Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Send completed form and check to: Steve Golladay, Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533

The Changing Status of Dutchess County Birds

Since the Birds of Dutchess County was published in 2006, many new sightings have been reported resulting in status changes for a number of species. The following shows these changes. Full details will be provided in an updated online version of the book during the summer of 2012. These changes are generally first county sightings, confirmed sightings from Hypothetical, or sufficient sightings to be termed “regular.” Regular generally means more than ten accepted records since 1950 thus expected to be seen again. Species only recorded once or twice are usually termed Accidental. Species not reported for many years, generally last recorded well before 1950, are moved to a category of Historical.

2006  Grasshopper Sparrow again found breeding, no longer “Formerly Bred.”  Chestnut-collared Longspur, 1968 record accepted by NYSARC, to Accidental Vagrant from Hypothetical. 2007  Barnacle Goose, some New York sightings considered wild, to Casual Visitant from Exotic  Great Cormorant, more than ten records, to regular Winter Visitant from Casual Visitant.  Lesser Black-backed Gull, fourth record, to Casual Winter Visitant from Accidental Vagrant. 2008  Golden-crowned Kinglet, last confirmed nesting in 1985, to “Formerly Bred.”  Cackling Goose, third record, to Casual Visitor from Accidental Vagrant. 2009  Tufted Duck, first record, photographed, an Accidental Vagrant.  Nelson’s Sparrow, photographed, to Casual Visitant from Hypothetical. 2010  Long-tailed Jaeger, Dovekie, and Thick-billed Murre to Historical from Accidental; Red Knot to Historical from Casual. 2011  Swallow-tailed Kite, first record, Hypothetical.  Le Conte’s Sparrow, first record, photographed, Accidental Vagrant. 2012  Glaucous Gull, tenth record, to regular Winter Visitant from Casual Visitant.  Slaty-backed Gull, first record, photographed, Accidental Vagrant.

Stan DeOrsey

14

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 2 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club

25 Taconic Drive FIRST CLASS Hopewell Jct., NY 12533

President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road The way a crow Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Shook down on me [email protected] Janet Allison The dust of snow 28 Patricia Lane From a hemlock tree Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Has given my heart Chuck Martinez A change of mood 100 South Terrace And saved some part Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected] Of a day I had rued.

-Robert Frost

WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS Sat. Feb. 25 Greig Farm/Rockefeller Lane (*p.90) Leader: Chet Vincent. Call for time Sat. Apr. 28 Shaw Pond – Leader: Adrienne and meeting place @ 451-3716. Popko. Meet at 255 No. Mabbettsville Sat. Mar. 3 Croton Point Park - Leader: Barbara Rd. Millbrook (Adrienne’s home) @ Michelin. Weather permitting. Please 8:00am. Any questions call Adrienne @ call for time and meeting place. 845 – 264 – 2015. Thurs. Mar. 8 Woodcock Watch in Allen Rd. Sun. Apr. 29 Pond Gut *pg. 84 – Leader: area – Leader: Barbara Mansell. Barbara Michelin. Meet there (off Meet @ 6:00pm. Please call Gidley Rd., Twn LaGrange) at 8:00am. 266-4611 for directions. Rain date Please call if you plan to attend. Mar. 9th. Tues. Mar. 13 Woodcock Watch – Cary IES. For Weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch and Leader: Bill Schlesinger. Meet at the beverage. If car pooling to out of county trips please contribute Gifford House, Rt. 44A, Millbrook at towards gas for trip. Rain cancels the walk. Any questions call 7:00pm. Please call Barbara Michelin Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 or trip leader. (* Listed in Where to if you plan to attend @ 297-6701. Bird in Dutchess County or can be found at Sat. Mar. 24 Vassar Farms – Leader: Barbara www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) Michelin. Weather permitting, meet at barns @ 9:00am. Please call if you Due to family illness the weekend field plan to attend @ 297-6701. Notice: Sat. Apr. 21 Peach Hill, Twn. of Poughkeepsie trips may have leader changes to cover for me when I Park – Leader: Barbara Michelin. am out of town. Please check your Wings issue each Meet there at 8:00am. Please call if month to note any changes. Thank you. you plan to attend or have questions on directions. - Barbara Michelin

15

All photos are copyright of the respective photographers and may not be used without written permission. Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

MARCH 2012 MEETING

Our next meeting will be Monday, March 26, 2012, at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Our speaker, Joe Bridges, will describe his discovery and documentation of black vulture nesting at the Mohonk Preserve. He will also discuss its breeding/development chronology, features of several of its nesting sites, and some elements of black vulture behavior. Joe Bridges is senior biologist for the environmental planning and consulting firm, Matthew D. Rudikoff Associates and is a Research Associate at the Mohonk Preserve, where he has been documenting black vulture nest sites since 1997. Since 1998, he has been documenting the morphometric features of peregrine falcon eyries at the Preserve and has assisted with peregrine falcon banding and eyrie monitoring activities at the Preserve. Joe holds a PhD in plant ecology from Columbia University, New York, is a Trustee for the John Burroughs Natural History Society, and has been an active rock climber and hiker in the Shawangunks for more than 40 years. While the black vulture has been observed in the mid-Hudson Valley since the late 1970’s–early 1980s, it wasn’t until 1997 that it was confirmed to breed in New York State. Since that time, several additional breeding sites have been confirmed in the Hudson Valley. In the past decade, the black vulture population has increased substantially and this once rare vulture of southern origin is now seen regularly throughout the State. We hope you will join us for an informative evening. In case of bad weather, our meeting will be cancelled. Please listen to local radio stations for an announcement or contact Maury Lacher if you are in doubt. Refreshments will follow our meeting. APRIL & MAY 2012 FIELD TRIPS WEDNESDAY Apr. 4 Buttercup West *pg. 22. Meet there at 8:30am. Apr. 11 Dennings Point to Long Dock, off Hudson Ave., Beacon. Meet there at 8:30am. Plan to carry lunch. Apr. 18 Thompson Pond *pg.112. Meet there (off Lake Rd., Pine Plains) at 8:30am. Please note change from Montgomery Place in Feb. issue. Apr. 25 Rockefeller Univ. Field Research Station, Tyrell Rd., (off South Rd.) Millbrook. Meet there at 8:30am. May 2 Millbrook School *pg. 74. Meet at the museum parking lot at 8:00am. May 9 Ferncliff Forest *pg. 42. Meet there (Mt. Rutsen Rd., Rhinebeck) at 8:00am. May 16 Nuclear Lake – intersection of Rt.55 and Old Rt.55 in Poughquag. Meet there at 8:00am May 23 Peach Hill Town of Poughkeepsie Park, Edgewood Rd., off Salt Pt. Tpk. – look for signs (directions on website). Meet there at 8:00am. May 30 Cary IES Arboretum*pg. 24. Meet at the Gifford House parking lot at 8:00am.

Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for trips, call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

* * * WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS ARE ON BACK PAGE * * * Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 Vice-President: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291

Committee Chairs Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Circulation: Ruth Greenwood 223-3100 Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Chuck Martinez 896-6455 NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 Historian: Adrienne Popko/Carrie Grey 229-5967 Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Publicity: Kateri Kosek 226-6267 Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477

1962-2012 50 Years

WELCOME SPRING, WELCOME BLUEBIRDS

The Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club celebrates its 50th year of monitoring Bluebird Nest Boxes. Come and see a presentation on the Eastern Bluebird by John Ruska, President of the New York State Bluebird Society. John has been President of the New York State Bluebird Society for 6 years and has been monitoring Bluebird nest boxes for 20 years. This promises to be an informative evening. Bring your questions. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 Time: 7:30 PM Place: Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall Rte. 55, Freedom Plains across from Arlington High School

For more information contact: 845-758-5796

Susan Gilnack

Bluebird flyer design by Carena Pooth

2 Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

50 YEARS OF BLUEBIRDS

It was 50 years ago, 1962, that the Dutchess County Bluebird Trail was created by Florence Germond. Over these 50 years, well over 21,000 Eastern Bluebirds have fledged. It is hard to realize that before 1962 it could be difficult to find an Eastern Bluebird in Dutchess County. Until the late 1930s Bluebirds were quite common but then they declined year by year. In 1960, Florence was visiting her sister outside Rochester, Minnesota when she met a gentleman who described his success in encouraging Bluebirds to nest in a series of boxes he had placed in the area. This success got Florence thinking that she could accomplish the same thing in Dutchess County. Over the winter of 1961-62 she found support from John Matteson, a Waterman Bird Club member in Hyde Park, who made 19 nesting boxes. On March 31, 1962 these boxes, plus three others, were mounted in Pleasant Valley, Stanfordville, and Clinton Corners. That first spring five of the boxes housed Tree Swallows, four were homes for House Wrens, and House Sparrows raised a family in another. One more was she had lists of box locations for each team. The prior stolen! But on Willowbrook Rd., Stanford, a pair of year’s nest would be removed, a nail or screw might be Eastern Bluebirds successfully raised a family. And then tightened, and the predator guard checked. Then on to they successfully raised a second brood, fledging a total find the next box, which could be like a scavenger hunt, of six young. Florence was encouraged, everyone was especially if the box had fallen over. Occasionally a mouse encouraged. So John made 13 more boxes and the trail would jump out as the box was opened adding to the expanded. “fun.” The trail continued to expand each year. In 1965, Florence had many helpers. She coordinated the after only four years, 112 young fledged. In 1981, 400 monitors who regularly looked after the bluebirds and the fledged from 171 boxes. In 1992, 1021 fledged from 442 boxes. And boxes were made by many people. The trail boxes. Before the trail, only six Bluebirds were recorded would not exist without the hard working monitors and on the 1960 May Census and six more on the 1960 box builders. We lost Florence in 1994. Subse-quently Christmas Count. Since 1988 it is normal to find over 50 Peggy Faciani then Dorcas Brower, and now Susan on each count, sometimes nearly 200. The Bluebirds are Gilnack have been the trail coordinators. back and can be found every month of the year. The trail The following people currently monitor boxes, some was certainly successful. have done so for a number of years, and many monitor Florence’s success spread when Art Gingert from the over 30 boxes: Janet Allison, Dorcas Brower, Tammie Miles Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, Conn. established the Carey, Peter & Troy Denison, Abby & John Dux, Susan & Northwest Connecticut Bluebird Trail in 1977. Together Jerry Gilnack, Susan Joseph, Debi Kral, Sister Jackie Florence and Art shared experiences in solving problems LaVie fmm, Frank Margiotta, Barbara Michelin, Roger & and learning new techniques. Florence kept extra nests Irena Morse, Maryanne Pitts, Adrienne Popko, and Herb should it be necessary to replace a destroyed one, she Thompson. Ed Solan made 62 nest boxes last year with could even build one from scratch. She had recipes for all of the poles and baffles donated by local businesses. “Bluebird” food. If a snow storm struck after eggs had Jerry Gilnack installs the nest boxes and does repairs. hatched, she provided extra food to the parents. She Barry Haydasz constructed a post hole driver. fought blowflies, raccoons, snakes, and mice. She won The trail is in good hands and continues to fledge and the Bluebirds won. large numbers of Eastern Bluebirds, indeed over 600 last Initially with help from Thelma Haight and then from year. More trail monitors can always be used, see Susan Art Gingert, Bluebird nestlings were banded. On July 1, if you have time to enjoy Bluebirds. Email her at 1980 Art and Florence banded 50 nestlings, a large [email protected] or call her at 845-758-5796. number for one day. Eventually Florence became a subpermittee so that she could band and Meg Guernsey Source of early history was an interview with Florence, helped her. A few were subsequently recovered. A nestling “Housing Project Making Progress in Rebuilding Area from May 1985 was recaptured near Washington, DC in Bluebird Flock” Poughkeepsie Journal, March 6, 1966, January 1986 in a flock of 200 Bluebirds. Another from plus “The Return of the Bluebird” by Roger A. Cohn in July 1985 was killed by a cat in Woodstock, Vermont in Dutchess Magazine, Summer 1994, pp.52-58. June 1986. Bluebird Box Cleaning Day became a special day in Photo of Florence Germond and Thelma Haight, taken early March, eagerly anticipated. The day was a “field 1979 at Buttercup Sanctuary, Stanfordville by Art Gin- trip” where everyone volunteered to clean boxes while gert / Wildlands Photography. Art and Susan Gilnack looking for Bluebirds and other early spring arrivals. were most helpful in providing data and reviews. Everyone met at Florence’s home on the Shunpike where Stan DeOrsey 3 Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

FIELD TRIP NOTES of spring singing. There were also good numbers of White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos in brush spots and on short grass spots. We expected those. Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - Lakeside Park, Woodpeckers were often seen and heard with the pair of Pawling. The start of the walk at Lakeside Park gave no Pileateds making the loudest noise and most obvious indication of the birdlife which would eventually be flight. revealed. It was a cold, overcast day in the 30’s, with not The 29 species we saw were: 6 Canada Goose, 3 a bird to be seen or heard, as 14 birders set out toward Mallards, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Greater Black-backed Gull, 3 the lake. As we arrived at the lake, we noticed that it was Mourning Doves, 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 5 Downy mostly frozen over with not one duck present. Near the Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 brushy area, we started hearing the familiar winter birds, Pileated Woodpeckers, 15 Blue Jays, 13 American Crows, including 11 Chickadees, 6 Blue Jays, 4 Downy 9 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 Tufted Titmouse, 4 White- Woodpeckers, 4 Tufted Titmice, and 2 White-breasted breasted Nuthatches, 4 Carolina Wrens, 15 Eastern Nuthatches. Large flocks of Robins were flying overhead, Bluebirds, 50 American Robins,4 Northern Mockingbirds, and we counted 46 in all. One surprise was a single Gray 25 Starlings, 7 Song Sparrows, 21 White-throated Catbird hiding in the brush. The group continued Sparrows, 65 Dark-eyed Juncos, 10 Northern Cardinals, around the lake to the far end and stopped at the bridge 2 Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Common Grackles, 3 House over the creek. Barbara Michelin and Maha Katnani Finches, 85 American Goldfinches, and 20 House walked into the pine grove along the water’s edge to check Sparrows. for anything unusual. Maha left first, but Barbara’s We ate lunch and talked about our good day at patience was rewarded with a look at a single Winter Bowdoin. Wren. Leaving the main road, we walked along a Chet Vincent woodland trail which climbed a hill to a rocky overlook. Along the way we spotted 4 Tree Sparrows, 1 Carolina Wren, 10 Dark-eyed Juncos, 17 White-throated Saturday, February 18, 2012 – Rye Playland. Sparrows, 3 Cardinals, 7 Goldfinches, 2 Red-bellied While Allan, Maha and myself picked up Ken Harris, Dot Woodpeckers, and 1 Northern Flicker. At the top the Fluery and Binnie Chase, plus Bill Bowler drove directly group enjoyed a view of the surrounding hills, and to Rye, we met seven other members at the Dutchess Mall spotted 4 Bald Eagles soaring over a distant ridge. in Fishkill to carpool. Debi Kral followed our carpools. Returning to the main trail at the lake, a flock of 5 Mute So at 9:10am we met at the parking lot at Rye Playland Swans flew overhead as several members crossed the and headed for the bathrooms. It was a sunny and warm bridge. Also observed were 4 Mallards and 5 Canada morning of 40 some degrees with little wind. We walked Geese. The highlight of the walk came when we walked out to the fisherman’s pier and scanned the waters. It along the edge of the park near a public road and heard was especially nice to see young Eamon Freigburger the call of 1 Red-shouldered Hawk. Looking up through looking with his binocs and using scopes to see several the pine trees several birders saw an American Crow in ducks that were new for him. A Great Cormorant was pursuit, but their view was obscured by the tree sitting on the rocks not very far away drying its wings. branches, and the pair soon disappeared. All totaled we We all had very nice views and it was a new species for counted 12 American Crows, and in addition, 20 Rock many on our trip. Other birds seen here were: Mute Pigeons, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Cooper’s Hawk, 1 Swans, Brant, Black Ducks, Long-tailed Duck, Common Mockingbird, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet and 2 Starlings. Golden-eyes, Greater and a few Lesser Scaup, As we ended the walk the sun finally made an Buffleheads, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Loon, appearance, which made for a pleasant ending to a good 2 Horned Grebe, Ring-billed and Great Black-backed morning of birding. Gulls, and a Fish Crow plus Carolina Wren were heard.

Liz Jamison

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 – Bowdoin Park. 15 members of the Waterman Bird Club met at Bowdoin on a cloudy 30 degree morning. The Carolina Wrens and Eastern Bluebirds were calling from several spots as we got ready. Of great interest were the two adult Bald Eagles we saw flying around the park and sitting near their nest. From their actions it would seem they are going to use the same nest as last year this spring. A good number of American Robins (50) were flying around and in brush eating fruit and there were many American Goldfinches (85) in black birch trees and on grass heads. We didn’t expect to see so many of either species. Canvasback, photo by Debi Kral

Another unexpected sight was two male Common Leaving the parking lot we drove over to Playland Lake. Grackles and two male Red-winged Blackbirds doing a bit Here we found 22 Canvasbacks, a large raft of Greater 4 Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

Scaup, several Buffleheads, 6 Hooded Mergansers, 3 Red- Blackbirds, 2 House Finches, 2 Pine Siskins, 7 American breasted Mergansers, 2 Ruddy Ducks, more Mute Swans Goldfinch, 2 House Sparrows. and Black Ducks, a Mallard and a few Canada Geese. While eating lunch at Reed Sanctuary 3 Great Blue Aimee LaBarr Herons were spotted on the island in the lake. We walked to the sound and found many more of the same ducks seen at the beginning of our trip at the pier. At the feeders at Reed Sanctuary were several Red- winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, Chickadees, House Sparrows and a second Carolina Wren was heard. A Red-tailed Hawk flew into a nearby tree and the feeder birds flew off. We also had Song Sparrows and a Northern Harrier flew by. A little after 1:00pm we drove over to Marshlands Conservancy to walk the trails. At the sound we found Canada Geese, Mallards, Black Ducks, Mute Swan, Buffleheads, 2 Double Crested Cormorant, a Red- throated Loon and more gulls. At the feeders and in nearby trees we found Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White- breasted Nuthatch, Mourning Doves, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. A nice bird to end our trip. Thanks to all who joined the trip and to Allan Michelin and Eric Freiburger for driving the group down to Rye.

Barbara Michelin

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Vanderbilt Mansion. At the Vanderbilt Mansion, a dozen birders basked in yet another of the ridiculously warm and sunny days which characterize this winter. Early birder Ken Harris heard Pine Siskins before the arrival of the group. The Red- winged Blackbirds' song greeted us as we arrived, first of season for me. We walked past the mansion and through the gardens, enjoying bluebirds, goldfinches and a number of passerines, when a Red-breasted Nuthatch made a brief appearance in the pines. Unfortunately, this little rascal flew off before most of the group could see it. We continued down to the waterfall and the river for the Herring Gulls and Common Mergansers. On our way back up the hill, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and an adult Bald Eagle quickly passed over. Maha Katnani and I took a detour to the pines under the garden in hope of relocating the Red-breasted Nuthatch. We couldn't find it, although I'd like to note that Maha has seen it there, in the garden, in a past year. So, it's worth checking that area. I did, however, spot a Brown Creeper. It, too, quickly disappeared. Back up on the lawn, the Bald Eagle reappeared. We had plenty of time to watch Red-tailed Hawks as they circled with the eagle. The trip ended with lunch down at Bard Short-eared Owls, Shawangunk Grasslands NWR Rock, where Fish Crows were added. The complete list of photo by Steve Golladay 33 species is: 75 Canada Goose 75,

6 Mallard, 8 Common Mergansers, 4 Turkey Vultures, 1 Bald Eagle, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 17 Herring Gulls, 4 Rock Pigeons, 2 Mourning Doves, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 2 Downy Wood- It’s tax season…don’t forget peckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 3 Pileated Woodpeckers, 12 American Crows, 3 Fish Crows, to Return a Gift to Wildlife! 2 Common Ravens, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Tufted Titmouse, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Brown Creeper, 2 Eastern Bluebirds, 1 Northern Mockingbird, 1 White-throated Sparrow, 20 Dark-eyed Juncos, 3 Northern Cardinals, 4 Red-winged 5 Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

FEBRUARY RECORDS

DUTCHESS COUNTY TRAILS Snow Goose: 3/22 The Fly; 1/26 Mud Pd CV; CONFERENCE Canada Goose: very well reported by many; numbers 7 into thousands; 1000/16; 3000/22 Strever Fm CV; 25 rpts, avg 37 On Saturday, April 21, 2012, Winnakee Land Trust will each eBird; host the first Dutchess County Regional Trails Mute Swan: reports of 1 to 20 from Conference at the historic Cornell Boathouse at Marist BB;EF;KH;BAM;KH;HT;CV; 8 rpts avg 6 each eBird; College. With support from the Hudson Valley Greenway, Wood Duck: 3/28 Fisherman's Pk, 1/29 Creek Rd KH; Winnakee is bringing together all towns, villages and Gadwall: 4/16 Mashomack; 5/26, 28 Sheffield Hill Rd CV; diverse trails groups from across the county to share American Wigeon: 3/26 Beneke Swamp ; 2/26 & 28 Sheffield resources, learn from each other, and envision CV; connections that will create a truly regional trails system American Black Duck: 20/4 Kidd Ln Trl MF; 42/26 Beneke that will benefit both Dutchess County and the Hudson Swamp CV; 14 other reports; Valley. Mallard: 40/5 Wapp Lk BB; 15 Lk Walton AJM; 26 rpt, avg 7 each eBird; Marcus J. Molinaro, County Executive, will make the Northern Pintail : 4/16 Mashomack; 5/22 The Fly CV; opening remarks for the conference. The full day Green-winged Teal: 6/26 Buttercup West CV; conference (9am-4pm) will have limited registration. Ring-neck Duck: 15/26 Hunns Lk DK; 45/9; 55/14 Lk Walton There is a $10 registration fee that includes continental BJM; 24/19 Conservancy Pd; 90/26 Mud Pd CV; 7 other breakfast and lunch. reports; 4 rpts, avg 11 each eBird; For more information about the conference contact Long-tailed Duck: 2/26 Cruger I JAD; Lisa Wilson, Director of Development at 845-876-4213 or Common Goldeneye: 2/8 Norrie Pt FT; [email protected]. Further information about the Hooded Merganser: 2/1 Fisherman's Pk KH; 6/27 Duell Rd Winnakee Land Trust, including conference registration DK; 1/15 Red Wing Lk AJM; pr/1 Hillside Lk BAM; 7/19 Hillside is available at www.winnakeeland.org. Lk; 5/23 Wapp Lk BJM; 3/21 Tivoli Bay North; 20/26 Rudd Pd CV; Frank Margiotta Common Merganser: many reports around area 2 to 29 in each, pairs reported; 14 rpts, avg 5 each eBird; Ring-necked Pheasant: 3 reports eBird; Turkey: 10m/2, 4-6m; 1f most days yd BAM; 3/15 Sheafe Rd BUS TRIP TO CENTRAL PARK FOR ; 1/16 Stissing Mt; 1/20 Rombout Rd CV; Pied-billed Grebe: 1/27 Redwing Beekman JAD; SPRING MIGRATION Great Blue Heron: 1/3 Southlands MP; 2/19 Millbrook Sch Rd AMP; 1/16 at nest Mud Pd; 1/19 Norrie Pt CV; 1/8 Norrie Pt FT; Update! 20 seats still available as of March 12! Black Vulture: 1/6 Rt 9 Wapp KH; 5/9 yd; 9/22 Hyde Pk BAM; Sign up now! 41/9 tree Wapp; 2/19 Hillside Lk Rd BJM; 6 rpts, avg 3 each eBird; A bus trip is scheduled for Saturday, May 5, 2012. The bus will depart from Kingston’s Cornell Street parking lot at 5:00am and will stop to pick up additional participants at the New Paltz Thruway Park and Ride at 5:30am with arrival at the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West at roughly 7:00am. Central Park is one of the best migrant traps in the northeast and offers birding without suffering from a case of warbler-neck. Participants are welcome to bird the park, visit museums, or a combination of both. Time spent in New York City will be on your own and individuals will be expected back at the bus (where we were dropped off) for a prompt 3:00pm departure to allow for arrival in Kingston around 5:00pm. Personal belongings may be left on the bus but will not be accessible during the day. A small backpack is suggested for a lunch, field guide, and/or rain gear. The cost of the trip is $37.00 per person and payment is expected no later than March 31, 2012.

Call or email Mark DeDea, trip organizer, at 845-339- Black Vulture, photo by Debi Kral 1277 or [email protected]. Turkey Vulture: many reports of 1 -3; 15/19 Poughquag MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: Mark DeDea, 82 First CP/HT; 20/3 Fishkill Rural Cem ES; 17/19 on deer carcass Rte Avenue, Kingston NY 12401. 55 Po’quag; 19 rpts, avg 4 each eBird; Bald Eagle: 1 to 3 ad reported by BB;KH;BJM,KH;MP;EBR; 2/16 nest Stissing Mt CV; 12 rpts, avg 1 each eBird; Northern Harrier: 2/28 IES AMP eBird;

6 Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/26 Conklin Hill Rd DK; 1/12 Rte 84 Red-bellied Woodpecker: 10 reports of 1-4 each, 6/27, 7/29 Fishkill AMP; 1/22 Vanderbilt FT; Rombout CV; 52 rpts, avg 2 each; 9/15 Bowdoin FT; Coopers Hawk: 1/19 yd Poughquag CP/HT; 1/28 N Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 6 single reports; 3/21 Mabbettsville Mabbettsville Rd AMP; AMP; 5 rpts, avg 2 each. eBird; Red-shouldered Hawk: 1/27 Rt9 Wapp; 1/28 yd. BJM; 1/17 Downy Woodpecker: many report 1-4; 8/27, 6/29 Rombout Rd Rhinebeck MP; 1/20 Rombout Rd CV; CV; 54 rpts, avg 3 each. eBird; Red-tailed Hawk: many reported 1 - 2; 6/9 I-84 Fishkill DaE; Hairy Woodpecker: 1-2 in reports from 4/19 Bontecou Lk DK; 6/12,18 TSP AMP; 8/16, 28 Mashomack JA/KJ;KH;BAM;MP;CV; 34 rpts, avg 1 each eBird;. CV; 60 rpts, avg 2 each eBird; 6/18 Tivoli Bays FT; Northern Flicker: 1/4 yd BJM; 1/26 Buttercup West; 1/27, 3/29 Rombout Rd CV; 7 rpts, avg 1 each eBird; Pileated Woodpecker: 9 reports 1 each; 2/24, 27 yd CV; 19 rpts, avg 1 each eBird; Blue Jay: 1-14 in 8 reports; 15/15 Bowdoin FT; 54 rpts, avg 5 each eBird; American Crow: up to 4 in 6 reports; 150/19 Bangall Amenia Rd AMP; 5,000/19 river roost CV; 93 rpts, avg 7 each. eBird; Fish Crow: 18/24 Fisherman's Pk KH, 1-3 in 8 reports & FTs; 4 rpts, avg 2 each eBird; Common Raven: 6 reported 1 - 2 sightings; 10 rpts, avg 1 each. eBird; Black-capped Chickadee: very well reported, up to 15 each including FT; 63 rpts, avg 6 each eBird.; Tufted Titmouse: 10 reports up to 13; 53 rpts, avg 6 each eBird; 11/15 Bowdoin FT; 12/8 Norrie Pt FT; Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1/4 Kidd Ln Trl MF; 1/11, 25, 26 yd WLS; 5 rpts, avg 1 each eBird; 1/22 Vanderbilt FT; White-breasted Nuthatch: 4 or more in 16 repots; 53 rpts, avg 5 each. eBird; Brown Creeper: 1 or 2 in 18 reports; 7 rpts, avg 1 each eBird;;

1/18 Tivoli Bays FT; 1/22 Vanderbilt FT; Red-tailed Hawk, photo by Debi Kral Carolina Wren: 1 -3 reported by JA/KJ;BB;KH;BAM;MP;CV; Golden Eagle: 1/16 Stissing Mt seen sitting in several spots 28 rpts, avg 1 each eBird; 4/8 Norrie Pt FT; 4/15 Bowdoin FT; CV; Winter Wren: 1/4 IES WLS; American Kestrel: 10 sightings of 1 each by Golden-crowned Kinglet: 2/5 Mills-Norrie Sate Pk SB; 1/24 JAl;BB;DK;LS;CV; 7 rpts, avg 1 each. eBird; Wapp yd KH; 2/9, 10 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 2/18 Tivoli Bays Merlin: 1/12 TSP AMP; 1/15 eating prey Overlook Pk CV; 1/1 FT; Baird Pk FT; Eastern Bluebird: 5/6 on garden fence BB; 2/29 checking box American Coot: 4/26 Stissing Pd JAD; 9/15, 6 Red Wing Lk, 3 yd BAM; 10/4 IES WLS; 6/29 Rombout Rd ; 6/21 Grieg Fm CV; Sylvan Lk AJM; 9/16, 4/28 Stissing Mt CV; 21 rpts, avg 4 each eBird; 15/15 Bowdoin FT; Killdeer: 3/29 Salt Pt Tpk DK; 1/25 StonyKill; 4/26, 29 Strever Hermit thrush: 1/11 Tivoli Bays LS; Fm CV; American Robin: 72/3 IES AMP; 18/28 Indian Lk CV; 7 other American Woodcock: 1/19 Poughquag CP/HT; 1/23 Tivoli LS; reports; 13 rpts, avg 18 each eBird; 50/15 Bowdoin FT; Ring-billed Gull: 114/27 Beacon waterfront KH; 6 other Mockingbird: 8 reports of 1-3; 13 rpts, avg 1 each eBird;. 4/15 reports of up to 90; avg 6 each. eBird; Bowdoin FT; Herring Gull: 45/27 Beacon waterfront KH; 46/25 Beacon CV; European Starling: 100/23 Rombout Rd DK; 120/19 Bangall 6 other reports of up to 10; 4 rpts, avg 6 each. eBird; Amenia Rd AMP; well reported; 30 rpts, avg 15 each Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1/1 Beacon waterfront KH; eBird; Great Black-backed Gull: 2 ad, 1 imm/5 Wapp Lk BB; 4/27 Wapp Lk, 5/20 Reese Sanct KH; 4 other single waterfront reports; 2 rpts. eBird; Rock Pigeon: 15/15 Reese Sanct KH; CV; 7 rpts, avg 3 each eBird;. Mourning Dove: good numbers in 14 reports; 42 rpts, avg 5 each eBird; Eastern Screech Owl: 1/23 IES JAD; 1/16 Elm Dr DFa; 1/18, 2/26 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/26 yd Millbrook WS; all eBird reports; Great Horned Owl: 2/22; 1/25 Wilcox Pk JAl; 1/8, 27 on nest Town. Poughkeepsie AJM; 1/11, 18 Rhinebeck MP; 1/1, 2/2, 6 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/26 Frog Hollow HT; Barred Owl: h 8pm/9 near home BB; 1/6 Bowdoin Pk KH; 1/19, 29 Ludlow Woods Rd DK; 1-2/10-26 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/26 h Mud Pond CV;

Belted Kingfisher: 7 reports of 1 - 2 each; 10 rpts, avg 1 each. European Starling, photo by Maha Katnani eBird; 7 Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

Cedar Waxwing: 26/27 Indian Lk; 8/29 Rombout Rd ; 6/20 yd CV; 1/15 Bowdoin FT; Common Grackle: 1-15 in 14 reports; 100+/24 yd JA/KJ; Yellow-rumped Warbler: 2/29 Rombout Rd CV; 1/18 Tivoli Brown-headed Cowbird: 15/11 BB; 90/12 N Mabbettsville Rd Bays FT; AMP; 4 other reports; 23 rpts, avg 23 each eBird; American Tree Sparrow: 112/9 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Purple Finch: 1/6 Bowdoin Pk KH; 1/7, 3/2 N Mabbettsville Rd 24/11 IES WLS; 1 or 2 singing 29th Rombout Rd CV; 6 other AMP; 6/11 Tivoli LS; 4 rpts, avg 3 each eBird; 2/18 Tivoli Bays reports avg 4; 37 rpts, avg 10 each eBird; FT; Chipping Sparrow: 1/19, 24, 29 yd BAM; House Finch: 1-7 in 7 reports; 10/21 LaGrange MG; 43 rpts, Fox Sparrow: 1/29 Rombout Rd CV; avg 4 each eBird; 12/18 Tivoli Bays FT; Song Sparrow: 12 reports of 1-4; 3/29 singing Rombout Rd Common Redpoll: 1/26 yd Millbrook WLS; CV; 8 rpts, avg 2 each. eBird; 7/15 Bowdoin FT; Pine Siskin: 1/20 Reese Sanct KH; 7/7, 1/13 N Mabbettsville White-throated Sparrow: very good numbers in 14 reports; 48 Rd AMP; 1/11 Tivoli LS; 4 rpts, avg 3 each eBird; 2/22 rpts, avg 4 each eBird; 40/8 Norrie Pt FT; 21/15 Bowdoin FT Vanderbilt FT; White-crowned Sparrow: 1/1, 4 LaGrangeville EF; 1/9 Locust American Goldfinch: many reports, 18 at some feeders; 50 Grove KH; 3/23 Rombout Rd DK; 1/20, 29; 2/24 Rombout Rd ; rpts, avg 10 each eBird; 85/15 Bowdoin FT; 2/28 Reagan Rd CV; House Sparrow: normal numbers KH; 2-3 all yd. BAM; 6-12 Dark-eyed Junco: high numbers in 14 reports; 60 rpts, avg 10 daily yd MP; CV each eBird; 22/8 Norrie Pt FT; 65/15 Bowdoin FT; Northern Cardinal: much singing avg of 4 in 12 reports; 38 rpts, avg 3 each eBird; Field Trips - (via eBird) - 1st - Baird Pk; 8th - Norrie Pt; 15th - Bowdoin Pk; 18th - Tivoli Bay JBFT*; 22nd Vanderbilt Estate; *JBFT - is an Ulster Co group, the John Burroughs Natural History Society. The data was provided to eBird, it was not a Waterman planned trip.

Mammals of note: 1.) flying squirrel eating suet on an oak tree; 2). mink around the area MP

Abbreviations: IES = Institute of Ecosystem Studies; TSF = Southland Farms;

Observers: JAl - Janet Allison; JA/KJ - Judy Atwood & Karen Jaquith; SB - Steve Bauer eB; BB - Barbara Butler; BC - Binnie Chase; JAD - John & Abby Dux eB; DaE - David Ely eB; DFa - Debbie Fargione eB; MF - Madison Fletcher eB; EF - Eamon

Freiburger eB; MG - Mary Gall eB; RG - Richard Guthrie eB; KH Northern Cardinal (female), photo by Debi Kral - Ken Harris; KHe - Kevin Hemeon eB; DK - Debi Kral eB; WL - William Lenhart eB; BMa - Barbara Mansell; AJM/BAM/BJM - Red-winged Blackbird: up to 60 in 22 reports; 400/26 Indian Allan & Barbara Michelin; MP - Mona Payton; CP/HT - Carena Lk; 15 rpts, avg 13 each. eBird; Pooth/Herb Thompson eB; AMP - Adrienne Popko eB; EBR – Rusty Blackbird: 2/18 Tivoli Bays FT; Edith & Barry Rosen; WS/WLS - William & Lisa Schlesinger eB; ES - Ed Spaeth eB; LS - Laura Steadman eB; CV- Chet Vincent; eB - reports made through eBird

Compiler: Judy Atwood

Please send March records to:

Carena Pooth 22 Brothers Road Poughquag, NY 12570

Or via email to: [email protected]

Rusty Blackbird, photo by Debi Kral 8 Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

Membership Report MEMBERSHIP FORM

As of March 12, we have 191 paid-up member- Name(s) ______ships for 2011-2012. We welcomed two new members since February 12. They are: Street ______

City ______Taylor & Suzanne Keenan 1045 Cold Spring Rd State ______Zip ______Phone ______Clinton Corners, NY 12514 Email ______

Steve Golladay 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______Membership Chair Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______

Club Patch $3.00 ______

Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______

Total Enclosed ______Limpkins in Sarasota, Florida Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club February 2012 Send completed form and check to: Steve Golladay, photos by Bill Case 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct, NY 12533

A Yellow-breasted Chat in New York City (Union Square, Manhattan) February 19, 2012

photos by Maha Katnani

Where is this adult running to with this tasty snail?

To its adorable offspring, of course!

9 Volume 54 Number 3 www.watermanbirdclub.org March 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533

President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: FIRST CLASS Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 [email protected] Janet Allison 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected] Electronic version by Carena Pooth [email protected]

WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS Sat. May 19 Bashakill – Leader: Barbara Michelin. Sat. Apr. 21 Peach Hill Town of Poughkeepsie Park, Please call for time and meeting place if Edgewood Rd., off Salt Pt. Tpk. Look you plan to attend @ 297-6701. for signs (directions on website). Leader: Barbara Michelin. Meet there For weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch at 8:00am. Please call if you plan to and beverage. If carpooling to out of county trips please attend or have questions on directions @ contribute towards gas for trip. Rain cancels the walk. 297-6701. Any questions call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 or trip Sat. Apr. 28 Shaw Pond. Leader: Adrienne Popko. leader. (* Listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County Meet at 255 North Mabbettsville Rd., or can be found at Millbrook (Adrienne’s home) at 8:00am. www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) Call Adrienne @ 845-264-2015 if you plan to attend. Sun. Apr. 29 Pond Gut *pg. 84. Leader: Barbara Notice: Due to family illness the weekend field trips Michelin. Meet there (off Gidley Rd., may have leader changes to cover for me when I am out Town of LaGrange) at 8:00am. of town. Please check your Wings issue each month to note any changes. Thank you. Barbara Michelin Sat. May 5 Slocum Mostachetti Preserve. Leader:

Barbara Butler. Call her for time and directions @ 677-9025. The next Wings deadline is April 9, 2012. Sun. May 6 Doodletown. Leader: Barbara Michelin. Send articles to Barbara Michelin and Call for time and meeting place @ 297- copies to Janet Allison and Chuck 6701. Martinez. Contact information above. Sat. May 12 May Census. See details next issue.

10 Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012

APRIL 2012 MEETING

Our meeting will be Monday, April 23, 2012 at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Our program will be “Bird ID Workshop”. We are using the old footage from 1996. We will do this ID workshop with Marion Van Wagner's program on Warblers and Vireos given in the Pleasant Valley Library in 1996. Everyone is to bring Binoc's and guide books. Ken Fredericks took the old VHS tapes and made Cd's or what ever you call them, we can use with our equipment.

It should be fun but not perfect. Refreshments will follow our meeting.

-Binnie Chase

MAY & JUNE 2012 FIELD TRIPS

WEDNESDAY May 2 Millbrook School *pg. 74. Meet at the museum parking lot at 8:00am. May 9 Ferncliff Forest *pg. 42. Meet there (Mt. Rutsen Rd., Rhinebeck) at 8:00am. May 16 Nuclear Lake – intersection of Rt.55 and Old Rt.55 in Poughquag. Meet there at 8:00am May 23 Peach Hill Town Poughkeepsie Park, Edgewood Rd., off Salt Pt. Tpk. – look for signs (directions on website). Meet there at 8:00am. May 30 IES-Cary Arboretum*pg. 24. Meet at the Gifford House parking log at 8:00am Jun. 6 Wethersfield – Must meet at the Farm & Home Center, Rt.44, Millbrook at 7:30am. Jun. 13 Yellow Frame Farm - Must meet at the Farm & Home Center, Rt.44, Millbrook at 7:30am. Jun. 20 Hopeland Sanctuary (north of Mills Mansion, Staatsburg). Meet there at 8:00am. Jun. 27 Locust Grove, (Samuel Morse Historic Site) *pg. 138. Meet there (Rt. 9, Poughkeepsie) at 8:00am.

Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for trips call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

* * * WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS ARE ON BACK PAGE * * *

- 1 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012

EXECTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Vice-Presedent: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 May Census – May 12, 2012 Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 Spring is here & the May census is just around the Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 corner. It is always a fun day of birding in Dutchess Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 County. I want to thank all the leaders for Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291 coordinating their areas. If you wish to participate, Committee Chairs please contact a leader in the area that you are Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 interested in or send an email or call me. Circulation: Chet Vincent 452-3716 Leaders: Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 Art Jones: Thompson Pond, Town of Stanford, Town of Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Northeast, & Round Pond Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 Jim Cintron: Cruger Island, Bard College, & Ferncliff Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Forest Chuck Martinez 896-6455 Otis Waterman: Stissing Mt., Wilber Flats Greig Farm, Electronic Newsletter: Carena Pooth 724-5107 Cruger Island, Ferncliff, & Norrie Pt. NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Barbara Butler: Dover area, Amenia area, Listening Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 Rock Farm, Nellie Hill & Berkshire Rd. Sylvan Lake Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 Historian: Adrienne Popko/Carrie Grey 229-5967 Adrienne Popko: Millbrook area, Tamarak Lake, Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Buttercup Publicity: Kateri Kosek – 226-6267 Steve Golladay: Pleasant Valley, Pond Gut, & Cary IES Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Kateri Kosek: Vassar Farm & Vassar Campus Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Barbara Michelin: So. Poughkeepsie & So. Dutchess Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Tammie Carey: Town of East Fishkill & Town of Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 Wappingers Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 Barbara Mansell & Liz Martens: Salt Point & Deep Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477 Hollow Binnie Chase: Pawling Area, Great Swamp, & Pawling President’s Message Nature Preserve Sue Infante: Beacon Area, Madam Brett, Long Dock, Thanks to Ruth Greenwood for her work as the Dennings Point, Dutchess Junction Park Circulation Chairman. She'll be leaving the position Frank Margiotta: Burger Hill, Milan area and a thank you to Chet Vincent, who'll take over, with the help of the rest of the committee. -Herb Thompson As you can see now, we're having an early and [email protected] wonderful spring. As of April 1, the Denning's Point (609) 577-3477 trail was re-opened to the public. Before it began to rain, I managed to see my first Brown Creeper of the Welcome Spring season, as well as two golden-crowned kinglets. Today, April 3, I went to Buttercup West and saw my first Welcome Bluebirds Swamp sparrow of the season. I also noticed how active the beaver population there has been -- they On April 3, 2012 the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club appeared to be trying to damn the part of the celebrated its 50th year of monitoring Bluebird Nest Wappingers Creek that runs through the preserve, and Boxes in Dutchess County at the Freedom Plains it appears they might be successful. Church Parish Hall with a presentation on the Eastern Bluebird by John Ruska, president of the New York -Maury Lacher, President State Bluebird Society. Also featured was the Club’s Spring Migratory Bird Walk Bluebird Trail display, a map of Dutchess County highlighting all of the Club’s Bluebird Trails in the Saturday, May 5th at 9am. The Oblong Land County and Bluebird Nest Boxes supplied by the club conservancy is teaming up with Barbara Butler, of the were available for sale. John gave a very interesting Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club, who will lead a guided and informative presentation on the Eastern Bluebird walk through prime bird habitat, including an upland and he also touched on the plight of the Purple Martin cedar grove and the Great Swamp floodplain. This is and its decline. John then took questions from the the height of migratory bird season, and the walk will audience and made available membership information focus on collecting data on the migratory bird into the New York State Bluebird Society. Following population of the Great Swamp, an Audubon Important the presentation a cake decorated in the theme of Bird Area (IBA). celebrating the Club’s 50th Anniversary of Bluebird We will meet in the Slocum Mostachetti Preserve, Trail Monitoring was served to the 87 attendees of the which is .7 miles to the west of the light at the presentation. The Bluebird Trail Committee wishes to intersection of Rt. 22 and Pleasant Ridge Rd./County thank all who attended and supported this wonderful Rt. 21. The location shares a driveway with 3517 Pleasant Ridge Road, Wingdale, NY Early birders will meet at 7 am to begin the bird count.

- 2 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012 event. A special Thank You to the following members Bald Eagle: Well reported. Notables: 8/4 Deerfield Ponds, who helped make this event a success: Barbara CV; 2/15 @ nest Twn Pok. AJM; 6/16 TMR Dover DK Butler, Binnie Chase, Eamon Freiburger, Jerry Gilnack, Debi Kral, Kateri Kosek, Frank Margiotta, Carena Pooth, Shelly Redl, Ed Solan and Herb Thomspon. -Susan Gilnack

MARCH 2012 RECORDS

Wow, what a different March this was! We straddled the fence between spring and summer for a few days, and otherwise it was very pleasant but seriously lacking in rainfall.

Snow Goose: 26/18 Cary IES CV; 1/17 Greig Fm PS; 1/24 Tivoli Bays AMa Canada Goose: Many reports; highest 500/4 Strauss Marsh CV; 800/7 Mills Mansion FT; 200/4 Ryder Pond DK Mute Swan: On many reports. Highs 7/4 Tamarack CV; 7/4 Bontecou Lk DK; 8/9 Shuman Rd, Millbrook AMP

Wood Duck: Many reports; highest 30/12 Tivoli LS; 15/24 Bald Eagle, photo by Debi Kral Tivoli Bays WMA MDD Gadwall: 5/4, 4/30 Sheffield Hill Rd, 2/14 Mashomack, 2/17 Northern Harrier: 1/4 Sharon Sta Rd, 1/30 Mashomack CV; HVRT CV 1/12 Waterbury Hill Rd BB; x/31 Stanford JAs; 1/11 CIES American Wigeon: 2/4 Sheffield Hill Rd, 8/14 Mashomack WLS; 1/31 Tivoli LS; 1/31 Tivoli MMe; 1/17 Tivoli Kidd Ln LS CV Sharp-shinned Hawk: 10 reports of 1 each. American Black Duck: 2/3 Rhinebeck MP; 1/9 Bowen Rd Cooper’s Hawk: 29 reports of 1 ea. Stanford JA; 43/17 Beneke Fm CV; 20/24 Tivoli Bays JBFT Red-shouldered Hawk: About 10 rpts. Highs 5/5, 1/12 & Mallard: Many reports, highest 18/19 Buttercup Fm Audubon 2/26 yd/neighborhood BJM; 2/19 Pond Gut, 2/22 Norrie Pt Sanctuary LF; 15/18,25 Buttercup Fm Sanctuary WLS; 15/24 CV; 5/~24 Stanford yd BH Shuman Rd, Millbrook AMP Red-tailed Hawk: On almost all reports, sightings of 1-2 Northern Shoveler: 2/11 Greig Fm PS; 1 male/14 each, plus 2 nest exchange/14 Shaughnessy Rd BB; 6/3 Mashomack CV 5/14 Thompson Pd, 4/4 Deerfield Pds, 4/30 Mashomack CV; Green-winged Teal: 6/11 Buttercup JA; 28/14 Mashomack, 4/24 Vassar Farm FT 19/23, 24/30 Strever Fm Pd CV; 12/21,24 Bontecou AMP; Golden Eagle: 1/26 Tivoli MMe 20/25 Buttercup WLS American Kestrel: Very good numbers, 20+ reports. Ring-necked Duck: 45/3, 51/14, 41/23 Thompson Pd CV; Peregrine Falcon: 1/4 Sharon Sta Rd CV; 1/13 Newburgh- 30/7 Traver Pd. BJM, MK, ALaB; 14/14 DRT KH; 22/24 Beacon Bridge RSm Bangall Amenia Rd AMP; 20/11 Ryder Pond JAD Virginia Rail: 3/3 2/23 Thompson Pd, 1/30 HVRT CV; 1/21 Bufflehead: 2/4 Strauss Marsh CV; 4/7 Mills Mansion FT HVRT Sharon Sta FT Common Goldeneye: 18/2 Mills Mansion CV American Coot: 1/14 Millbrook AMP; x/23 Round Pd JR; Hooded Merganser: eBird had 4 rpts avg 2 ea. Others: 14/8 3/27 Conservancy Pond CV Hillside Lk. BJM; 6/9 Bowen Rd Stanford JA; 17 f & 2 m/17 Killdeer: Many reports including 3/3 Strever Fm Rd CV; 3/25 Rudd Pd, 2/18 Cary IES, 3/23 Buttercup W CV Vassar Fm BAM,MK; 4/all & 6/18 TSF MP; 3/17 Andrew Common Merganser: On most rpts; highs 34/17 Beneke Fm Haight Rd DK; 5/28 Dutchess Rail Trl / Lk Walton FT; 4/23 N. in Northeast CV; 21/8 & 20/11 Ryder Pd DK & JAD; 20/24 Mabbettsville Rd AMP Tivoli Bays MDD Wilson’s Snipe: 5/11 TSF MP; 2/18 1/28 Cary IES, 5/30 Red-breasted Merganser: 1/24 Bontecou AMP Strever Fm Rd CV; 1/11, 4/17, 2/23 Greig Fm PS; 1/24 Tivoli Ruddy Duck: x/23 Round Pond JR Bays JBFT; 3/24 Tivoli Bays PS & MD Ring-necked Pheasant: Fewer than 10 rpts. Avg. 1 each. American Woodcock: (photo next page) 2/12, 1/15, 2/16 - Crestwood Rd NG; 2/16 Cary IES, 4/20 2/23 Sleight Hill CV; Wild Turkey: Many rpts, highest 50/8 Stormville Airport ES; th th 10/18 Cary IES CV; 40/11 Shaughnessy Rd (from Elfriede also 17 & 18 Slocum-M Psv & Pok MHB; 5/13 Kidd Lane Tillman) BB; 2/15 Bowdoin Pk KH; 17/14 Amenia DF LS; 6/12 CIES WLS; 10/9, 8/12,13 Tivoli LS & MMe, About Pied-billed Grebe: 1/19 Buttercup LF; 1/25 Kidd Lane/Tivoli 35 other rpts! Bay SRo; 1/31 Shuman Rd AMP; 1/17 South Tivoli Bay SRo Ring-billed Gull: eBird 8 rpts avg 3 each; several others. Double-crested Cormorant: 17/24 Tivoli Bays MDD Herring Gull: 9 reports avg 1 each. Great Blue Heron: Many reports of 1-2 each. Also 8/26 Great Black-backed Gull: 4/2 Norrie Pt, 4/3 Beacon CV; 8 Taconic Pkwy AMP; 5/24 Tivoli Bays MDD; 2/14 on Pkway other rpts avg 1 each. nest at Baird CV; 4/24 Vassar Farm FT Rock Pigeon: usual numbers. Black Vulture: eBird 4 rpts, avg 2 each. Also 5/3 2/14 1/23 Mourning Dove: (photo next page) Everywhere. Highs: Stissing Mtn, 1-2 in 3 other places CV; 2/5 over Rt 22 s of 12/all yard BB McEnroes BB Eastern Screech-Owl: 1/20 yd Millbrook WLS; 1/9 CIES Turkey Vulture: Many reports, incl. 22/3 Stissing Mtn CV. JAD; 2/12 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP Osprey: 1/30 Stissing Lake, with fish in talons CV Great Horned Owl: 1/20,21 Sleight Hill CV; 1/15,27 on nest TPok. BJM; 1/13 Millbrook DFa; 1/23 Ludlow Woods Rd DK

- 3 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012

Barred Owl: 1/3 Thompson Pd, 2/18 2/20 1/23 yd LaGrange Hermit Thrush: 1/24 Pok yd MK; 1/28 DRTH Lk Walton FT; CV; 2/7 Crestwood Rd NG; 1/23 Stanford Wildlife Prsv; 1/25, x/31 Stanford JAs 2/30 Wilcox Pk JA; 1/13 Millbrook DFa; 1/18 Buttercup WLS; American Robin: Many reports all month. Highest 35/15 1/1,23 Ludlow Woods Rd DK; 1/24 yd Lagrange JA/KJ; 1/3, 27/30 Bowdoin Pk, 37/26 Fishermen's Pk KH; 78/15 2/6,22 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/17 Tivoli Bays Kidd LnLS Rombout Rd, 42/18 Cary IES CV; 50/17 Andrew Haight Rd Belted Kingfisher: 18 reports, almost all just one bird. DK; 45/24 Kennels Rd AMP; 40/11 Millbrook Schl JAD; 45/14 Tymor FT Gray Catbird: 1/17 Millbrook DFa Northern Mockingbird: Many rpts of 1-4 each; also 6/9 Rombout Rd CV European Starling: Many rpts incl. 90/31 Tivoli LS & MMe Cedar Waxwing: 11/15 Rombout Rd, 26/17 18/30 HVRT CV; 25/23 Stanford Wildlife Prsv JA; 30/23 Milan yd FM; 37/21 HVRT Sharon Stn FT Pine Warbler: 1/24 Tivoli Bays JBFT Yellow-rumped Warbler: 3/23 Buttercup W, 1/27 Conservancy Prop CV; also 9 rpts from eBird avg. 3 each. Eastern Towhee: heard/27 yard BB American Tree Sparrow: 4-6/1-11 Rhinebeck MP; 6/2 Vassar Fm, last 6/9 Rombout Rd CV; 1/11 Buttercup JA; 1/16 yd Stormville EBR; 20 eBird rpts averaging 6 each including 20/1 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP Chipping Sparrow: 1/23 Rhinebeck MP; 1/24 Vassar Farm FT; 1/31 yd BB; 1/31 JAs; 1/26 Ludlow Woods Rd DK; 1/31 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP Field Sparrow: 1/1 yard, 1/15 Rombout Rd, 1/30 HVRT CV; 1/8 Tivoli LS; 7/24 Vassar Fm FT; 3/25 (FOS) Vassar Fm

American Woodcock, photo by Steve Golladay BAM,MK; 3/30 Cary IES BB; 10 other rpts from eBird averaging 1 each. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 1-8 on most reports Savannah Sparrow: 3/10 StonyKill Fm KH; 1/19 Buttercup Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1/19-21, 27, 29 yd Stormville LF; 1/17 Greig Fm PS EBR; 1/25-27 eating suet, 1st time I've seen that CV; 1/30 Fox Sparrow: 1/9 yard BB; 1/15 Bowdoin Pk KH; 6 eBird Reese Pk KH, plus 9 eBird rpts. reports including 6/18 Buttercup WLS Downy Woodpecker: Most reports had 1-6. Song Sparrow: Many rpts. Highest 12/14 DRT KH; 21/17 Hairy Woodpecker: Many sightings mostly 1-2 each. 19/18 Cary IES, 15/23 Buttercup W CV; 16/25 Vassar Fm Northern Flicker: Many sightings of 1-2 each; 3/24 Tivoli BAM,MK; 13/17 Millbrook DFa; 12/25 Buttercup WLS; 33/21 Bays JBFT; 6/24 Vassar Farm FT. HVRT Sharon Sta FT; 26/24 Vassar Farm FT Pileated Woodpecker: Many rpts mostly 1-2 each. Swamp Sparrow: 1/23 Thompson Pd CV; 4 eBird rpts avg 1 Eastern Phoebe: Earliest 1/8 Ludlow Woods Rd yd DK; each. About 75 other reports avg. 2 each. White-throated Sparrow: Still around all month. Highest Blue Jay: Everywhere in good numbers. 35/7 Mill Mansion FT; 20/21 HVRT Mech. St. / Sharon Sta. American Crow: Many reports averaging around 5 each. FT; 12/1 Vassar Fm, 10/9 Rombout Rd, 10/13 Dennings Pt, Fish Crow: 21 rpts. Avg. 2 ea. 8/17 Reese Pk KH CV; 15/10 StonyKill, 16/15 6/30 Bowdoin Pk KH Common Raven: 2/3 1/14,23 Stissing Mtn, 2/19 Pond Gut, also Locust Grove, Norrie, HVRT CV; 3/25 Vassar Fm BAM, MK; 1/30 Bowdoin Pk KH; 1/17,18 Buttercup DK; 4/23 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 2/7 Mills Mansion FT; 1/14 Tymor FT Tree Swallow: Many reports. Earliest 1/11 CIES WLS; 1/12 & 22 FOS BBT/Humeston Fm BJM; 2/14 Shaughnessy Rd BB; Biggest flock 85/30 Mashomack CV Black-capped Chickadee: Many reports, highest 20/21 HVRT Mech St ./ Sharon Sta Rd FT Tufted Titmouse: Highest count 18/28 DRTH Lk Walton FT White-breasted Nuthatch: Very well reported. Brown Creeper: 1/1-4 Rhinebeck MP; 1/2 Wappinger Rural Cem, 1/14 DRT KH; 2/19 Locust Grove, 1/1-18 yd CV; 1/29 yd Stormville EBR; 1/19 Buttercup LF; 1/24 Vassar Farm FT; 1/24 Tivoli Bays JBFT Carolina Wren: Sightings of 1-3 by most observers; nesting 13th in yd Lagrange JA/KJ Mourning Dove, photo by Debi Kral House Wren: 1/18 yd Lagrange JA/KJ Winter Wren: 1/15 Rombout Rd CV; 1/15 Millbrook DFa; 1/4 White-crowned Sparrow: 2/9 Rombout Rd (only one this CIES WLS month) CV; 3/23 Greig Fm PS; 1/23 Rockefeller Ln SRo Golden-crowned Kinglet: 14 rpts. avg 2 each. Dark-eyed Junco: Many reports thru month, highest 15/1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1/17 Reese Pk KH 14/12 NMabbettsville Rd AMP; 18/14 Tymor FT; 28/2 Vassar Eastern Bluebird: 70+ reports. Highs 9/10 StonyKill KH; Fm CV; 12/10 StonyKill, 11/15 15/30 Bowdoin; 10/31 yd BB 8/18 5/28 Cary IES, 6/15 Rombout Rd CV; 7/28 DRTH FT

- 4 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012

Northern Cardinal: Good numbers. 12/13 Dennings Pt, 18/17 HVRT, 12/18 Cary IES, 2-10 other places CV; 16/24 Vassar Farm FT FIELD TRIP NOTES Red-winged Blackbird: Many rpts incl. 200/2 Vassar Fm, 175/3 Thompson Pd, widespread in county by end of month. Wednesday, March 7, 2012 – Mills Mansion. I CV; 100/5 HVRT Sharon Sta Rd BB; 100/25 Buttercup WLS; arrived about 8:15am at Mills and found Ken Harris 100/24 Haight Rd AMP; 100/11 Millbrook Schl JAD already there. Ken and I went to the river bank with Eastern Meadowlark: 1/17 Clinton BMa; 1/25 Market Lane our spotting scopes and were able to see a few species Stanford JA; 1/30 Sharon Sta Rd CV; x/31 Stanford JAs way out. There were Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Rusty Blackbird: 15/23 Cruger Island Rd SRo; 15/24 Tivoli and Common Mergansers, with only the mergansers Bays JBFT towards the Mills side of the river. We did hear and see Common Grackle: Many reports thru mo. Highest 125/2 five flocks of Canada Geese flying high and going north. Vassar Fm, 75/3 Thompson Pd, 500/17 18/30 HVRT, Goose migration is well under way. widespread in county by end of month. CV; 1000/5 HVRT We went back to the parking lot to join the other 16 Sharon Sta Rd, 15/all yard BB birders that were gathering for a walk. A few heard Brown-headed Cowbird: Many reports. Highest 30/9 Cedar Waxwings from the parking area. Birds were Rombout Rd CV; 20/24 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP scarce until we got to the old greenhouse area. Then we Purple Finch: 12 reports of 1-2 each. found Cardinals, White-throats, White-breasted House Finch: About 45 reports of 1-5 each. Nuthatches, Downys, Carolina Wren, and a loud, American Goldfinch: Many reports, highest up to 36 daily at calling Red-shouldered Hawk. Then we saw a few feeders CV; 10-20/all yd Poughquag CP/HT; 20/27,29 N. Robins and a hard-to-see Fox Sparrow. Debbie Kral’s Mabbettsville Rd AMP picture helped us identify that bird. House Sparrow: Many reports ranging from 1 to 25 each. We found some Mallard’s and Canada Geese in a marshy area. In that same area we found two Rusty Other Sightings Blackbirds that were a trip highlight for many of us. th Peepers: First heard 8 NG Species and numbers we saw were: 800 Canada Coyote: 1/13 Dennings Pt, plus wood frogs and peepers CV Goose, 2 Mallard Duck, 4 Bufflehead, 3 Common Bobcat: 1/18 Cary IES CV Goldeneye, 6 Common Merganser, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Herring Observers: John Askildsen via MHB (JAs); Judy Atwood & Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1 Yellow- Karen Jaquith (JA/KJ); Steve Bauer (SB*); Barbara Butler bellied Sapsucker, 2 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy (BB); Mark DeDea (MDD*); John & Abby Dux (JAD*); Woodpecker, 2 Pileated Woodpecker, 4 American Crow, Debbie Fargione (DFa*); Larry Federman (LF*); Dot Fleury 2 Fish Crow, 2 Raven, 4 Chickadee, 5 Tufted Titmouse, via BB (DF); Michael Fraatz (MFr*); Ann Gilbert (AG); Natalie 5 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Carolina Wren, 5 Gilbert (NG); Ken Harris via BB (KH); Barry Haydasz via BB Eastern Bluebird, 8 American Robin, 2 Cedar (BH); John Burroughs Natural History Society Field Trip Waxwing, 1 Fox Sparrow, 3 Song Sparrow, 35 White- (JBFT*); Maha Katnani via BJM & BB (MK); Deborah Kral throated Sparrow, 8 Dark-eyed Junco, 3 Northern (DK*); Aimee LaBarr via BJM (AL); Joan & Vern Lindberg Cardinal, 2 Rusty Blackbird, and 2 American (JVL*); Barb Mansell (BMa); Annie Mardiney (AMa*); Frank Goldfinch. Margiotta via BB (FM); Melissa Mezger (MMe*); Barbara & Another good day birding for all of us. Allan Michelin (BAM/BJM/AJM); Mid-Hudson Birds (MHB); Mona Payton (MP); Carena Pooth (CP*); Adrienne Popko -Chet Vincent (AMP*); Susan Rogers (SRo*); Edith & Barry Rosen (EBR);

Jane Rossman via BB (JR); William & Lisa Schlesinger Woodcock Watch, Wed, March 7, Allen Road, Salt (WLS*); Peter Schoenberger (PS*); Elisa Shaw (ESh*); Russ Point With the forecast for possible rain on Thursday Smiley (RSm*); Ed Spaeth (ES*); Laura Steadman (LS*); (3/8), we decided to hold our watch on Wednesday. Herb Thompson (HT*); Chet Vincent (CV) Ten of us stood watch at 6pm awaiting the first "peent".

Field Trips (FT*): 7 Mills, 14 Tymor, 21 HVRT Amenia , 24 Two Song Sparrows, several White-throated Sparrows Vassar Farm, 28 DRTH and a Cardinal were singing in the vicinity. Barbara Butler shared the thought that the Woodcocks seem to *Sightings recorded via eBird & compiled by C. Pooth start "peenting" at just about the same time that the Song Sparrows stop singing. I think this was the case. Abbreviations: DRTH – Dutchess Rail Trail (Hopewell); TSF As in previous years, one of our Woodcocks makes its – Southlands Fm; DRT – Dutchess Rail Trail way out from the brushy area to the edge of the field. It seems he knows he must be there for us. I think COMPILER: Carena Pooth everyone was able to get a good look at it and were able to follow its flight. Always the bird lands in the same Please e-mail April records to spot. I think we had about 5 or 6 birds that evening, peenting and displaying. So happy to see these birds. [email protected]

Or send via US mail to Debi Kral, -Barbara Mansell 156 Ludlow Woods Rd Stanfordville, NY 12581

- 5 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 – Cary/IES – Woodcock Wednesday, March 28, 2012 – Southern Dutchess Watch. On an unusually warm evening 24 people met Rail Trail. Thirteen birders gathered at the new Bill Schlesinger at the Gifford House parking lot. After a welcome from Bill we walk over to the trail where the parking area in Hopewell Junction. The parking lot Woodcocks were seen from previous years. We split and old RR Station are at the southern end of the the group up so one half stood above the area that Bill Dutchess Rail Trail. and Lisa saw the Woodcock display the evening before We had heard the weather report so put on our and the other group below the display area. Bill said raincoats and headed up the trail. Birds were active the Woodcock should appear at about 7:10pm. We and vocal so we could almost always hear or see a bird. started to hear the “peent” call at about 7:18pm. Our Chickadees, Titmice and Robins seemed to be in view youngest member of the group, Eamon Freiburger most of the time, followed closely by Am. Crows, came. We made sure he was up front to get good views Redwings Blackbirds and Cowbirds. A Sharp-shinned of the Woodcock as it was a new bird for him as well as Hawk flew overhead and stayed long enough to give us a few other people. And, we got excellent and up close good looks. A Hermit Thrush made a brief appearance views of one of 4 Woodcocks we heard and saw. This is that we all wished was longer but--- birds don’t always the best I have seen with the Woodcock coming down do what we want. once almost at my feet. Photos were taken by Debbi On Lake Walton Canada Geese, Wood Ducks, Kral, Eamon and Maha Katnani. Other birds seen Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks and 1 Mute Swan were before the Woodcocks were: 3 Robins, 2 Red-tail seen on the water. Tree Swallows were in the air over Hawks, 1 Bluebird and 1 White-breasted Nuthatch. the lake and a few Killdeer were on the mud bars. Thank you Bill for leading another successful We heard Thunder before we hand reached Lake Woodcock watch at Cary. Everyone went home happy. Walton Road. So we turned around and began walking (fast) back to our cars. The rain caught us wee shy of -Barbara Michelin the parking lot so our rain coats got a good workout and the birds were tough to see or hear. The 38 species we did record were: Canada Goose – Saturday, March 24, 2012 – Vassar Farm. On a 10, Mute Swan – 1, Wood Duck – 2, Mallard – 7, cool overcast morning Allan and I met 10 members for Mallard (Domestic Tyee) – 2, Ring-necked Duck – 10, a morning of bird watching. On the way in Chet Great Blue Heron – 1, Turkey Vulture – 2, Sharp- checked the pond and found 2 Wood Duck, 2 Mallards shinned Hawk – 1, Red-shouldered Hawk – 1, Red- and 2 Canada Geese. While waiting Chet and others tailed Hawk – 1, Killdeer – 5, Mourning Dove – 4, saw a Killdeer along with several Robins in the Woodpeckers: Red-bellied – 5, Downy – 2, Hairy – 2, community garden fields and a Fish Crow calling from No. Flicker – 1, Phoebe – 4, Blue Jay – 5, Am. Crow – a nearby wire. 40, Fish Crow – 5, Tree Swallow – 12, Chickadee – 13, We started our walk along the wooded edge of the Titmouse – 18, White-breasted Nuthatch – 5, Carolina Rugby field. Here we had several Robins and Song Wren – 1, Bluebird – 7, Hermit Thrush – 1, Robin – 22, Sparrows. We continued down the road to the back Yellow-rumped Warbler – 4, Song Sparrow – 3, White- adding birds along the way. Here we had 8 Bluebirds, throated Sparrow – 2, Junco – 6, Cardinal – 14, House 8 American Goldfinch 10 Tree Swallows, Cardinals, Finch – 1 and Goldfinch – 12. White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-winged Blackbirds, Editor’s note: We also saw a Mourning Dove on a nest Phoebe, Common Grackles, Mourning Doves, Flicker, with its mate on a nearby branch. White-throated Sparrows, 2 Junco, more Song Sparrows, 4 Red-tailed Hawks and Cowbirds. We saw -Chet Vincent an American Crow chasing a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Also 4 Great Blue Herons were seen flying overhead or feeding at the first pond. To our surprise at the 2nd They’ll be here soon….get ready and learn your bird songs! pond we found a lone Turkey sitting in a tree and 1 Chipping Sparrow. At the last pond we decided to continue along the trail past the bridge single file most of the way along the Casperkill Creek. The trail was wooded and here we found woodpeckers- 3 Hairy, 6 Downy and 6 Red- bellied. Also the “bird of the day” was 2 Golden- crowned Kinglets and Ken Harris saw a Brown Creeper to add to our list. We also had Blue Jays, Chickadees and Titmice. The trail behind the Education building was closed so we turned around and retraced our walk back to the parking lot. The rain that was expected never came and we enjoyed a morning of birding with 38 species seen.

-Barbara Michelin

“ee-ay …….. three-eight …….. ee-ay” photo by Debi Kral

- 6 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012 Early Dutchess County Birders Among the earliest contributors to Dutchess County bird Edwin C. Kent records were the three people reported here. Each made a Ed Kent grew up in what is now Beacon where he enjoyed contribution around a single event rather than collecting hunting and fishing. In so doing he observed birds, mostly records for an extended period as was done by most who waterfowl and game birds, and ultimately kept notes on followed. While Stearns has been mentioned previously, these sightings. Many years later he compiled his notes and much new information has been uncovered. memories into a book, The Isle of Long Ago, which contains many important references to birds from 1872 to 1886 in Winfrid A. Stearns Dutchess County. His waterfowl references largely support In 1880 Winfrid Stearns compiled and in June had printed those of Winfrid Stearns from the same period, a time before his List of Birds in Vicinity of Fishkill-on-Hudson, N.Y., the uncontrolled hunting reduced waterfowl numbers. Kent also earliest relatively complete bird list in Dutchess County. provides a thorough, firsthand account of the Passenger Winfrid Alden Stearns was born in Cambridge, Mass. in Pigeon in Dutchess County, the only person known to do so. 1852. His father was a minister and president of Amherst Edwin Clark Kent was born at Matteawan in 1856, the College, from which Stearns graduated in 1876. Stearns second of three boys, to a family long associated with the suffered health issues which is apparently why he came to Hudson Valley. He graduated from Columbia University in Fishkill-on-Hudson, now Beacon. He was a patient of Dr. 1876 and was admitted to the bar in 1879. His adult life was Charles Kittredge and boarded at his Riverview Home for generally associated with his younger brother, William, who Nervous Invalids, a private sanatorium, from September also graduated from Columbia. With Gouverneur Tillotson 1879 to June 1880, the period of his bird list. they opened a law firm, Tillotson & Kent, in New York City Stearns had been interested in nature from an early age, in 1881 specializing in real estate law. Will focused on the collecting a variety of specimens including birds eggs. He real estate needs of county clubs. This same year Will studied science in college which formed a basis for the married Emily Lorillard, daughter of Pierre Lorillard.1 Ed articles and books he would author, although he was often never married. criticized for not verifying what he purported as facts. He Lorillard owned a great deal of land in Rockland never held a long term job but did work for multiple printing County around what is now known as Tuxedo Lake where companies. he decided to create a sportsman’s club. Both brothers were Stearns had spent two months during the summer of key associates from the beginning. The Tuxedo Club opened 1875 in Labrador. After leaving Beacon he returned to in 1886 and soon the blue blood of New York joined and Labrador in September 1880 to study the natural history of built large homes in the area, as did Will. Ed left Matteawan the region particularly with regard to those birds which in 1887 and moved into the new Tuxedo clubhouse for two migrated through New England. He stayed a full year, until years after which he shared his brother’s large mansion2 in September 1881, returned again in the summer of 1882, and what became Tuxedo Park. apparently at least once more. He married Annie Augusta In order to “improve” Tuxedo Lake, Lorillard stocked Ballam in 1886 in Nova Scotia, they had no children. carp which soon eliminated the small-mouth bass, this was Stearns spent the mid to late 1880s in Cambridge, Mass. followed by other equally disastrous fish introductions. Then as a typesetter for the Riverside Press. He is next found in to improve game bird hunting for forest birds such as the Atlanta, Georgia from 1889 to 1902 as superintendent of the declining Ruffed Grouse, newly introduced Ring-necked Atlanta University Press, a non-school related publishing Pheasants were raised and released in the local forests, but company. He then returned to Massachusetts but was soon were unable to survive in the alien habitat.3 Ed headed both confined to the Worcester Insane Hospital with dementia the game and fish committees. Never interested in big game, where he died on May 10, 1909. he made frequent bird hunting and fishing excursions to Besides the Fishkill bird list, he also published a List of many areas, often to North Carolina with Lorillard. Plants of Fishkill, N.Y., and vicinity in 1880. He wrote New Ed’s bird interests continued, he joined the AOU in England Bird Life in the late 1870s, edited by Elliott Coues 1907 becoming a life member. He also wrote a variety of but not changed as extensively as sometimes implied, and 1 articles on hunting and fishing including one on finally published in two volumes in 1881 and 1883. He Woodcocks.4 Then in 1933 he published The Isle of Long wrote articles on the “Birds Breeding on Penikese Island Ago which covered his years growing up in Dutchess County [Mass.]” (1875) and “Birds of Amherst [Mass.]” (1883). He as well as later years at Tuxedo Park. He also wrote the also wrote Bird Life in Labrador (1890) and A Manual of history of Tuxedo Park. Edwin Kent passed away on July Ornithology (1895) as well as books on his Labrador trips. 11, 1938. His bird notes are lost. Although Stearns did not reside long in Dutchess County he nevertheless made a very significant contribution NOTES to our birding records through his 1880 bird list. [1] Pierre Lorillard IV (1833-1901) was owner of the Lorillard Tobacco Co. and a horse racing enthusiast as well as a hunting sportsman. SOURCES & NOTE [2] William died in 1910 and Edwin remained in the home until he died.  1880 US Census, listed as Winferd Sterns; no 1900 Census record has Named Chastellux, it is now owned by a religious order. been found. [3] from The Isle of Long Ago, chapter “Tuxedo Park” [4] Magazine articles include the following, there are likely others:  Winfrid Alden Stearns Papers, American Philosophical Society. “Where the trout live” Harpers, 1898. [1] The volumes are extensive, requiring a major effort to write. Apparently “Planting Landlocked Salmon and Steelhead Salmon Trout” Outing , Stearns continued to work on them while at Beacon. They were well 1901. received. Elliott Coues (1842-1899) was a noted ornithologist, author, and “A Woodland Hermit” Outing, 1902, about Woodcock. cofounder of the AOU. “Amid Birch and Balsam, a New Brunswick Moose” Outing, 1906.

- 7 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was written by past founding member Helen Manson Andrews when she was writing for the Millbrook Roundtable, a monthly newspaper, back in the 1980’ and 1990’s. Hope you enjoy her articles as much as  From an we do. 1895 ad in The Museum ‘Hollywoood’ finches now make their magazine. homes here - published 1/9/1991

I looked out at the feeder this morning and it was filled with little sparrow-size birds. Some were brown striped and some had bright pinkish-red breast, rumps and foreheads. They, of course, are the house finch. The females are striped like a little sparrow while the Frederic W. Stack males sport the bright colors. However they have a Fred Stack is part of Dutchess County birding history since the head and around the face. he nationally advertised selling birds eggs and collector supplies from Poughkeepsie in the 1890s, albeit briefly. House finches are a rather new addition to our Frederic William Stack was born in November 1871 in permanent bird residents. They moved into Dutchess County in the early 1960s. Within 10 years they had Poughkeepsie. Following school he became a bookkeeper established themselves and have been a big part of our for the Eagle Printing House. However he called himself a year round bird population. They are gregarious and “field collector for Vassar Brothers’ Institute and Vassar spend most of the time in flocks nesting around the 1 College” referring at least to egg collecting from about yards and in evergreen trees and shrubbery, probably 1889 to about 1892, perhaps later. In 1891 he began not far from where they winter and find a good food publishing the Oologist’s Journal, a monthly 12-page source, namely your feeders. periodical devoted to ornithology and oology. The magazine lasted only two years2 after which he sold birds eggs and It has been difficult for some to distinguish the supplies. Stack published an extensive catalog in 1895 house finch from the native purple finch which is listing hundreds of eggs for species from all over North larger; a male is a raspberry red rather then a bright America. However the business did not succeed and by early red. The purple finch also had the color all over its head but the flank is unstreaked. The song is similar. 1896 he had moved to New Jersey.3 The females, both streaked and sparrow-like are also There he met Cornelia M. Rockfellow. They were different. The purple finch female has a broad light married on Dec. 29, 1898 in Plainfield, NJ where Stack stripe behind the eye; the female house finch has a worked as a bookkeeper in her father’s grocery store. A son, bland face pattern. House finches will nest around Frederic Earle Rockfellow Stack, was born in 1904. By 1907 your house, even tucking the next over a light or on a they had moved to New Rochelle, NY where Stack now wreath on the front door. The purple finch nests in worked in New York City as an editor and author for various conifer forest, Christmas tree plantations and other magazines published by Doubleday, Page & Co. evergreen plantings. Their preferred food is thistle Stack continued his interest in nature, writing “Moth seeds. Collecting” in the July 1907 issue of Country Life. In 1909 he donated 57 bird skins, none known to be from Dutchess So where did these little finches come from? They are native to the southwest, were caught, illegally in County, to the American Museum of Natural History. He the wind and sold as cage birds to dealers in New York also wrote a book, Wild Flowers Every Child Should Know, City as “Hollywood finches,” sometimes called linnets. published in May 1909. In 1912 he was editor of a new Agents of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service noted the magazine named Flowers, frequently writing articles about violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which 4 flowers for it as well as for the magazine Suburban Life. protects our native song birds, and stopped the traffic. However on Nov. 10, 1915 Stack passed away from pneumonia at Morris Plains, NJ. His contributions to The dealers released the birds in the Long Island Dutchess County birding records are eggs once in the Vassar area and the first one was seen at Jones Beach in 1941 College Museum and his brief Oologist’s Journal. and the first nesting recorded in 1942. They have been moving northward ever since and are now part of our NOTES common bird population. [1] title page of Wild Flowers Every Child Should Know. [2] Jesse B. Peck from Newburgh helped Stack with his journal in 1892 and They are with us to stay, but don’t confuse them then took over full publishing under the title The Collectors’ Monthly. with the beautiful purple finch that occasionally graces [3] it is not known how Stack acquired his stock or how he disposed of it, our feeders. but other dealers were involved. He may have sold a limited number of locally collected eggs. [4] Stack’s father, George N. Stack, had been a florist in Poughkeepsie. - Stan DeOrsey

- 8 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012

Membership Report MEMBERSHIP FORM The club currently has 199 members. Name(s) ______We welcome back renewing members: Street ______Ben & Becky Morgan, 130 Beekman Rd. Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 City ______We also welcome the following new members: State ______Zip ______Phone ______Bridget & Thomas McDowell, 47 Hemlock Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 Email ______Barbara Hoeft, 20 Creek Bend Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______12603 Sariena Masiero, PO Box 905, Wingdale, NY 12594 Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______Additions to the membership list distributed last Club Patch $3.00 ______month are as follows: Steve M. Chorvas, P.O. Box 214, Saugerties, NY Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______12477 Total Enclosed ______James Cintron, 91 Dock St., Saugerties, NY 12477 Marjorie Robinson, 31 Tall Tree Lane, Poughkeepsie, Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club NY 12601 Send completed form and check to: Steve Golladay, Chester Vincent, 6 Alvin Court, Poughkeepsie, NY Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 12603

Steve Golladay, Membership Chairman

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive, Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 845-221-6140

Great Blue Heron, photo by Debi Kral

- 9 - Volume 54 Number 4 www.watermanbirdclub.org April 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club FIRST CLASS 25 Taconic Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533

President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 [email protected] Janet Allison 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected]

Sat. Jun. 30 Pawling Nature Reserve – Leaders: Ken and Carol Fredericks. Meet at WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS parking lot at 8:00am. Sat. May 5 Slocum Mostachetti Preserve – Leader: Barbara Butler. Details on page 2. Call her if you have questions For Weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch @ 677-9025. and beverage. If car pooling to out of county trips Sun. May 6 Doodletown - Leader: Barbara please contribute towards gas for trip. Rain cancels the Michelin. Call for time and meeting walk. Any questions call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 place @ 297-6701. or trip leader. (* Listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess Sat. May 12 May Census – see details this issue. County or can be found at Sat. May 19 Bashakill – Leader: Barbara www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) Michelin. Please call for time and meeting place if you plan to attend @ Notice: Due to family illness the weekend field 297-6701. trips may have leader changes to cover for me when I am out of town. Please check your Wings issue each Sat. Jun. 9 Southlands Farms - Leader: Mona month to note any changes. Thank you. Payton. Meet at main parking lot on Barbara Michelin left side of Rt. 9, Rhinebeck at office at 9:00am. If you plan to attend call Mona @ 876-2836. The next Wings deadline is May 7, 2012. Sat. Jun. 23 Birds and Butterflies @ Cary/IES. Please send articles early (newsletter will Leader: Barry Haydasz. Please meet be mailed on 5/14) to Chuck Martinez and him at 9:00am at the Gifford House copies to Janet Allison & Barbara parking lot. Michelin. Contact information is on this

page.

- 10 - Volume 54 Number 5 www.watermanbirdclub.org May 2012

May 2012 MEETING

Our meeting will be Monday, May 21, 2012 at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Our program will be “Bird ID Workshop”. We are using the old footage from 1996. We will do this ID workshop with Helen Manson Andrew’s program on Tanagers, Sparrows and Grosbeaks given in the Pleasant Valley Library in 1996. Everyone is to bring Binoc's and guide books. Ken Fredericks took the old VHS tapes and made DVD tapes and we can use with our equipment.

It should be fun but not perfect. Refreshments will follow our meeting. -Binnie Chase

JUNE & JULY 2012 FIELD TRIPS WEDNESDAY Jun. 6 Wethersfield – Must meet at the Farm & Home Center, Rt.44, Millbrook at 7:30am. Jun. 13 Yellow Frame Farm - Must meet at the Farm & Home Center, Rt.44, Millbrook at 7:30am. Jun. 20 Hopeland Sanctuary (north of Mills Mansion, Staatsburg). Meet there at 8:00am. Jun. 27 Locust Grove, (Samuel Morse Historic Site) *pg. 138. Meet there (Rt. 9, Poughkeepsie) at 8:00am.

Jul. 4 No walk because of Holiday. Jul. 11 Turkey Hollow/Tamarack Preserve *pg. 122. Meet at club house parking lot on Turkey Hollow Rd. (turn off Rt. 44 before Amenia) at 8:00am. Plan to carry lunch. Jul. 18 Pond Gut *pg. 84. Meet there at 8:00am. Jul. 25 Bower Park – North Ave, Pleasant Valley and Swamp on North Ave. Meet at parking lot at 8:00am.

Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for trips call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

* * * WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS ARE ON BACK PAGE * * *

1 Volume 54 Number 5 www.watermanbirdclub.org May 2012

EXECTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 Bluebird Trail Monitor Needed Vice-Presedent: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 We have the opportunity to create a New Bluebird Trail Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 on Seeley Road(off of Clove Rd.)in Union Vale. A Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 Bluebird Trail Monitor is needed. You must visit the Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 Trail Nest Boxes every 7 to 10 days during the breeding Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291 season - end of March to end of August and to keep Committee Chairs records of all activities in the Nest Boxes and to file a Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 report at the end of the breeding season. All Circulation: Chet Vincent 452-3716 maintenance will be done for you and training is Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 available. What a beautiful way to spend a couple of Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 hours each week. If interested please contact me at Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 845-7585796 or email at [email protected] Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Chuck Martinez 896-6455 Thank You. Susan Gilnack NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 Historian: Adrienne Popko/Carrie Grey 229-5967 Book Review Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Publicity: Kateri Kosek – 226-6267 Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Feathers: the evolution of a natural miracle by Thor Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Hanson, published by Basic Books, 2011 Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 Thor Hanson’s latest book is a delight for Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 birders, natural history enthusiasts, or anyone else Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477 interested in these attributes that make birds unique.

Beginning with the evolution of feathers, the book runs through the familiar territory on Archaeopteryx, the President's Column “first bird.” But it also explores fossil evidence that indicates some dinosaurs had feathers, further linking I'm sorry to report that Carena Pooth, who has done the two groups. yeoman's work on our website, will be leaving this Hanson, a field biologist, goes on to write about position as of this coming November. Many thanks to feather structure and function. We all know about her and all her excellent work. Our next step needs to feathers’ insulation quality. He throws in interesting be finding someone who will handle this important facts such as that top quality goose down is two times function. If at all interested, contact me at either 845- as efficient as synthetic materials like Thinsulate and 462-5105 or [email protected]. Polarguard. Some facts are simply incredible. Take for instance that the difference between ambient air Maury Lacher, President temperature and that of a kinglet’s body can be as RT Waterman Bird Club great as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. He naturally launches into a section on flight that details the mechanics and structure that make feathers perfect airfoils, with a look at the special bird In Memory of Amy Clear anatomy and physiology that allow them to fly. Another section deals with the mystique and allure of feathers, not only for bird courtship but for Amy Clear, a club member, died on May 3, 2012. She and her humans as well, from indigenous peoples to Las Vegas daughter, Fran Lucato came on our Wednesday walk’s shortly after showgirls. And, of course, he includes their importance they joined the bird club. Due to other obligations they have not as a fashion statement in women’s hats. So much in been out on a walk in a long time. Over the years I have met Fran demand that feathers bound for the millinery trade— and Amy in the supermarket in Wappingers and we would talk worth more than 2.3 million in today’s currency—were about the bird club trips and the newsletter. They both enjoy the most valuable cargo aboard the ill-fated Titanic. receiving the newsletter each month to read about our walks and Hanson writes in a non-scientific narrative other informative information printed. We send our sympathy to that’s easy to read and with humor. While some of the Fran and her family. I will miss visiting with Amy in the information is a bit technical, he does a good job of supermarket. explaining in the best tradition of popular science writers. In fact, the book is catalogued in many -Barbara Michelin libraries as Young Adult nonfiction. Best of all, he writes with a fascination and wonder that we all share for this miracle of nature.

-Roger Cohn

2 Volume 54 Number 5 www.watermanbirdclub.org May 2012 Name That Bird named Alder Flycatcher, a subspecies of Traill’s. In This sounds like a game. Actually it was played by 1958 it was proposed to be a full species which was America’s leading ornithologists during the nineteenth approved in 1973 at which time Traill’s was renamed century as they attempted to classify native North Willow Flycatcher and Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax American birds. This was mostly before the American alnorum) was added as a full species. Surely Traill’s / Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) was founded in 1883. The Willow and Alder Flycatchers had been seen in the first attempt at a truly complete list of the birds of early 1800s in Pennsylvania but were considered eastern North America was made by Alexander Wilson Acadian Flycatchers. (1766-1813) in 1808 when he published the first of Next to be split from the Acadian were the Yellow- nine volumes of American Ornithology. bellied Flycatcher (Tyrannula flaviventris) and Least Today, some birds are easy to identify, others are Flycatcher (Tyrannula minimus) both published in 1843 more difficult and generally require a brief look at a by Spencer F. Baird (1823-1887) with help from his field guide. But there are others where even the field brother William. The Bairds grew up in Carlisle, Penn. guide seems to be of little help. One of the best where they encountered both flycatchers, and likely the examples of this difficult identification is the Acadian too. In 1840 Baird suspected he had different Empidonax flycatchers. How did Wilson and others flycatchers and wrote to Audubon to resolve his handle its early classification? Here is the story. questions. Baird would become assistant secretary Mark Catesby (1682-1749) documented birds of then director of the Smithsonian Institution. In 1858 southeastern North America beginning in the 1720s. It he published a reorganization of the genera and is likely that he saw Empidonax flycatchers but nomenclature of many North American birds creating a perhaps he felt they were females, or juveniles, or modern foundation which generally remains in use maybe in winter plumage, and thus already included in today. It was at this time that the genus Empidonax his work. On the other hand perhaps he too was was assigned to these flycatchers. confused. For whatever reason he did not document Skipping the details, there are also the western these flycatchers. The first to document one was Empidonax flycatchers, which look like the eastern Thomas Pennant (1726-1798) in 1785 in Arctic Zoology. ones. In 1858 Baird’s Flycatcher was defined as a It was collected in Nova Scotia, by whom is not clear, subspecies of the Yellow-bellied. It was split in 1881 and he named it the Lesser Crested Fly-Catcher. and later renamed the Western Flycatcher. In 1758 Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) of Sweden Subsequently the Cordilleran Flycatcher was split from started renaming birds using a binomial “Latin” system the Western which was then renamed the Pacific-slope for the scientific name of a species. In 1788 Johann Flycatcher. Then there are Hammond’s Flycatcher, the Gmelin (1748-1804) classified and named the Acadian Gray Flycatcher, and Wright’s Flycatcher which was Flycatcher (Muscicapa acadicus), apparently using renamed Dusky Flycatcher to avoid name conflicts. The Pennant’s work as his source. Muscicapa is a genus of Fulvous Flycatcher, renamed Buff-breasted Flycatcher European flycatchers. to match the Mexican name, is far and away the one In 1810 when Wilson reached this species in his easiest to identify given its very orange breast. work, he named it the Small Green-crested Flycatcher There are even more in Mexico which also all look (Muscicapa querula), doing his best to identify it from alike. Indeed there are still a number of subspecies multiple publications and skins in local Philadelphia which may be separate species, and species which may museums. The name continued to change, partly due really be subspecies. Be glad the eastern Empidonax to confusion and partly to increased knowledge. The seem to be settled. And it all started in 1785 with the species name virescens was first used without bird described by Pennant, now thought to have been a ambiguity in 1818 by Louis Vieilott (1748-1831) Least Flycatcher, while the name Acadian is applied to working in France with material he obtained while in the southern species which is not found in its the United States. The genus Empidonax was first used Canadian namesake area. by Jean Louis Cabanis (1816-1906) in 1855, derived There was one more, the Small-headed Flycatcher from Greek to mean “king of the gnats.” But it took of Audubon’s. He collected and painted it in Kentucky until the third edition of the AOU Check-List in 1910 in 1808 but to this day it remains a mystery bird. No before both the scientific and English names were fixed one really knows if it was a now extinct species or a as they remain today, Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax hybrid or something else. virescens). The confusion is obvious when one realizes that in Meanwhile in 1827 William Swainson (1789-1855) the 1700s most birds were identified from a skin often in England identified a skin from western United States long removed from the location where someone else which he named the Little Flycatcher. And in 1828 collected it, so they did not have habitat or a song to John J. Audubon (1785-1851) near the mouth of the consider, just feathers. It is no wonder the Empidonax Arkansas River collected another new flycatcher which genus was regarded initially as one species. By the he named Traill’s Flycatcher (Muscicapa traillii) for 1800s it was more likely that the person who collected Thomas Traill. Various authors considered these as also classified it and, being more aware of what was two species or either one a subspecies of the other, already known, songs and habitat became important both distinct from the Acadian. The first AOU Check- and the number of species multiplied. List in 1886 considered Traill’s a subspecies of the The next time you encounter an Empidonax Little Flycatcher, but the second edition in 1895 flycatcher you may wish for an earlier time when they dropped the Little as not precisely defined. Also in were all just one species, or just agree to call it an 1895 William Brewster (1851-1919) studying Empidonax flycatcher! Now let’s identify some easy flycatchers at Lake Umbagog, Maine determined that sparrows, or would you prefer to do sandpipers? there was another, similar but different, which he -Stan DeOrsey 3 Volume 54 Number 5 www.watermanbirdclub.org May 2012 FIELD TRIPS

Buttercup west Denning’s Point

Wednesday, April 4, 2012, I guess nobody wanted to Wednesday, April 11, 2012. The mystery of the miss Buttercup West because thirty people showed up. Merlin--Merlin? or Merlins? The spotting of a Merlin Let’s not forget that it’s a great place for birding, and landing and perching on a high branch was exciting the weather was beautiful. I love sunny with enough. After one of those wonderfully rare fleeting temperatures 45 – 63 F, and the bugs weren’t biting encounters the Merlin flew and disappeared in the yet. That day we had a bench dedication ceremony. horizon. In what seemed like a matter of minutes, in Waterman Bird Club donated two benches to the same area of trees but some distance away, a Buttercup West. They were dedicated in memory of Merlin was spotted perched and enjoying a Mary and Jim Key charter members of our club. They gastronomic treat. One Merlin or two? devoted thirty years to the club. Mary and Jim were the Was the Merlin of the original sighting carrying prey? strong force behind the newsletter, and Mary started The brief binocular views before landing seemed to the bird hot line. Binnie read an excerpt about them. indicate no prey. The binocular views (and later She and other members who knew the Keys shared photographic evidence) seemed to show prey below the their memories of them with us. Then Binnie threw Merlin on the branch. Could the prey have already daffodils on the water next to where the bench is. been on the branch? As the "first" Merlin flew away is It was a very birdy day as we say. We had 42 species in was not carrying prey. Could the "first" Merlin have all. That morning Song Sparrows were singing returned to get the prey and moved to the second everywhere. Right there in the parking area we had location? In such a short time could the "first" Merlin many birds: a Carolina Wren, 2 Brown-headed have flown, succeeded in acquiring its mid-morning Cowbirds, 3 Pileated Woodpeckers calling loudly and meal (okay, made its kill), secured a comfortable dining chasing each other, and a Turkey Vulture overhead. perch in a nearby area and begun to peck its way We had one Yellow-rumped Warbler as we walked in toward required nutrition? Maybe. but in poor light. Some Wood Ducks in the wetland on Is it likely that two Merlins would be in the same the right got flushed before we even knew they were area? Hummm !??! there. We heard and had good looks at Field and The permutations that would explain the situation Swamp Sparrows. We watched the Red-tailed Hawks were numerous. Fourteen birders contemplated, cruising above us and I watched a Red-shouldered discussed, shrugged shoulders and raised open palms. Hawk too. It took me a while though to see the Palm The conclusion for the official count--one Merlin. Warbler and it wasn’t close. But everybody had the Despite the coolness of the morning, the birders were chance to watch and, even better, to hear the Ruby- treated to sights and sounds of: two Common crowned Kinglet singing. It hopped around in front of Mergansers, one Double-crested Cormorant, three us for a while, and anybody with a camera had a Great Blue Herons, one Cooper's Hawk, two Red-tailed chance to photograph it. The Green-winged Teals were Hawks ( on nest), one Merlin, one Herring Gull, two in the wetland toward the end of the trail where we Mourning Doves, four Red-bellied Woodpeckers, five have the second bench. The tree Swallows were flying Downy Woodpeckers, one Hairy Woodpecker, two and vocalizing. The Northern Flickers seemed to be Northern Flickers, five Eastern Phoebes, four Blue looking for a mate, and the Red-winged Blackbirds Jays, four American Crows, one Fish Crow, one claiming territories. Common Raven, four Black-capped Chickadees, four It was a very birdy day and we were more than ready Tufted Titmice, one White-breasted Nuthatch, two for it. We had 42 species in all: 6 Canada Geese, 7 Carolina Wrens, one Ruby-crowned Kinglet, twenty Wood Ducks, 2 American Black Ducks, 12 Mallards, American Robins, three Northern Mockingbirds, twelve 20 Green-winged Teals, 3 Great Blue Herons, 6 Turkey European Starlings, nine Cedar Waxwings, two Vultures, 2 Sharp-shinned, 2 Red-shouldered, and 4 Chipping Sparrows, one Field Sparrow, four Song Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Mourning Dove, 2 Belted Sparrows, ten White-throated Sparrows, one Dark-eyed Kingfishers, 3 Red-bellied, 2 Downy and 1 Hairy Junco, nine Northern Cardinals, nine Red-winged Woodpeckers, 2 Northern Flickers, 8 Eastern Phoebes, Blackbirds, four Brown-headed Cowbirds, four 7 Blue jays, 5 American Crows, 15 Tree Swallows, 12 American Goldfinches,and our "hope springs eternal"-- Black-capped Chickadees, 4 Tufted Titmice, 5 White- one palm warbler. breasted Nuthatches, 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 4 -Kelly Liao Eastern Bluebirds, 3 American Robins, 2 Cedar Waxwings, 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 5 Field, 1 Fox, Peach Hill 28 Song, 3 Swamp and 1 White-throated Sparrows, 5 Northern Cardinals, 16 Red-winged Blackbirds, 5 Saturday, April 21, 2012. On an overcast morning Common Grackles, 14 Brown-headed Cowbirds, and with temperatures in the 50’s eight members met at 10 American Goldfinches. the parking lot. As we got out of our cars the chorus of bird songs was a welcome sound. We heard and then -Maha Katnani saw 14 Robins, 7 Song, 21 in all White-throated and 4 Chipping Sparrows as we started up the trail. As we continued along the trail we found 3 Red- bellied Woodpeckers, 6 Field Sparrows, 10 Tufted Titmice, 7 Chickadees, many Cardinals – 21in all, 35 4 Volume 54 Number 5 www.watermanbirdclub.org May 2012

Field Trip Notes continued…. In spite of our large number and the inevitable noise that accompanies so many people chatting, we had a Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 White-breasted Nuthatch, 12 successful 46-species day! Goldfinch, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 10 Blue Jay, 8 -Shelly Redl Mourning Doves, 5 Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, 4 Palm Pond Gut Warblers, 2 Grackles, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, 2 Hermit Thrush, 6 Bluebirds, 4 Mockingbird, 5 American Crow, Sunday, April 29, 2012. Eight members and Chet’s 1 Downy Woodpecker and to our surprise 5 Fish Crow daughter, Betsy, met at the parking lot on a cool flyover head. New species that migrated in were: 4 morning. On the way in Allan and I heard a Louisiana House Wrens, 11 Eastern Towhee, 1 Black and White Waterthrush singing and heard a second one further Warbler, 22 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 8 Brown up the trail. Over the swamp we saw an Osprey and a Thrashers, and 2 Catbirds. Great Blue Heron flew by. As we started up the trail we Coming down the back trail we had 4 Wild Turkey heard and saw by the swamp and small pond 2 walking across the trail and a Tree and a Barn Swallow Mallards, 1 Wood Duck fly by, 4 Song, 3 Swamp, and 4 were working the field. Also a Flicker and Eastern Chipping Sparrows, 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 4 Phoebe were seen. Overhead were 2 Black Vultures, a Robins, 2 Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, 6 Chickadee, 2 Red-tailed Hawk and a Great Blue Heron flew by. We Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Bluebird, and 4 Red-winged also had flocks of Canada Geese flying by – a total of Blackbirds and we heard 2 Pileated Woodpeckers and a 52 in all. Common Raven. A good morning to be our birding as migration Further up the trail we found 4 Blue-headed Vireos, begins. 3 Ovenbirds, 1 Pine Warbler, 5 Black and White -Barbara Michelin Warblers, 4 Tufted Titmice, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 5 Cowbirds, 2 White-breasted Nuthatch, 3 Blue Jays, 3 Rockefeller University Field Research Hermit Thrush, 1 Eastern Phoebe, 1 Black-throated Green Warbler, 1 Flicker, 1 Junco, 1 White-throated Center Sparrow and we heard 3 Worm-eating Warblers but not to be seen. Carol and a few others flushed up an owl Wednesday, April 25, 2012. A very large group of but were not sure if it was a Barred or Great Horned. birders, 25 as counted, gathered at the parking lot To end the day a Turkey Vulture flew overhead. while listening to a House Wren singing beautifully Some members brought lunch and we drove over to nearby. Birding there before we started up the road Freedom Park. We ate at a picnic table and watched a yielded a Tree Swallow, Goldfinches, Red-winged Phoebe working the lawn for bugs as temperatures had Blackbird, Cowbirds and a pair of Mallards (later seen warmed up. on the first pond). As we got moving, the first group of -Barbara Michelin birds encountered was Shaw field/pond and Bontecou

Yellow-rumped Warblers. They appeared in small Wetlands. groups regularly throughout the walk for a total of 18. We also had a fair number of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers Saturday, April 28, 2012: Eleven participants began (6 total) being heard regularly and a few were spotted our walk at Shaw Field with sunny skies and 32 degree as well. One of the most numerous birds heard singing temperature. Initially it seemed the birds were as was the Towhee. Mostly their single note call, but thrilled with the chilly morning as we were. Upon occasionally the full song and two or three obliged us parking, we were greeted by two Eastern Towhee-one with a look. male, one female as well as two Northern On the ponds, there were four rather loud Canada Mockingbirds. As it began to warm up a bit, the birds Geese making it hard to hear the warblers, but a Black became more active. We were thrilled to see Yellow and White was picked out though not seen. One pond Warbler and were briefly hopeful that we had a also had 6 Wood Ducks, otherwise the water was Chestnut-sided Warbler, however, it proved to be a lacking bird activity. Yellow Warbler displaying its many vocal talents. A few Bluebirds were spotted around the fields where There was also a sparrow that we were unable to the nest boxes are located along with Field and identify-looking quite a bit like a Savannah Sparrow Chipping Sparrows, Mourning Doves near their nest without the yellow superciliary stripe. and a flock of 20 Waxwings flew overhead. A Warbling As we made our way toward the edge of Shaw pond, Vireo was heard very nearby, but no one was able to there were several Brown headed Cowbird, Field spot it. Also heard but not seen were a Turkey, Purple Sparrow, Common Grackle, and American Goldfinch Finch, Great Crested Flycatcher, Barred Owl and Pine but the highlight was a soaring Osprey and immature Warbler. Bald Eagle. There was not much activity on the pond Twice a Blue-headed Vireo was heard and a few people itself-a couple of Mallard, a lone Killdeer as well as a did get a glimpse of one that was well hidden in some few Tree Swallow. shrubbery along with some Palm Warblers. Then we The final tally of birds for Shaw field/pond: Canada heard a song that reminded me of a partial Cardinal’s Goose-6, Wood Duck-3, Mallard-2, Osprey-1, Bald and a few people questioned what it was, then someone Eagle-1, Red-tailed Hawk-1, Killdeer-1, Downy spotted a Purple Martin flying past overhead and it was Woodpecker-1, Northern Flicker-1, Blue Jay-3, determined that the song had been his. American Crow-1, Tree Swallow-5, Barn Swallow-1, 5 Volume 54 Number 5 www.watermanbirdclub.org May 2012

Field Trip Notes continued…. throated Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Goldfinch, Blue Jay, Chickadee, Catbird, Cowbird, Rose-breasted Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet-1, Grosbeak and heard a Flicker and Red-bellied American Robin-8, Northern Mockingbird-2, Yellow Woodpeckers. Along the road to the Herbert Cemetery Warbler-3, Eastern Towhee-2, Field Sparrow-4, Song we had White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, a Sparrow-7, White-throated Sparrow-7, Northern Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a Winter Wren, Nashville Cardinal-1, Red-winged Blackbird-4, Common Grackle Warbler, Veery, a Common Yellowthroat, and a Downy -2, Brown-headed Cowbird-12, American Goldfinch-6. Woodpecker. Overhead some saw a Broad-winged We then went to Bontecou Wetlands where we were Hawk and a Turkey Vulture. immediately greeted by two Red-tailed Hawks and Our young birder, Eamon Freiburger, was glad to several American Crow. As we scoped the pond, add a few new birds to his life list and bone up on his Barbara Butler noted Cliff Swallow among the many bird songs for the World Series of Birding on May 12th Tree Swallow-a special treat for many of us. Across the in New Jersey. road, in the wetland area, a Green Heron and Northern There were 2 Mallards in the lake but no shorebirds Waterthrush were present. Also noted in this area to be found along the shoreline. were a Blue-headed Vireo, a Warbling Vireo, several As we walk back down to our cars to go over to Iona Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Belted Kingfisher. Island we found a female Mallard with 3 tiny cute Highlights as we made our way around the trail were a ducklings swimming in the creek by Rt. 9W. baby Wood Turtle, a very large beaver dam, a Great Before lunch at Iona Island we saw a Orchard Oriole, Blue Heron in flight, several Palm Warbler, and three Brown Thrasher, Robins, Tree Swallows, Yellow Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Warbler, Red-winged Blackbirds, and heard a Field The final tally of birds for Bontecou Wetlands: Canada Sparrow, Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireos and a Goose-1, Wood Duck-4, Mallard-6, Great Blue Heron- Killdeer by the kiosk. 1, Green Heron-1, Turkey Vulture-2, Red-tailed Hawk- After lunch we drive to Mine Road. A Pileated 2, Killdeer-1, Mourning Dove-2, Belted Kingfisher-1, Woodpecker flew over the car on our way to see if we Red-bellied Woodpecker-3, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-3, could find a Golden-winged Warbler. No luck, but we Downy Woodpecker-2, Northern Flicker-3, Eastern found a few Blue-winged Warblers and a Brewster’s Phoebe-3, Blue-headed Vireo-1, Warbling Vireo-1, Warbler – a Hybrid. Other birds found 4 Black and American Crow-10, Tree Swallow-50, Cliff Swallow-2, White Warbler, Phoebe, Scarlet Tanager, Great Crested Barn Swallow-4, Black-capped Chickadee-1, Eastern Flycatcher, Indigo Buntings, Chickadee, Tufted Titmice Bluebird-4, American Robin-15, Northern and a Prairie Warbler. We heard Yellow-throated and Waterthrush-1, Yellow Warbler-2, Palm Warbler-7, Red-eyed Vireos, Yellow and Hooded Warblers, Blue- Yellow-rumped Warbler-9, Eastern Towhee-1, Field gray Gnatcatcher, Cardinal, Baltimore Oriole, Common Sparrow-2, Song Sparrow-8, Northern Cardinal-1, Red- Yellowthroat and a Belted Kingfisher at the lake. winged Blackbird-19, Common Grackle-4, Brown- Looking to the ridge we saw 4 Turkey Vultures and a headed Cowbird-1, American Goldfinch-2. Red-tailed Hawk. Aimee was the only one to see a By the time we ended our walk with lunch at my Magnolia Warbler before we headed home. house, the temperature had finally reached 60 As we crossed the Bear Mt. Bridge we saw 2 Black degrees. Maybe spring really will make an appearance! Vultures. A nice way to end a great day of birding.

-Adrienne Popko -Barbara Michelin Doodletown

Sunday, May 6, 2012. Two cars drove down to Doodletown and 3 other members plus our friend and There will be no April 2012 Records in this past member, Russ O’Malley, met us there for a total of issue because of the early publication date and 11 people in our group. With the trees leafed out it was May 21st. meeting. Look for the April records sometimes hard to find the birds we could hear in the June 2012 issue. singing. We heard a Warbling Vireo and a Yellow Warbler singing as we got out of our cars. As we started up the trail we heard a Baltimore Oriole and a Wood Thrush. Please e-mail May records ASAP/early June to There were many Hooded and Cerulean Warblers [email protected] singing and we had good looks at both warblers. One Or send via US mail to Barbara Butler, 55 Old Cerulean Warbler was seen at eye level by most in the group. Other birds found were a female Tennessee Camby Rd, Verbank, NY 12585 Warbler, several Blue-winged Warblers, a few Redstarts, an Indigo Bunting, and a Northern Parula Warbler. We heard a Worm-eating Warbler but never saw it, a few Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos and a Louisiana Waterthrush. We saw 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in 2 different areas. Added to our list were Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Phoebe, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers, Black and White Warbler, Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, White- 6 Volume 54 Number 5 www.watermanbirdclub.org May 2012

2012 World Series of Birding

MEMBERSHIP FORM It was only a month ago today veteran Diving Dabblers Mark Boyd, Adam Sabatine and myself Name(s) ______agreed we would make another run in the World Series of Birding. About 8 days later we lost our buddy Street ______Adam. Mark and I had known Adam since he was a 12 year old kid attending trips with the Golden Eagle Bird City ______

Club and Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. Needless to State ______Zip ______Phone ______say we will miss him dearly…as will the Golden-winged Warblers and other birds he studied. Email ______Mark and I decided Adam would have wanted us to do it without him so we decided to carry on. Former 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______teammate and brother, Matt Sabatine is unavailable as he is doing bird research in Arizona. Fortunately, Kevin Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______

Ripka stepped up for the challenge. Kevin was on the Club Patch $3.00 ______2010 team and is a resident of Dallas, Pa. He works for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______As I type this the event is 1 day 14 hours and 22 minutes away. So by the time you read we will have Total Enclosed ______another WSB under our belt. With great results we hope! We are asking for any and all pledges to go to Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Send completed form and check to: Steve Golladay, the New York State Young Birders Club. This seems Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 fitting as we met Adam as a young birder and know the influence adults can have on the future of young birders. Please make checks payable to NYSOA with NYSYBC WSB on the memo line. Then mail to Carena Pooth or bring to the May meeting. Thanks once again $2000 to 6 young birders. This year we hope to be able for your support!! to sponsor more young birders to help turn their -Rodney Johnson current passion into a lifelong pursuit.

Please consider helping the NYSYBC scholarship The World Series of Birding – Support program. Please send your check to me, Carena Our Team! Pooth, at the address below. Your check should be made out to NYSOA with "NYSYBC WSB - RTWBC" in the memo line. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE CHECKS Rodney Johnson will once again be leading the Ralph PAYABLE TO RTWBC. T. Waterman Bird Club's Diving Dabblers team at the World Series of Birding. The World Series is the If you prefer, you may make your donation online with premier conservation fundraising event of the birding a credit card. To do this, go to community in America. www.nysyoungbirders.org and click on DONATE in the

banner menu at the top of the page. When you are on Once again this year, RTWBC has chosen the New York the final Paypal “review your donation” screen, be sure State Young Birders Club (NYSYBC) to be the recipient to click "Add instructions for NYSOA/NYSYBC" and of the funds raised by Rodney and his team at the then type the instructions "RTWBC WSB" before you World Series. submit your donation.

As Adult Chair of NYSYBC, I am asking for your Thank you so much for your support! support of the young birders via a pledge or Carena Pooth contribution sponsoring the RTWBC Diving Dabblers 22 Brothers Rd. team. All such donations will be placed in NYSYBC's Poughquag, NY 12570 Education/Scholarship Fund. As Jacob Drucker, one [email protected] of NYSYBC's Charter Youth Members, said, "One of the fantastic things about NYSYBC is that it provides scholarships to its youth members, covering expenses for birding adventures that might not have been otherwise possible."

NYSYBC has grown from 8 in 2008 to 30 today (not including the 2 charter members who just turned 20!). We'd like to be able to give as many scholarships as possible. These scholarships help young birders to participate in birding camps and other educational programs related to birds and conservation. In each of the last 2 years, we have awarded a total of almost 7 Volume 54 Number 5 www.watermanbirdclub.org May 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 FIRST CLASS

President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 [email protected] Janet Allison 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected]

Sat. July 28 Cary/IES – Leader: Barbara WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS Michelin. Meet at the Gifford House Sat. Jun. 9 Southlands Farms - Leader: Mona parking lot on Rt. 44 (was 44A) Payton. Meet at main parking lot on Millbrook at 8:00am. left side of Rt. 9, Rhinebeck at office at 9:00am. If you plan to attend call Mona @ 876-2836. For Weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch Sat. Jun. 23 Birds and Butterflies @ Cary/IES. and beverage. If car pooling to out of county trips Leader: Barry Haydasz. Please meet please contribute towards gas for trip. Rain cancels the him at 9:00am at the Gifford House walk. Any questions call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 parking lot. or trip leader. (* Listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess Sat. Jun. 30 Pawling Nature Reserve – Leaders: County or can be found at Ken and Carol Fredericks. Meet at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) parking lot at 8:00am. Notice: Due to family illness the weekend field Sun. July 1 Buttercup West *pg. 22 – Leader: trips may have leader changes to cover for me when I Alan Peterson. Meet at parking lot am out of town. Please check your Wings issue each (Stissing Mt. Ln. & right on Stissing month to note any changes. Thank you. Mt. Rd. - off Rt.82, Pine Plains) at Barbara Michelin 8:00am. Sat. July 7 Vassar Farm – Leader: Ken & Carol Fredericks. Meet at barns at 8:00am. The next Wings deadline is Jun. 11, 2012. Please send articles to Barbara Sat. July 14 Town of Clinton's Nature Trail – Michelin and copies to Janet Allison & Leader: Barbara Mansell. Meet at the Clinton Town Hall, 1215 Centre Road Chuck Martinez. Contact information is (County Route 18, north of on this page. Schultzville) at 10:00am. A joint trip with Clinton CAC.

8 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

June 2012 MEETING

This months meeting will be our annual picnic on Monday, 25, 2012 at Stony Kill Environmental Center, Rt. 9D, Wappingers Falls starting at 5:30pm. This is a special Members Only and their families joint program with Stony Kill Foundation and Putnam Highlands Audubon Society. Please bring a picnic supper and drink for your meal and dessert to share. Our program presentation will be: “Citizen science: How you can make a difference” by Jason Martin and Suzanne Beyeler.

Jason Martin is Project Leader – NestWatch, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Suzanne Beyeler works with Biodiversity Monitoring Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program/Cornell University.

We hope you will join us rain or shine. -Binnie Chase

JULY & AUGUST 2012 FIELD TRIPS WEDNESDAY Jul. 4 No walk because of Holiday. Jul. 11 Turkey Hollow/Tamarack Preserve *pg. 122. Meet at club house parking lot on Turkey Hollow Rd. (turn off Rt. 44 before Amenia) at 8:00am. Plan to carry lunch. Jul. 18 Pond Gut *pg. 84. Meet there at 8:00am. Jul. 25 Bower Park – North Ave, Pleasant Valley and Swamp on North Ave. Meet at parking lot at 8:00am. Aug. 1 Whitlock Preserve, Stanfordville. Meet there at 8:00am. Directions: off Rt. 82, turn right onto Knight Rd. and look for sign to Preserve on left. Aug. 8 Madame Brett. Meet at parking lot on Tioronda Ave, Beacon at 8:00am. Directions: Take Rte.9D south into Beacon. At traffic light intersection of 9D and Tioronda Ave. (before bridge on 9D), go right (BPOE Club is on left corner). Continue on Tioronda Ave. past old warehouses, and turn left under the old railroad bridge. Parking lot is on left. Aug. 15 Buttercup East *pg. 22. Meet at parking lot on Rt. 82 at 8:00am. Aug. 22 Southern Dutchess Rail Trail. Meet at new parking lot, Rt. 376 (just south of old parking lot), Hopewell Jct. at old train station at 8:00am. Aug. 29 Andrew Haight Road *pg. 10. Meet at Farm & Home Rt. 44, Millbrook at 8:00am

Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for trips call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

* * * WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS ARE ON BACK PAGE * * * 1 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

EXECTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 World Series of Birding 2012 – President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 NYSYBC Results Vice-Presedent: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 The two NYSYBC (New York State Young Birders Club) Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 youth teams were less experienced this year than the Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 ones that competed in the previous 3 World Series Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 events. But what they lacked in experience was made Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291 Committee Chairs up for in enthusiasm! They are already talking about Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 ways to prepare for next year. Circulation: Chet Vincent 452-3716 Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 The high school Razorbills, who birded all of New Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 Jersey during the WSB, found 133 species without any Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 guided advance scouting or even experience birding all Barbara Michelin 297-6701 of New Jersey. The middle school Vagrants, who Chuck Martinez 896-6455 covered only Cape May County, benefited from several NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 days of expert scouting with Herb Thompson and Mary Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 Batcheller just before the event and netted 129 species. Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 Most important, everyone had a great time and learned Historian: Adrienne Popko/Carrie Grey 229-5967 a lot! Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Publicity: Kateri Kosek – 226-6267 Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Many thanks to Rodney Johnson and his team Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 (representing RTWBC) for their hard work and very Barry Haydasz 266-8084 successful run! They came in third, winning the Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 coveted Stearns award with 193 species. I'd like to add Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 a personal note of thanks to Rodney for using part of Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477 his time at Pete Dunne's WSB Awards Brunch to highlight his (and RTWBC's) support of NYSYBC to all of this year's WSB teams gathered there. CALL FOR NEW WEBMASTER I also wish to thank the very generous RTWBC As you all know, the Club has an excellent website due members who have sent in donations for the NYSYBC to the efforts of Carena Pooth, who has managed the Scholarship Fund. The WSB is NYSYBC's main site for many years. However, as of this coming fundraising activity each year, and we use the monies November, Carena will no longer be able to continue collected to help young birders attend educational this important service for our club. We now need a camps and other programs that serve to cement their member to take on the position. Meanwhile Carena is passion and commitment to wild birds and working to eliminate some of the unnecessary and conservation. These fine young people ARE the future. unused parts of the site so as to simplify its maintenance. Anyone interested in the position please contact me- ([email protected] or 845-462- It's not too late to chip in if you haven't already done so 5105) as soon as possible. Carena is also available to this year! Please consider helping the NYSYBC answer specific questions about the site or the scholarship program and send your check to me, position. Carena Pooth, at the address below. Your check should be made out to NYSOA with "NYSYBC WSB - The website has been a wonderful asset to our club, RTWBC" in the memo line. and we need a member who will continue with this important function. We also need to thank Carena for If you prefer, you may make your donation online with the excellent service she has given to our club a credit card. To do this, go to nysyoungbirders.org and click on DONATE in the banner menu at the top of the -Maury Lacher page. When you are on the final Paypal “review your donation” screen, be sure to click "Add instructions for NYSOA/NYSYBC" and then type the instructions Stony Kill Foundation Event: Join us on "NYSYBC WSB - RTWBC" before you submit your Sunday, June 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the historic donation. Hudson River home (15 Main Street, New Hamburg - park in the train station and walk thru the tunnel) of Thank you so much for your support! one of our members for a Beer Tasting Event to benefit Stony Kill Foundation! Bill Woodring, President of the Hudson Valley Beer and Food Festival, Inc. will pair Carena Pooth, NYSYBC Adult Chair local cheeses with speciality beers. Tickets are $25.00 22 Brothers Rd. each and can be obtained by emailing or calling, Poughquag, NY 12570 [email protected] or 845-242-3184. See you [email protected] there!

2 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

April 2012 Records Osprey: 4 rpts; 1/13 North Tivoli Bay SR/PS; 1/14 DRT to Lk Walton MHB Russ O'Malley; 1/15 yd Clinton Corners JA; Snow Goose: 2/6 Greig Fm SR/PS; 2/25 Mashomack CV 2/20 Tivoli Bays SR/PS; 1/25 Reese Pk KH; 2/25 Canada Goose: Seen throughout county by most reporters; Mashomack CV; 1/27 Tamarack Lk AMP; 1/28 Buttercup JA; 57 reports, avg 5 ea; most: 200/9 Strever Pd CV, 150/25 1/28 Shaw Field, Shunpike Rd FT Mashomack CV. Bald Eagle: 9 rpts; 2/1 Thompson Pd AlP; 1/1, 14 Norrie Pt. Mute Swan: 67 reports of 1-2 by BJM, BAM,CV; most:11/11 CV; 1/4,9 Thompson Pd CV; 1ad/6 & 17 on nest Twn. Pok. Bontecou Lk DK; 14/22, 21/29 Shuman Rd, Millbrook & 22/27 AJM,BAM; 1/6 Red Hook Res Center MD; 2/5 Denning’s Pt. Tamarack Lk AMP. KH; 1/12 Pl Valley BoB, 1/14 Wapp Creek, Salt Pt BoB; 1/27 Wood Duck: 36 rpts, avg 2 ea; 58 reports of 1-2 by most Bowdoin Pk KCF;1/28 CIES WLS; 1/28 Shaw Pd Field FT observers; most: 6/18 CIES KH; 8/24 Buttercup ESh; 6/25 Northern Harrier: 3 rpts: 1/9 Tivoli MM; 3/13 North Tivoli Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT. Bay SR/PS; 1/14 Tivoli Bays WMA WLS. American Black Duck: 7 rpts, avg 2 ea; 2/2,5 Traver Pd Sharp-shinned Hawk: 2 rpts; 1/4 CIES DK; 2/4 Buttercup CV;2/4 Buttercup West FT; 2/12 Willowbrook Fm CV8/14 West FT; 1/6 Dutchess RT CV; 1/18 CIES KH; 1/26 Rombout Tivoli Bays WMA WLS Rd. CV; 1/27 HVRT CV Mallard: Seen by most throughout county; 64 rpts, avg 5 ea.; Cooper’s Hawk: 14 rpts; 1/6, 1/11,19 & 28-30 yd. BAM; 2/11 Wapp Creek BAM; 6/28 Hillside Lk BAM 1/17 Tivoli Bays – Bard Campus Esh; 1/10 Rombout Rd. CV; Green-winged Teal: 5 rpts, avg 6 ea; 20/4 Buttercup West 1/13 Wapp Rural Cem. KH; 1/16 Nuclear Lk CP/BB; 1/20 (on FT; 45/9, 30+/18 Strever Rd Pd BJM; 10/25 Strever Farm Rd nest) Nuclear Lk KCF; 1/24 yd CV; 1/30 Gold’s Gym Rail CV; 28/12 Willowbrook Farm CV; 2/20 Tivoli Bays SR/PS Trail JA/KJ; Ring-necked Duck: 2/4 Shuman Rd, Millbrook & 21/4 Red-shouldered Hawk: 4 rpts; 1/5 & 9 over A&P Plaza Bangal Amenia Rd, Millbrook AMP; 2/4 Abel’s Pd BB; 6/2, Hopewell Jct. BJM; 2/15-17,27 & 3/20 over yd. BAM; 2/4 2/6 5/5 Traver Pd, 38/4 Thompson Pd CV; 18/9 Lk. Walton BJM; Locust Grove KH; 1/6,26 Pond Gut CV; 1/8 18 Platt Ave JC; 2/16 Nuclear Lk CP/BB 2/14 Norrie Point CV; 1/30 Val Kill KH Bufflehead: 2/2 Traver Pd CV; 1/25 Mashomack CV. Broad-winged Hawk: FOS: 1/13 All Angel Hill Rd, BJM; Hooded Merganser: 6 rpts, avg 2 ea, 2 (m/f)/26 off Stone 4/15 CIES WLS; 1/16 Fishkill yd MHB Russ O'Malley; 2/16 House Rd. BB; 1/26 CIES JA; 2/26 CIES DK; 2/27 Duell Rd Nuclear Lk CP/BB; 1/17 CIES Pine Trail LDS; 1/20 CIES CV; Beaver Pd DK; 2/30 CIES WLS 1/21 CIES AMP; 3/21 yd Clinton Corners JA; 1/25 Pd View Common Merganser: 20 rpts, a ve 2 ea; 1/2 CIES DK; 8/1 Farm CV: 3/28 Amenia Twn Hall JD; 1/29 Buttercup West Mills CV; 2/11 Dennings Pt. FT; 7/12 Willowbrook Farm CV; NYB Rhindress 9/7 Fisherman’s Pk KH; 1/18 CIES KH; 2/24 CIES DK; 2/25 Red-tailed Hawk: Many sightings throughout county, 60 Shekomoko CV; 1/26 CIES JA; 4/30 CIES WLS. eBird reports; 3/2 Travers Pd, CV; 3/11 CIES DK; 4/25 Red-breasted Merganser: 2/14 Tivoli Bays WMA WLS. Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT; 3/28 Overlook Rd & Birch Hill Ring-necked Pheasant: 9 rpts, avg 1 each; 2/4 CIES KH; Dr; 2/17 Andrew Haight Rd. AMP. American Kestrel: 20 rpts; 2/1, 3/15 Ludlow Wds Rd. DK; Wild Turkey: 37 rpts – avg 3 ea. well reported by KCF,BJM, 2/1 Mills CV; 3/4 CIES DK; 2/4, 1/11 CIES DK; 4/8 CIES BAM; most: 11/1 Ludlow Wds Rd. DK; 7/4 Green Haven AMP; 1/23,30 Sleight Plass Rd CV; 1/29 Salt Pt Tpk, BB; 6/10 Stonykill CV; 15/18 CIES KH; 9/26 Rombout Rd. Stanford JA/DK. CV. Merlin: 1/11 Dennings Pt FT. Pied-billed Grebe: 1/4,9 Overlook Pk CV;1/4 Mud Pd CV; Peregrine Falcon: 1/ 4 River Paddle SR. 1/22 Shuman Rd Millbrook AMP. Virginia Rail: 1/ 4 River Paddle SR; 1 h/13 evening at Double-crested Cormorant: 6 rpts. Avg 4 ea; 2/1 Mills CV; Madam Brett Curt McDermott; 1/21 Salisbury Turnpike ND; 1/3 Fisherman’s Pk KH; 7/4 Shuman Rd. AMP; 10/8 Waryas 1/27 HVRT CV. Pk CV; 7/11 Bontecou Lk DK; 5/14 Norrie Pt. CV; 1/20 American Coot: 1/14 Tivoli Bays WMA WLS. Nuclear LK KCF. Killdeer: 11 rpts: 1/1,5 6/9, 1/14 Tivoli Bays WMA WLS; 1/6 American Bittern: 1/22 Thompson Pd Erik Kiviat; 1/27 BBT/Humeston Farm BJM; 1/9,24 & 3ad/2yg./30 BBT/Secor HVRT – flew/landed in marsh CV. Robinson Ln. BJM; 26/23 No Mabettsville Rd. AMP; 2/20 Great Blue Heron: 35 rpts, avg 1 ea; 35 reports of 1-2 by Riverside Trail Beacon ES; 2/28 Overlook Pk CV 1/28 Klara JA/KJ,BB,KCF,BJM, BAM, CV,1/2 CIES - people tolerant, Sauer Trail KH. feeding in small pond for about a week, photographed closely Wilson’s Snipe: 4rpts – avg 3 each; 1/2 Travers Pd CV; 1/6 by many DK; most: 3/ 4 Buttercup West FT; 4/8 on nest Rockefeller Lane MD; 3/28, 2/30 CIES WLS. Taconic/Baird Pk. BJM; 3/8 Platt Ave. JC; 3/11 Taconic American Woodcock: 1/5 CIES WLS. Pkwy (near Baird SP) AMP. Ring-billed Gull: Normal numbers KH; 1/ 4 River Paddle Green Heron: 1/28 Bontecou Wetland Area FT; 1/29 SR; 1/3 Stop & Shop Pok AMP. Buttercup JA. Herring Gull: 1/11 Dennings Pt FT; 1/6 Red Hook Res Ctr Black-crowned Night Heron: 1/29 Buttercup JA, TR, also MD reported by WLS, 1/30 Buttercup West NYB Rhindress. Great Black-backed Gull: 1/13 North Tivoli Bay SR/PS. Black Vulture: 6/3 Dennings Pt. CV; 1/8 Mills Mansion SB; Rock Pigeon: Seen throughout county, usual numbers 1/9 No Mabbettsville Rd. AMP; 2/16 Nuclear Lk CP/BB; 2/21 Mourning Dove: 93 rpts, avg 4 ea; 42 reported of 1-4 by Peach Hill Pk FT; 2/21 Myers Corners Rd. Wapp. BJM; 3/21 JA/KJ,BB,KH,BAM, most: 5-8/all yd KCF; 19/8 Haight Rd Rt.376 Red Oaks Mill BAM; 3/25 Pd View Farm CV. AMP. Turkey Vulture: Many sightings reported – 54 rpts avg 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 1/30 Val Kill KH. each; most: 10/4, 9 Thompson Pd CV; 6/13 2 Top 'O Hill Rd. Eastern Screech Owl: 1/25 Creek Rd. KH. & 4 Myers Corners Rd. BJM; 8/21 Peach Hill Pk FT Great Horned Owl: 1/6 on nest Pok Rural Cem. KH, also seen by AJM; 2/16 yg. in nest Twn. Pok. BAM; 2 owlets nest/21 Red Hook DG.

3 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

April 2012 records continued…. Barn Swallow: FOS 1/8 Mills Mansion SB; 2/18 CIES KH; 3/20 Vassar College BW ;4/25 Creek Rd. KH;15/26 Kidd Barred Owl: 5 rpts; 2/1, 1/16 N Mabbettsville Rd. AMP; Lane LS; 4/28 Beacon Waterfront KH; 25/28 Dennings Pt. 1h/occ yd KCF; 1/4,20,25 nest cavity Stissing Mt. Rd, CV; 1/5 KH; 1/30 Peach Hill KCF;1/30 BBT/Wapp. BJM CIES CV; 1/9,16 yd CV; 1h/13 yd JA/KJ; 1/9 Tivoli Loop SR; Black-capped Chickadee: Well represented throughout 1/14 Tivoli greatBays WMA WLS; 1/21 perched on branch, county. 103 rpts avg 5 ea. Pok MHB Gum; 1/25 Rockefeller U Field Sta FT; 1/27 Tufted Titmouse: Well represented throughout county – StonyKill, N Freedom Trail ALB; 1/30 PNR GZ; most: 5/17 Reese Twn. Pk. Wapp. BAM Chimney Swift: 1 rpt eBird; 30/28 Amenia Twn Hall JD; 1/28 White-breasted Nuthatch: eBird 68 rpts; 40 reports of 1-4 Dennings Pt. KH; 3/30 Val-Kill KH. by KCF,KH,BAM,CV; most: 8/4,16 NMabbettsville Rd AMP; Belted Kingfisher: eBird 15 rpts; 18 reports of 1-2 by 7/10 Tivoli Bays - Bard Campus ESh; DK,BAM,AMP, WLS, CV & 1 FT; most: 3/12 & 1/26 CIES Brown Creeper: 4/9 Buttercup ESh; 2/5 IBM Pok JY; 1/21 JA. Peach Hill Pk FT Red-bellied Woodpecker: eBird 91 rpts; seen regularly Carolina Wren: 48 rpts, 1 - 2 daily; 1 hatched 2 eggs did not throughout county; 36 reports of 1-3 by BB/CP,KCF,KH,DK, - nest in newspaper tube the paper delivery people have BAM,CV; & 1 FT; most: 6/14 Norrie Pt CV; 8/18 Platt Ave been very cooperative in not putting the paper in the box and JS. using the substitute container for the paper delivery yd Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: eBird-6 rpts; 29 reports of 1-4 by JA/KJ; 2/all (nest inside barn) DK; 2 all yd. BAM; 5/6 DRT BAM,AMP, CP/HT,CV, & 1FT; most: 6/16 Nuclear Lk CV; 7/10 Tivoli Bays - Bard Campus Esh; 4/14,2/24 Norrie CP/BB; 6/20 Nuclear Lk KCF. Pt; CV; 3/18 CIES KH Downy Woodpecker: eBird 76 rpts; Seen regularly House Wren: 15 rpts, avg 2 ea; FOS1/16-20 & 2/21-30 yd. throughout county by most; 5/11 Dennings Pt. FT; 6/13 N BAM; 1/16 yd Millbrook WLS; 1/17-30 yd Poughquag CP; Mabbettsville Rd. AMP. 2/16 & 1/30 BBT/BJM; 4/21 Peach Hill Pk FT; 4/26 Rombout Hairy Woodpecker: eBird 34 rpts; 1-2 all Daley Rd HT; 2 all Rd. CV; 10/30 Peach Hill KCF yd. BAM; 1/2,26 yd CV; 1/6 DRT CV; 2/13 N. Mabbettsville Winter Wren: 7 rpts, avg 1 ea; 1/1 Thompson Pd AP; 1/5 yd Rd. AMP; 2/8 Sewage Tx plant area JV; 1/14 Norrie Pt CV; Poughquag CP; 2/6 Locust Grove KH; 1/30 Millbrook DFa; 1/18 CIES KH; 1/22 Reese Twn. Pk. Wapp. AJM. 1/12, 1/17 Cary Pines Trl LDS; 1/13 Fern Glen, Cary IES Northern Flicker: eBird 54 rpts; 36 reports of 1-3 by LDS; 1/14 DRT to Lk Walton MHB Russ O'Malley; 1/27 KCF,AJM,BJM; most: 6/5;2/6 Locust Grove KH; 4/8 N Ridge Rd, Dover Plns HT Mabbettsville Rd. AMP. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 10 rpts, avg 2 ea; FOS 1/8,17 yd. Pileated Woodpecker: eBird 33 rpts; 21 reports of 1-2 by BJM; 3/15 Pond Gut GZ; 5/20 Nuclear Lk KCF; 5/21 Peach BB/CP,KCF,KH,BAM, BJM,CV; most: 3/ 4 Buttercup West Hill Pk FT; 1/23 Wilcox Pk JA; 2/24 Norrie Pt. CV; 6/25 FT; 3/5 IBM Pok JY; 3/8 Platt Ave. JC. Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT; 2/26 Pond Gut CV; 2/30 Eastern Phoebe: eBird - 78 rpts; 52 reports of 1-3 by Buttercup West CV; 6/29 Buttercup JA; 1/29 Buttercup West KH,DK,BAM,BJM,PS; most: 6/5, Vassar Farm CV; 8/4 NYB Rhindress Buttercup West FT; 4/18 CIES KH; 4/6 DRT CV; 4/14 Norrie Golden-crowned Kinglet: 9 rpts, avg 2 ea; 2/3 Dennings Pt. CV; 4/19 Pok Cem KCF; Point CV; 5/4 Buttercup West FT; 5/15 Tivoli Bays MM/LS. Great Crested Flycatcher: 1/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta Ruby-Crowned Kinglet: 14 rpts, avg 2 ea; FOS 1/4, 1/18 FT; 1/30 Kaatsbaan PS CIES KH; 4/17 Cary Pines Trl LDS; 2/27 Bowdoin Pk KCF; Eastern Kingbird: FOS –1/30 CIES CV. 1/29 Buttercup JA; 1/29 Buttercup WLS; 1/30 Peach Hill Yellow-throated Vireo: FOS - 1/30 Val-Kill KH. KCF. Blue-headed Vireo: eBird- 5 rpts; 8 reports of 1-2 by Eastern Bluebird: 79 rpts, avg 3 ea; 10/5,2/28 Vassar Farm JA,BB/CP,KCF,PS, WLS; 2/25 Rockefeller U Field Sta FT. CV; 6/9, 1/18 field n of Dinsmore GC Jerry Gilnack; 5/18 Warbling Vireo: FOS 1/24 Buttercup Esh; 13 reports of 1-2 CIES KH; 6/21 CIES AMP; 8/5 IBM Pok JY; 6/13 NMabbetts- by KH,BAM,HT,WLS,CV,GZ. ville Rd AMP. Blue Jay: Normal numbers throughout county; 89 eBird rpts; Veery: FOS 1/7 Tivoli Bays LS 2-3 daily at feeder DK; 5/6 DRT CV; 4/10 Rombout Rd. CV Hermit Thrush: 7 rpts, avg 1 ea; 1/11 Sleight Plass Rd. CV; American Crow: 114 rpts, avg 4 ea; Small groups of 2-5 2/14 Peach Hill MHB Eidam; 3/18 Val-Kill KH; 1/20 Stissing spread all over county CV; 5/17 Reese Twn. Pk. Wapp. BAM. Mt. JA; 2/22 Vassar Farm KCF; 1/27 Bowdoin Park KCF. Fish Crow: 10 eBird rpt; 18 reports of 1-2 by KH,BAM, Wood Thrush: FOS 1/25 Pok yd Marge Robinson AMP,WLS, most: 4/1 Mills & 4/14 Norrie Pt. CV; 5/21 Peach American Robin: 136 rpts, avg 7 ea; Well represented Hill Pk FT. throughout county; most: 42/5 Vassar Farm CV; 50/4 Haight Common Raven: 7 rpts; 1/6 Pond Gut CV; 2/9 Buttercup Rd AMP; 7/30 Peach Hill KCF; 8-10/all yd KCF Esh; 2/9 Thompson Pd CV; 1/11 Dennings Pt FT; 2/15 Pd Gray Catbird: FOS – 1/5 Vassar Farm CV; 2/21 Peach Hill Gut (likely nest) GZ ; 1/18 CIES KH; 2/21 Peach Hill FT Pk FT;1/22 Reese Pk AJM;1/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta Purple Martin: 1/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT FT; 3/30 Peach Hill KCF; 2/30 CIES WLS. Tree Swallow: 88 eBird Rpt; well reported of 1-15 by most Northern Mockingbird: 27 rpts, avg 2 ea; 4/5 Vassar Farm observers; most: 20/26 Fisherman’s Pk KH; 85/9 Upper CV; 4/6 Dutchess RT CV; 6/8 Wappingers JV; 4/21 Peach Kays Pd CV; 18/17 Haight Rd AMP; 50/22 Bontecou Wetland Hill Pk FT. Area, Kennels Rd & 80/22 Bangal Amenia Rd, Millbrook Brown Thrasher: FOS: 1/14 Peach Hill MHB Eidam; 7 rpts, AMP;18/25 Mashomack CV; 25/28 Dennings Pt KH. avg 1 ea; 1/17 LaGrangeville EF; 2/18 CIES KH; 4/21 Peach Northern Rough-winged Swallow: FOS 3/2 Traver Pd, 1/9 Hill Pk FT. CIES, 1/14 Norrie Pt CV; 3/26 Fisherman’s Pk KH European Starling: 33 rpts, avg 5 ea; 45/26 Kidd Lane LS. Bank Swallow: FOS: 2/9 CIES CV; 2/21 Galleria Mall KH; Cedar Waxwing: 14 rpts, avg 16 ea; 22/24 CIES DK; 60/26 3/25 Creek Rd. KH; 4/27 HVRT CV. Kidd Lane LS; 20/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT; 25/28 Cliff Swallow: FOS: 2/28 Bontecou Wetland Area, Kennels Tivoli MM/LS; 6/30 Val-Kill KH. Rd FT 4 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

April 2012 records continued…. Northern Cardinal: many rpts, avg 2 ea; Reported through- out county – most: 6/8 18 Platt Ave JC; 10/8 Sewage Blue-winged Warbler: FOS 1/21 CIES AMP; x/28 Peach Hill treatment plant area JV; 9/11 Dennings Pt FT; 6/30 Peach MHB Eidam; 2/30 Peach Hill KCF Hill KCF; 6-8 all yd KCF; 6/17 Reese Twn. Pk. Wapp. BAM. Northern Parula: FOS 1/30 PNR GZ Rose-breasted Grosbeak: FOS – 1/15 yd Poughquag Yellow Warbler: 12 rpts, avg 2 ea; FOS 1/25-30 DaleyRd CP/HT; 1/30 CIES WLS; 2/30 Peach Hill KCF. HT; 1/26 Rombout Rd CV; 1/27 HVRT, 3/27 Bowdoin Pk Red-winged Blackbird: many rpts, avg 14 ea; 200/4 Haight KCF; 3/30 Peach Hill KCF; 7/30 Millbrook DFa; Rd AMP; 250/28 Tivoli MM/LS. Yellow-rumped Warbler: 13 rpts, avg 5 ea; 3/11, 5/27 Rusty Blackbird: 13 rpts, avg 2 ea; 4/7 CIES WLS; 8/11 HVRT CV; 22/21 Peach Hill Pk FT; 15/23 Appalachian Trail, CIES WLS; 7/12 Bowen Road JA, Stanford; 3/12 CIES JA; Beekman GZ; 18/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT; 9/28 4/15 CIES WLS; 1/27 NMabbettsville Rd AMP. Bontecou Wetland Area, Kennels Rd FT; 4/30 Val-Kill KH Common Grackle: 68 rpts, avg 7 ea; 3-5/all yd KCF; 21/8 Black-throated Green Warbler: FOS 1/23 CIES WS; 1/26 Bontecou Wetland Area, Kennels Rd AMP; 12/24 CIES Esh. yd. BJM; 10+/30 PNR GZ Brown-headed Cowbird: 44 rpts, avg 4 ea; 14/4 Buttercup Pine Warbler: 10 rpts, avg 2 ea; 2/1, 3/14 Mills CV; 1/5 IBM West FT; 12/28 Shaw Field, Shunpike Rd FT Pok JY; 1/6 Red Hook Residential Center MD; 1/6, 3/10 Baltimore Oriole: FOS – 1 rpt. 1/30 CIES WLS. Tivoli Bays - Bard Campus Esh; 6/8 Mills Mansion SB; x/14 Purple Finch: 2 (m/f)/occ yd KCF; 14 rpts, avg 1 ea; 1/15,17 DRT to Lk Walton MHB Russ O'Malley yd Poughquag CP/HT; 3/8 NMabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/6 Red Palm Warbler: 14 rpts, avg 2 ea; FOS 1/3 Buttercup Esh; Hook Residential Center MD; 1/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta 2/5 Vassar Farm CV; 2/23 Appalachian Trail, Beekman GZ; FT. 2/30 Buttercup West CV; 3/30 Peach Hill KCF House Finch: 53 rpts, avg 3 ea; 6/all yd KCF; 5/6 6/13 Black-and-white Warbler: FOS 1/21 Peach Hill Pk FT; 1/25 NMabbettsville Rd AMP. Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT; 1/26 Pond Gut CV; 1/27 HVRT American Goldfinch: many rpts, avg 10 each. 20/7-8, 30/15 CV; 7/30 PNR GZ; 4/30 Peach Hill KCF yd Poughquag CP/HT; 4-5 all yd. BAM; 35/15 Tivoli Bays American Redstart: 1/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT MM/LS; 50/17 Tivoli Bays - Kidd Lane ESh. Worm-eating Warbler: FOS 1/30 Val-Kill KH House Sparrow: 1/19 yd BB Ovenbird: FOS 1/22 Reese Twn. Pk. Wapp. AJM ; 1/30 PNR GZ Other sightings: Northern Waterthrush: 2/27 Ridge Rd. Dover Plains HT; 6th Eastern Coyote Skidmore Road CV 1/28 Bontecou Wetland Area, Kennels Rd FT; 1/30 PNRGZ 11th Large fox in yard, based on size probably a male Louisiana Waterthrush: 9 rpts, avg 1 ea; 1/9 Bard College, JA/KJ Sawkill Cr MHB Fletcher; 1/13 Fern Glen, Cary IES LDS; 14th Muskrat close to house MP 1/15 Pond Gut GZ; 2/15 Tivoli Bays MM/LS 2/17 Wilcox Pk 20,21 Red Fox yd Poughquag CP/HT JA; 2/30 PNP GZ 26th Eastern Coyote Domin Farm CV Wilson’s Warbler: FOS 1/30 Roosevelt Farm Lane and Val- Kill KH Abbreviations: BBT-Bluebird trail; DRT-Dutchess Rail Trail; Eastern Towhee: 27 rpts, avg 2 ea; 1/6 Kidd La SR/PS; FOS-First of Season; HVRT-Harlem Valley Rail Trail; TSF- 20/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT; 4/30 Peach Hill KCF The Southlands Farm; RHGC- Red Hook Golf Course; FT- American Tree Sparrow: 1/8 Buttercup WLS; 1/7 Tivoli Field Trip, MHB - Mid-Hudson Birds, PNR -Pawling Nature Bays LS. Reserve (eBird 1st report in species) Chipping Sparrow: 75 rpts, avg 2 ea; 1-3/occ yd KCF; 1/5- 10 & 2/19-30 yd. BAM; 4/13 NMabbettsville Rd AMP; 5/14,18 OBSERVERS: CIES KH; 5/15 CIES AMP; 6/24 Norrie Point CV; 8/26 JA-Janet Allison, JAKJ-Judith Atwood/Karen Jaquith, SB*- Rombout Rd. CV; 9/29 Kennels Rd,NY AMP Steve Bauer, BB-Barbara Butler, BoB – Bob Bowler; JC*- Jim Field Sparrow: 46 rpts, avg 3 ea; 3/1 Hopeland area CV; 5/4 Closs, MD*-Mark Dedea, ND- Nat Donson; JD*-Jim Dugan, Buttercup West FT; 2/4,5/18 CIES KH; 5/7 Tivoli Bays LS; DE-Derrick Eidam/viaMHB,DFa*-Debbie Fargione, EF*- 5/25 Rockefeller Univ Field Sta FT; 15/30 Peach Hill KCF Eamon Freiberger, DG- David Grover; KCF-Ken & Carol Savannah Sparrow: 1/5 IBM Pok JY; 2/5 Vassar Farm CV; Fredericks, KH- Ken Harris, DK*-Debi Kral, MM*-Melissa 1/6 Dutchess RT CV; 1/10 Rombout Rd. CV; 3/15 Greig Fm Mezger, ALB-Aimee LaBarr; BAM, AJM, BJM-Barbara & PS; 2/18 CIES KH; 4/27-29 TSF MP. Allan Michelin, MP-Mona Payton, AP-Alan Peterson, CP*- Fox Sparrow: 1/3 Buttercup ESh; 1/4 Buttercup West FT Carena Pooth, AMP* – Adrienne Popko, TR-Thomas Song Sparrow: Many rpts, avg 4 ea; 28/4 Buttercup West Rhindress, SR*-Susan Rogers, PS*-Peter Schoenberger, FT; 4/18 CIES KH; 4/6 Locust Grove KH; 8/30 Peach Hill ESh*-Elisa Shaw, ES* – Edmond Spaeth, LS*-Laura KCF Steadman, HT*-Herb Thompson, CV-Chet Vincent, WLS*, Swamp Sparrow: 14 rpts, avg 3 ea;. 3/4 Buttercup West FT; LDS*, WS*- William & Lisa Schlesinger, BW*-Brian White, 8/11 CIES WLS; 4/12,27 HVRT CV; 5/18 CIES KH; 3/30 JY*-Jim Yates, GZ- Gary Zylkuski Buttercup West *Sightings recorded via eBird * compiled by B. Butler White-throated Sparrow: 65 rpts, avg 4 ea.; 10/11 Dennings Pt FT; 21/21 Peach Hill Pk FT; 2/30 Roosevelt Field Trips: 4th Buttercup West, 11th Dennings Pt/Long Farm Lane KH; 22/30 NMabbettsville Rd AMP;7/30 Peach Dock, 21st Peach Hill, 25th Rockefeller University, 28th Hill KCF Bontecou Wetland Area 29th Pond Gut, White-Crowned Sparrow: 1/29 Buttercup West NYB Rhindress -Compiler: Deborah Kral Dark-eyed Junco: 33 rpts, avg 4 ea; 4/2 & 8/3-13 & 1/14-15 gone/16-30 yd. BAM; 20/5 IBM Pok JY; 13/6 Dutchess Rt CV; 5/15 Ludlow Woods DK; 15/17 Reese Twn. Pk. Wapp. BAM; 1/20 Nuclear Lk KCF 5 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

Red-shouldered Hawk: 9 rpts, avg 1 each. 2/27 No May 2012 Records Dutchess Botanical Gardens, Rhinebeck DK Broad-winged Hawk: 9 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/1 Millbrook DFa; The warm weather earlier this spring pushed some leaves 1/5 Bowdoin Pk KH; 1/27 Bontecou Wetland, Kennels Rd open early. Then some cooler weather put the rest on hold. AMP The maples were leafed out, but sycamore, locust, oak, and Red-tailed Hawk: Many reports of 1 or 2 walnut leaves stayed closed, giving us a chance of seeing American Kestrel: 8 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/5 SMP FT; 1/6 the May avian arrivals. CIES WLS; 1/30 CIES MK; 1/18 Greig Fm PS; 2/20 Wetlands Migrants moved in dramatically from the 4th thru 9th. Russ near Riga Fm MF O'Malley in his Fishkill yard, Debi Kral and the Fredericks at Merlin: 1/2 Peach Hill MK,AL; 1/3 Kidd Lane Fm MM; 1/4 & 8 Nellie Hill, Gary Zylkuski at Nuclear Lake reported many new Tivoli MM arrivals in good numbers, some calling it a “wave day”. Virginia Rail: 1/2 Millbrook School FT Killdeer: 14 rpts, avg 1 each. 3/1 Overlook Pk - 1 has white Snow Goose: 2/3 Mashomack CV. blotches on back & top of wings CV; 3/7 & 17 Secor farm, Brant: 500/11 Esopus Meadows HRA van der Poel . 100/18 Robinson Ln. BJM; 2/5 Bangall Amenia Rd, Millbrook AMP Greig Fm PS Lesser Yellowlegs: 4/3 Strever Farm Pd CV. Canada Goose: seen all over, avg 5 each; 80/3 Mashomack Solitary Sandpiper: 8 rpts, avg 3 each. 8/5 RHGC, a flock CV; 54/27 Bontecou Wetland Area, Kennels Rd AMP feeding in the pond MP; sev/6 & 10 Vassar Farm MHB DE; Mute Swan: 21/2 Tamarack Lk, 1/3 Mashomack CV; pr w 6/16 Nuclear Lk FT; 10/19 North Tivoli Bay SR 5-6 cygnets/2 Wapp Lk HRA Hardy; 21/5 17/27 Shuman Rd, Spotted Sandpiper: 7 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/1 HRRA Boat Millbrook AMP House CV; 1/10 Vassar Farm MHB DE; 1/13 Buttercup Wood Duck: found in 15 places, avg 3 each; nesting/3 Salt WLS; 1/18 Nuclear Lake KCF; 1/19 Bontecou Wetland, Pt yard MHB Liz Martens. Kennels Rd AMP American Black Duck: 2/5 CIES WLS American Woodcock: 2/5 SMP FT; 1/13 Kidd La SR Mallard: 30+ rpts, avg 5 each. 6 yg w female/3 Mud Pond Ring-billed Gull: 3 rpts. 33/1 HRRA boathouse CV CV; 21/19 Beacon Waterfront Pk MM; up to 16/all CIES WLS Great Black-backed Gull: 1/1 HRRA Boat House CV Blue-winged Teal: 1/18 Ferncliff SR Rock Pigeon: 11 rpts, avg 4 each. 10/5 Andrew Haight Rd, Green-winged Teal: 27/3 Strever Farm Pd CV. Millbrook DK Hooded Merganser: 1-2/1-18 CIES WLS, AMP, ESh Mourning Dove: 50+ rpts, avg 3 each. 10-20 daily until mid- Common Merganser: 1/3 Mashomack CV; 2-4/all CIES month when I stopped filling feeders, then 2-4 daily ESh, WLS, AMP Rhinebeck yard MP Northern Bobwhite: 1/18 Greig Fm PS Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 1/5 SMP FT; 1/28 yard BB; 1/16 Ring-necked Pheasant: 1/4 CIES JAD; 1-2/1-18 Tivoli Nuclear Lk FT Bays, Kidd Ln SR, LS, MM Eastern Screech-Owl: 1/27 N. Mabbettsville Rd #339 AMP Ruffed Grouse: 2/4 MA; 2/5 CD,ZH, both Brace Mountain Great Horned Owl: 1/10 Buttercup ESh Wild Turkey: 6 rpts, avg 2 each. 32 rpts, avg 2 each. 11/1 Barred Owl: 20 rpts, avg 1 each. 2/3 (ad & yg) Stissing Mtn yd JA/KJ; . 6/2 CIES AMP Rd CV; 1/10-18 Hillside Lake Tammie Carey; 2/all yd KCF; Red-throated Loon: 1/19 Norrie Pt HRA Burnstine 2/21 Pleasant Valley HRA Kraft; 2/23 Ludlow Woods Rd yard Common Loon: 1/16 Nuclear Lk FT; 1/6 Peach Hill CP/HT DK Double-crested Cormorant: 6 rpts, avg 2 each. 2/2 Long-eared Owl: 1/28 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK Tamarack Lk CV; 4/6 Peach Hill CP/HT; 3/5 Shuman Rd, Whip-poor-will: 3/4 Ridge Rd. Dover Plains HT Millbrook AMP Common Nighthawk: 10/15 near Fishkill Cr in Fishkill MHB American Bittern: 1/5 SMP FT. Jeff Gerlach. Great Blue Heron: many rpts, avg 2 each. 4/3 on nests Mud Chimney Swift: 18 rpts, avg 2 each. 4/5 2/22 Reese Pk, Pond CV; 10/5 SMP FT; 8/9 Ferncliff FT; 5/23 Peach Hill Pk 6/17 4/27 Fishermans Pk KH; 8/5 Wapp. village BAM; 4/17 FT; 6/4 Tivoli MM CIES WS; 5/23 Peach Hill Pk FT Great Egret: 1/13 Madam Brett HRA Lake Ruby-throated Hummingbird: over 20 rpts, avg 2 each. Green Heron: 7 rpts, avg 1 each. sev/6 Vassar Farm MHB First 1m/3, pr/6-21 feeder BAM ; most other feeders on the DE; 2/30 Kitchen Corners Rd BB 5th; 3/7 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK; 5/19 N. Mabbettsville Black-crowned Night-Heron: 1/19 North Tivoli Bay SR; 2/22 Rd, Millbrook AMP Wappinger Cr at New Hamburg Rd KH Belted Kingfisher: 20 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/2 Millbrook Black Vulture: 3/1 Hyde Park CV; 2/14 IBM East Fishkill School FT; 1/5 Cary IES CV; 1/6 CIES WLS JAD; 2/2 Millbrook School FT; 2/23 Peach Hill Pk FT; 10 Red-bellied Woodpecker: on all reports, avg 2 each. 6/5 others Rhinebeck JC; 6/6 Peach Hill CP/HT; 5/23 Peach Hill Pk FT Turkey Vulture: 50+ rpts, avg 3 each; 17/1 Poughquag Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 15 rpts, avg 2 each. 2/3 CP/HT; 9/5 Brace Mountain ZH; 11/19 Thompson Pond LS Thompson Pd CV; 2/all yard BB; 2/2 Millbrook School FT; Osprey: 10 reports of 1 each in different places, most from th th 3/16 Nuclear Lk FT; 2/18 Nuclear Lake KCF 1st thru 4 , last the 19 . Downy Woodpecker: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. 6/all yd KCF; 4/2 Bald Eagle: 1/3 Stissing Mtn CV; 1/5 Bowdoin Pk KH; 2/19 Millbrook School FT; 4/1 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP North Tivoli Bay SR Hairy Woodpecker: 20+ rpts, avg 1 each. 2/all yd KCF; 2 all Northern Harrier: 2/5 Rhinebeck JC yd. BAM; 3/1 yd Poughquag CP/HT Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/16 DRT/Gold Gym north BAM ; Northern Flicker: 50+ rpts, avg 1 each. 1/all yard BB; 1/all 1/21 Wetlands near Riga Fm MF; 1/21 Peach Hill KCF; 1/31 Red Hook yard AG; 3/21 Millbrook DFa; 3/6 Peach Hill N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP CP/HT Cooper's Hawk: 14 rpts, avg 1 each; 1/7 yd. got Red-bellied Pileated Woodpecker: 40 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/4, 2/5 Reese BAM; 1/9 on brush pile at feeders BB; 2/5 Brace Mtn CD, ZH Pk, Wapp. BAM; 3/5 Rhinebeck JC; 2/25 Ludlow Woods Rd yd DK; 2/16 Nuclear Lk FT; 2/23 Peach Hill Pk FT 6 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

May 2012 Records continued….. Tufted Titmouse: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. 5/2 Millbrook School FT Eastern Wood-Pewee: 20+ rpts, avg 1 each. 1/5 h Reese Red-breasted Nuthatch: 2/2 yd Millbrook WS Pk BAM ; 1/5 2/22 Reese Pk KH; 1/5 SMP FT; 3/9 Ferncliff White-breasted Nuthatch: 40+ rpts, avg 1 each. 5/2 FT; 1-2/13-31 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 2/15-24 Millbrook Millbrook School FT; 3-5/all N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP DFa Brown Creeper: 1/5 SMP FT; 1/30 CIES FT Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 1/17 Galleria Mall KH; 1/19 Carolina Wren: 20 rpts, avg 1 each. 1-2 daily, 1 fledged, 2 Stissing Fire Tower LS eggs never hatched, nest in newspaper tube JA/KJ; 2/1 Acadian Flycatcher: 1/20 PNR KCF; 1/27 PNR EF Millbrook DFa; 2/23 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK Alder Flycatcher: 1/20 PNR KCF; 1/21 Kidd Lane/Tivoli Bay House Wren: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. nesting/3 Salt Pt yard SR; 1/30 Kitchen Corners Rd BB MHB Liz Martens; 6/21 Peach Hill Pk KCF; 5/23 Peach Hill Willow Flycatcher: 20 rpts, avg 3 each. 3/26 Buttercup East, FT 3/27 Andrew Haight Rd KCF; 6-9/19-24 Millbrook DFa; 3/16 Winter Wren: 1/1 Millbrook DFa; 1/3 Ridge Rd, Wingdale CIES WS; 2/18 Greig Fm PS; 2/21 Kidd Lane/Tivoli Bay SR BB; 1/6 Rhinebeck, Cove Rd. RW Least Flycatcher: 15 rpts, avg 2 each. 4/2 Millbrook School Marsh Wren: 1/19, 1/21 North Tivoli Bay SR FT; 2/3 Thompson Pd CV; 2/9 CIES WLS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 20 rpts, avg 2 each. 1/4 & 3/5 Eastern Phoebe: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. 2/7 on nest Baird Pk Reese Pk, Wapp. BAM; 6/9 Ferncliff FT; 6/16 Nuclear Lk FT CV; 3/all yard BB; 3/21 Millbrook DFa; 8/30 CIES AMP; 2- Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 10 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/2, 1/3 yd. 4/all 5/18 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP BAM; 3/5 Depot Hill CP; 2/6 Tivoli Bays - Kidd Lane ESh; Great Crested Flycatcher: 50+ rpts, avg 1 each. 1-2 daily 1/16 Tivoli Bays -- Kidd Ln gravel road SR, LS beginning May3 MP; 3/4 Pok Cem, 3/25 Vassar Farm, 1/occ Eastern Bluebird: many rpts, avg 2 each. nesting in dead yd KCF; 4/5 SMP FT; 3/9 Ferncliff FT; 4/16 Nuclear Lk FT tree at Fishermans Pk KH; 3 active nests/7 Burger Hill FM; Eastern Kingbird: 40+ rpts, avg 2 each. 1/2 Peach Hill 11pr/7,17 & 18 nest boxes w/eggs or yg. BBT/Wapp. BJM; MK,AL; 3/4 Rockefeller Ln MM; 1/5 Rhinebeck JC; 3/6 Peach 9/2 Millbrook School FT Hill CP/HT; 3/7 & 2/18 Wapp BJM;3-5/19-24 Millbrook DFa Veery: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. 1/2 Millbrook School FT;2/4 & White-eyed Vireo: 1/27 Andrew Haight Rd KCF; 1/15 Peach 1/5 Reese Pk, Wapp. BAM; 1/5 Deep Hollow Rd, Millbrook Hill DK DK; 18/20 PNR KCF; 6/30 CIES FT Yellow-throated Vireo: 20+ rpts, avg 2 each. 1/3 Thompson Swainson's Thrush: 1/18 Nuclear Lake KCF Pd CV; 2/3 & 1/18 Humeston farm Wapp. BJM; 4/5 Nellie Hill Hermit Thrush: 1/5 SMP FT; 1/6 Tivoli Bays - Kidd Lane KCF; 3/19 Millbrook DFa; 4/9 Ferncliff FT ESh; 1/9 Ferncliff FT Blue-headed Vireo: 10 rpts, avg 1 each. 3/4 Pok Cem, 2/20 Wood Thrush: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. 1/1 Tivoli Loop SR ; 2/2 PNR KCF; 1/9 Hopeland KH; 1/16 Tivoli Bays -- Kidd Ln Kidd La LS; x/2 Peach Hill MK,AL; 2/2 CIES AMP; 3/5 Depot gravel road SR, LS Hill CP; 12/20 PNR, 10/25 Vassar Farm KCF Warbling Vireo: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. 5/2 Millbrook School American Robin: many rpts, avg 5 each. 30/1 Tivoli MM; FT; 4-6/3,7,17 & 18 BBT/Wapp. BJM. 4-6/19-24 Millbrook 28/2 Millbrook School FT; 20/5 Pok. Cem. BAM DFa; 5/16 Nuclear Lk FT Gray Catbird: many rpts, avg 5 each. 22/2 Millbrook School Red-eyed Vireo: 50+ rpts, avg 1 each. 1/2 Millbrook School FT; 30/6 Peach Hill CP/HT; 28/21 Peach Hill Pk, 21/26 FT; 1/3 & occ. yd. BAM; 6/9 Ferncliff FT; 6/10 PNR, 7/25 Buttercup East KCF; 14/16 DRT/Gold Gym north BAM; 21/23 Vassar Farm KCF Peach Hill Pk FT Blue Jay: many rpts, avg 3 each. 22/5 Pok. Cem. BAM; 12/5 Northern Mockingbird: 30+ rpts, avg 1 each. 3/5 Pok. Cem. SMP FT; 17/9 Tivoli MM BAM; 3/21 Peach Hill Pk KCF; 6/7,17 & 18 BBT/Wapp. BJM; American Crow: many rpts, avg 3 each. 2/all on 24th 4/5 N. Mabbettsville Rd #339 AMP attacked oriole nest AG Brown Thrasher: 20+ rpts, avg 1 each. 1/10, 4/13, 1/25, Fish Crow: 10 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/1 Waryas Pk CV; 2/2 1/31 Crestwood Rd, Red Hook AG; 4/23 Peach Hill Pk FT Tribute Garden KH; 1/21 Coyote Grill, Pok BB; 1/19 Millbrook European Starling: 30+ rpts, avg 4 each. 4-8 daily until mid- DFa; 1/9 Kidd Lane/Tivoli Bay SR; 1/23 Peach Hill Pk FT month when I stopped filling feeders, then infrequently MP; Common Raven: 1/3 Stissing Mtn CV; 2/10 Buttercup ESh; 40/2 Millbrook School FT 1/16 Nuclear Lk FT; 1/19 Stissing Fire Tower LS Cedar Waxwing: 40+ rpts, avg 9 each. 80/28 eating berries Tree Swallow: many rpts, avg 5 each. 10/1 HRRA Wappingers HRA Sramek; 40/2 Kidd La LS; 50/6 Peach Hill boathouse, 16/3 Thompson Pd CV; sev nests/7 Burger Hill CP/HT; 40/21 Wetlands near Riga Fm MF FM; 2 nesting yd beginning May 18 MP; 8-10pr/3,7,17 & 18 Ovenbird: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. 1/2 Millbrook DFa; 1/4 Pok nest boxes Wapp. BJM; 45/5 Bangall Amenia Rd, Millbrook Cem, 12/5 Nellie Hill, 6/10 IES, 22/20 PNR KCF; 6/6 CIES AMP; 26/5 Bontecou Wetland Area, Kennels Rd AMP; 14/2 WLS; 6/5 Depot Hill CP CIES AMP Worm-eating Warbler: 3/9 Ferncliff FT; 1/10 IES, 6/20 PNR Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 9 rpts, avg 2 each. 6/2 KCF; 1/16 Nuclear Lk FT; 1/19 Stissing Fire Tower LS Tamarack Lk, 4/4 Overlook Pk CV; 2/2 CIES WS; 4/10 Doug Louisiana Waterthrush: 20+ rpts, avg 1 each. 2/6 Tivoli Philips Pk, Fishkill ES; 3/7 Tivoli MM Bays - Kidd Lane ESh; 2/6 Tymor BB; 2/17 Buttercup West, Bank Swallow: 100/12 Sand Quarry-Carey Rd ES 2/20 PNR KCF; 3/30 CIES FT Barn Swallow: 20+ rpts, avg 4 each. 28/1 HRRA boathouse Northern Waterthrush: 1/2 Millbrook School FT; 1/9 (on wire w/ TRSW) CV; 10/2 Millbrook School FT; 25/3 1/26 Ferncliff FT; 1/16 Nuclear Lk FT; 2/17 Buttercup West KCF Fishermans Pk KH; 2/5, 4/12-31 building nest on porch AG; Golden-winged Warbler: 1/4 Pok Cem KCF 10/19 Beacon Waterfront Pk MM Blue-winged Warbler: 50+ rpts, avg 3 each. 8/4 Peach Hill Black-capped Chickadee: many rpts, avg 3 each. 15/2 Pk ESh; 11/23 Peach Hill Pk FT; 8/21 Peach Hill Pk, 6/25 Millbrook School FT Vassar Farm, 7/26 Buttercup East KCF; 6/21,24 Millbrook DFa;

7 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

May Records 2012 continued…. Eastern Towhee: 50+ rpts, avg 3 each. 7/30 CIES FT; 10/23 Peach Hill Pk FT; 32/5 Brace Mountain ZH, CD, MA Black-and-white Warbler: 40+ rpts, avg 2 each. 12/5 Nellie Chipping Sparrow: many rpts, avg 2 each. 13/2 Millbrook Hill KCF; 10+/9 Nuclear Lake GZ; 12/5 Nellie Hill DK; 10/5 School FT; 6/30 CIES FT Brace Mountain ZH Field Sparrow: 40+ rpts, avg 2 each. 18/2 Millbrook School Tennessee Warbler: 1/4 Overlook Pk CV; 1/5 Rhinebeck FT; 6/5 Nellie Hill, 10/21 Peach Hill Pk KCF; 4/13 Buttercup JC; x/5 Locust Grove, x/10 Peach Hill MHB DE WLS; 5/23 Peach Hill Pk FT Nashville Warbler: 10+ rpts, avg 2 each. 2/1, 3-4 yd. BJM; Savannah Sparrow: 11 rpts, avg 1 each. 4/1 Overlook Pk, 2/4 Peach Hill Pk ESh; 2/5 Nellie Hill DK; 1/21 Wetlands near 2/4 Stringham Rec Pk CV; 4 (or more) daily TSF MP. 2/27 Riga Fm MF Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP Mourning Warbler: 1/7 Ferncliff SR; 1/23 Peach Hill Pk FT Grasshopper Sparrow: 1/7-31 Schultz Hill Rd.Pine Plains Common Yellowthroat: 50+ rpts, avg 4 each. 8/5 SMP FTF; yard Jane Waters; same place: 2/16 JC; 1/17 DK 8/19 Millbrook DFa; 18/23 Millbrook DFa; 18/10 Buttercup Fox Sparrow: 1/10 Buttercup ESh ESh; 12/26 Buttercup East KC Song Sparrow: many rpts, avg 3 each. 18/1 Buttercup ESh; Hooded Warbler: 8 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/5 Nellie Hill DK; 2/6 15/13 Buttercup WLS; 37/2 Millbrook School FT Tymor BB; 1/7 Arborio Rd, PlValley AMP; 4/20 PNR KCF Lincoln's Sparrow: 1/5 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP American Redstart: 40+ rpts, avg 8/5 Nellie Hill, 13/26 Swamp Sparrow: 10+ rpts, avg 3 each. 2/2-17 CIES WLS; Buttercup East KCF; 10+/9 Nuclear Lk GZ; 6/9 Ferncliff FT 6/3 Thompson Pd CV; 8/5 SMP FT; 12/2 Millbrook School FT Cape May Warbler: 1/9 Ferncliff FT White-throated Sparrow: 40+ rpts, avg 5 each. 40+/4 Cerulean Warbler: 1/5 Bowdoin Pk KH; 2/16 Nuclear Lk FT; Reese Pk AJM; 20/5 Deep Hollow Rd, Millbrook DK; 21/3 N. 1/18 Nuclear Lake KCF Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP; last - 1/15 Peach Hill DK Northern Parula: 20+ rpts, avg 2 each. 12/5 Nellie Hill, 3/17 White-crowned Sparrow: 10+ rpts, avg 2 each. 2/2 Tribute Buttercup West, 2/20 PNR, 1/25 Vassar Farm KCF; 5/5 Garden KH; 4/2 Millbrook School FT; 1/2 CIES AMP; 3/3-8 Nellie Hill DK N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP; 1/18 Greig Fm PS Magnolia Warbler: 20+ rpts, avg 1 each. x/4 Fishkill yard Dark-eyed Junco: 4/1, 4/8, 2/14 and then gone Rhinebeck MHB R OMalley; 3/5 SMP FT; 3/9 Ferncliff FT; 3/16 yard MP; 1/5 Brace Mountain CD NuclearLk FT Scarlet Tanager: 30+ rpts, avg 2 each. 1/2 Kidd La SR,LS; Bay-Breasted Warbler: 1/9 Nuclear Lake GZ; 2/9 Ferncliff x/2 Peach Hill MK,AL; 1/4,5 Brace Mountain MA, HG; 2/5 FT; 1/10 yd Millbrook WS Nellie Hill, 5/20 PNR KCF; 6/16 Nuclear Lk FT; 5/6 Peach Hill Blackburnian Warbler: 12 rpts, avg 1 each. x/4 Fishkill yard CP/HT MHB Russ Omalley; 3/4 Peach Hill Pk ESh; 3/9 Nuclear Lake Northern Cardinal: many rpts, avg 2 each. 10/25 Vassar GZ; 2/9 Ferncliff FT Farm, 6-8/all yd KCF; 3pr. all yd BAM; 10/23 Peach Hill Pk Yellow Warbler: many rpts, avg 5 each. 17/2 Millbrook FT School FT; 12/26 Buttercup East, 12/27 Andrew Haight Rd Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 40+ rpts, avg 2 each. 6/5 Nellie KCF; 14/19 Millbrook DFa; 12/1 CIES ESh; 12/all CIES WLS; Hill KCF; 6/6 Tymor BB; 8/9 Ferncliff FT; 6/6 Peach Hill 15/23 Peach Hill Pk FT CP/HT Chestnut-sided Warbler: 30+ rpts, avg 1 each. 3/4 Peach Indigo Bunting: 20+ rpts, avg 2 each. 1/1 Millbrook DFa; 1/5 Hill Pk ESh; 2/4 Pok Cem, 3/21 Peach Hill Pk, KCF; 2/5 Dennings Pt HRA Seymour ; 5/25 Vassar Farm KCF; 4/15 Depot Hill CP; 2/5 Nellie Hill DK Peach Hill DK; 4/23 Peach Hill Pk FT; 5/30 CIES FT Blackpoll Warbler: 12 rpts, avg 2 each. 4/9 Nuclear Lake Bobolink: 15 rpts, avg 4 each. 1/6 Shaunessy Rd BB; GZ; 5/18 Nuclear Lake, 3/20 PNR KCF; 1/13,3/19, 2/20, numerous males/7 Burger Hill FM; many/30 Pine Plains yard 1/21 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP; 5/16 Nuclear Lk JW; 12(at least, although numbers lighter than previous FT; 2/15 Peach Hill DK years) daily from May 6 TSF MP; 12/16 Pine Plains JC; Black-throated Blue Warbler: 20 rpts, avg 2 each. 3/4 6/17 Schultz Hill Rd., Pine Plains DK Reese Pk AJM; 1/5 Brace Mountain CD,ZH; 3/5 Nellie Hill, Red-winged Blackbird: many rpts, avg 10 each. 20/24 3/10 IES KCF; 10/9 Nuclear Lake GZ; 6/9 Ferncliff FT Millbrook DFa; 24/2 CIES AMP; 68/2 Millbrook School FT; Palm Warbler: x/2 Peach Hill MK,AL; 1/2 CIES WS; 1/4 200/4 Rockefeller Ln MM; 60/1 Tivoli MM Peach Hill Pk ESh; 1/5 Dennings Pt HRA Seymour; 1/5 Nellie Eastern Meadowlark: pair/7 and previous Burger Hill FM; Hill DK 1/24 Schultz Hill Rd, Pine Plains MK,AL; 1/24 Bowen Rd, off Pine Warbler: 1/1 Millbrook DFa; 1/2 CIES AMP; 1/2 Kidd La Bulls Head Rd MK,AL. LS; 1/4 Pok Cem KCF; x/4 Fishkill yard MHB Russ Omalley; Common Grackle: 50+ rpts, avg 4 each. 10/all yard BB; 1/6 Tymor BB 18/2 Millbrook School FT; 3-10/all N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP Yellow-rumped Warbler: 40+ rpts, avg 6 each. 30/4 Peach Brown-headed Cowbird: 40+ rpts, avg 3 each. 6/6 Peach Hill Pk ESh; 100+/5 Nellie Hill KCF; 50+/9 Nuclear Lake Hill CP/HT; 6/30 CIES FT; 3-6/all N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; (Probably 60/40 split males to females) GZ; 22/16 Nuclear Lk Orchard Oriole: 15 rpts, avg 1 each. 1/3 near Peach Hill FT; last -1/19 Stissing Fire Tower LS Mary Lunt; 1 /4, pr/7-31 yard BB; 2/19 Millbrook DFa; 2/20 Prairie Warbler: 30+ rpts, avg 2 each. x/2 Peach Hill MK,AL; Peach Hill Pk LD; 2/8 Tivoli MM; 1/21 Wetlands near Riga 3/5 CIES WLS; 8/5 Nellie Hill, 3/26 Buttercup East KCF; 5/9 Fm MF Hopeland KH; 4/30 CIES FT Baltimore Oriole: 50+ rpts, avg 2 each. 8/5 SMP FT; 24th Black-throated Green Warbler: 40+ rpts, avg 2 each. 9/4 crow attack on nest, saw male AG; 10/5 Buttercup ZH; 8/16 Peach Hill Pk ESh; 4/5 Nellie Hill, 5/20 PNR KCF; 12/9 Nuclear Lk FT Nuclear Lake GZ; 7/9 Ferncliff FT; Purple Finch: pr/21-31 yard BB; 2/occ yd KCF; 1/18 yd Canada Warbler: 1/6 Tivoli Bays - Kidd Lane ESh; 1/9 Poughquag CP/HT; 1-3/5-31 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP Nuclear Lake GZ; 1/17 Buttercup West, 1/20 PNR, 1/25 House Finch: 40+ rpts, avg 4 each. 5 & m fed 1f yg/13-21 all Vassar Farm KCF; 1/18 Kidd La SR, LS; 1/21 Tivoli Bay SR yd. BAM; 2-9/all N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP Wilson's Warbler: 2/5 Peach Hill MHB DE; 1/9 Ferncliff FT

8 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

May Records 2012 continued…. MAY CENSUS – MAY 12, 2012

American Goldfinch: many rpts, avg 5 each. 11/10 RALPH T. WATERMAN BIRD CLUB Buttercup ESh; 30/3 2-10/all CIES WLS, JAD, ESh, AMP, FT; 18/6 Peach Hill CP/HT Thank you to everyone who participated in this House Sparrow: 20+ rpts, avg 4 each. year's May Census. Purple Martin is species of

Coyote: 1/2 Rt 44 Mabbettsville CV note this year, returning to a level not seen since 1988. A red-headed Woodpecker was seen this Observers: MA* - Michael Algozzine, JA - Judy Atwood, year. Merlin is another species found this year RB* - Rich Bodin, BB - Barbara Butler, JC* - Jim Closs, CD* that is not frequently seen. - Cassandra Davis, LD* - Lisa Dellwo, JAD* - John & Abby Dux, DE - Derrick Eidam, DFa* - Debbie Fargione,MF – Area / Participants Melissa Fischer, DF - Dot Fleury, KCF - Ken & Carol Fredericks, EF* - Eamon Freiburger, GG* - Glen Gerada, North Dutchess - Art Jones, Jane Rossman, HG* - Heather German, AG - Ann Gilbert, NG - Natalie Gilbert, ZH* - Zachary Hall, KH - Ken Harris, KJ - Karen Janet Allison, Vangie Jones, Dianne Engleke Jaquith, MK - Maha Katnani, DK* - Deborah Kral, AL - Aimee Stissing Mt, Wilbur Flats, Greig Farm, Cruger LaBarr, FM - Frank Margiotta, LM - Liz Martens, MM* - Island, Ferncliff, Norrie Pt. - Otis Waterman, Melissa Mezger, AJM - Allan Michelin, BAM - Barb & Allan Fritz Waterman, Tory Waterman, Krista Morris, Michelin, BJM - Barbara Michelin, ROM - Russ OMalley, MP Steve Morris - Mona Payton, CP* - Carena Pooth, AMP* - Adrienne Crugers Island, Tivoli Bays, Bard College, Popko, NR* - Niloufer Reifler, SRe* - Samuel Reifler, SR* - Ferncliff Forest - Jim Cintron, Paul Sutera, Susan Rogers, WS* - William Schlesinger, WLS - William & David Arner, Greg Esch Lisa Schlesinger, PS* - Peter Schoenberger, ESh* - Elisa Shaw, ES* - Edmond Spaeth, LS* - Laura Steadman, HT* - Tivoli, North Bay (by canoe) - Erik Kiviat Herb Thompson, FT – Field Trip, CV - Chet Vincent, JW - Towns of Dover & Amenia, Nellie Hill – Barbara Jane Waters, RW* - Robert G Williams III, EY* - Evan Butler, Maryanne Pitts, Dot Fleury, Sariena Yokum, LZ* - Larry Zirlin, GZ - Gary Zylkuski Masievo, Jean Green *Sightings recorded via eBird. Pleasant Valley, Peach Hill - Steve Golladay, Barry Haydasz, Alan Peterson, Jan Peterson, Field Trips: 2 Millbrook School, 5 Slocum-Mostachetti Jerry Gilnack, Bill Schlesinger, Lisa Dellwo Preserve, 9 Ferncliff, 16 Nuclear Lake, 23 Peach Hill, 30 Cary IES Vassar Farm/Campus - Kateri Kosek, David Holub, Ed Holub Other abbreviations: BBT - bluebird box trail, CIES - Cary Wappingers, Town of Pok, Fishkill, East Institute of Ecosystem Studies, DRT - Dutchess Rail Trail, Fishkill - Barb Michelin, Allan Michelin, Bill HRA - Hudson River Almanac (observer name), HRRA – Case, Ken Harris, Melissa Fischer, Carolyn Hudson River Rowing Assoc boathouse (south of Marist), Edlund, Fran Henry, Anamarie Bonilla, Peggy IES - Institute of Ecosystem Studies, MHB - Mid-Hudson Rudis, Bonnie & Bud Fair, Mary Lunt, Rosa Birds (observer name), PNR - Pawling Nature Reserve, Corbeels, Marge Robinson, Richard Fitzgerald, RHGC - Red Hook Golf Club, Sanc - Sanctuary, SMP - Slocum-Mostachetti Preserve (in Wingdale), TSF - Chuck Martinez. Feeder Watchers: Ed Spaeth, Southland, x - count not specified David & Evelyn Stevenson, Thalia Sudnik, Doreen Tignanelli, Rich & Maureen Taylor -Compiler – Barbara Butler Tamarack Preserve, Ludlow Woods Road, Whitlock Preserve, Bontecou Wetlands, Millbrook School, Shaw Field - Adrienne Popko, Debi Kral, John Askildsen June Records: Please e-mail records to: Salt Point, Deep Hollow - Barb Mansell, Liz [email protected] Or send via US mail to: Judy Atwood, Ship Lake Farm, 9 Martens Hennessey Ln, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Pawling, Whaley Lake - Binnie Chase, Ken & Carol Fredericks, Kelly Liao, Jay Suk, Shelly E-mail July records to: [email protected] Redl, Sibyll Gilbert Or send via US mail to: Barbara Michelin, 23 Hi View Rd., Burger Hill, Milan area - Frank Margiotta, Mona Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Payton -Compiler: Herb Thompson Better yet….enter your records into eBird (ebird.org) and forget about sending us a report! We are now including eBird records without requiring a separate report to RTWBC.

9 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club - Annual May Census # Avg/yr Last # Avg/yr Last # Avg/yr Last SPECIES 2012 of yrs when Year SPECIES 2012 of yrs when Year SPECIES 2012 of yrs when Year Found Found Found Found Found Found Found Found Found

Snow Goose 1 6 1.5 2003 Bonaparte's Gull 2 2.5 1996 American Pipit 18 10.1 2010 Brant 10 199.4 2011 Laughing Gull 1 1.0 1963 Cedar Waxwing 137 52 45.7 2011 Canada Goose 1092 54 368.7 all Ring-billed Gull 67 48 38.7 2011 Ovenbird 143 54 75.9 all Mute Swan 56 35 33.2 2011 Herring Gull 15 54 32.2 all Worm-eating Warbler 12 52 6.9 2011 Wood Duck 118 54 44.8 all Great Black-backed Gull 2 47 9.0 2011 Louisiana Waterthrush 16 54 14.5 all American Wigeon 5 1.6 1991 Black Tern 6 2.2 2005 Northern Waterthrush 11 51 7.3 2011 American Black Duck 6 50 18.7 2011 Common Tern 2 1.5 1996 Golden-winged Warbler 42 7.7 2005 Mallard 299 54 133.1 all Rock Pigeon 206 52 133.5 2011 Brewster's Warbler (hybrid) 15 1.1 2007 Blue-winged Teal 35 4.1 2007 Mourning Dove 263 54 185.7 all Lawrence's Warbler (hybrid) 9 1.2 2010 Northern Shoveler 3 1.0 2000 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 44 5.4 2011 Blue-winged Warbler 123 54 85.2 all Northern Pintail 1 2.0 1997 Black-billed Cuckoo 5 47 5.7 2009 Black-and-white Warbler 68 54 52.0 all Green-winged Teal 3 19 2.6 2008 Barn Owl 3 1.3 1978 Prothonotary Warbler 3 1.0 1972 Canvasback 2 1.5 1976 Eastern Screech-Owl 37 1.5 2011 Tennessee Warbler 17 52 16.6 2011 Ring-necked Duck 5 2.4 2010 Great Horned Owl 3 51 3.0 2011 Nashville Warbler 8 50 7.7 2011 Greater Scaup 5 2.4 2006 Barred Owl 20 52 5.4 2011 Connecticut Warbler 5 1.0 2003 Lesser Scaup 3 1.0 1994 Long-eared Owl 1 1.0 2006 Mourning Warbler 9 1.4 2011 White-winged Scoter 2 7.5 2000 Common Nighthawk 6 37 7.1 2010 Kentucky Warbler 13 1.2 2004 Common Goldeneye 1 2.0 1968 Whip-poor-will 2 51 2.4 2011 Common Yellowthroat 259 54 134.6 all Hooded Merganser 1 14 1.2 2011 Chimney Swift 114 54 83.4 all Hooded Warbler 4 39 4.6 2011 Common Merganser 4 24 4.1 2011 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 36 54 11.4 all American Redstart 166 54 108.9 all Red-breasted Merganser 4 1.5 2008 Belted Kingfisher 17 54 11.3 all Cape May Warbler 43 4.1 2011 Ruddy Duck 5 1.4 2007 Red-headed Woodpecker 1 16 1.3 2004 Cerulean Warbler 1 45 4.1 2011 Northern Bobwhite 1 31 3.9 2002 Red-bellied Woodpecker 185 39 61.4 2011 Northern Parula 30 53 15.4 2011 Ring-necked Pheasant 3 53 18.1 2010 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 25 25 7.6 2011 Magnolia Warbler 29 54 16.8 all Ruffed Grouse 2 50 9.4 2009 Downy Woodpecker 83 54 52.2 all Bay-breasted Warbler 2 46 6.0 2011 Wild Turkey 75 30 42.8 2011 Hairy Woodpecker 27 54 17.6 all Blackburnian Warbler 7 52 9.9 2011 Red-throated Loon 2 3.0 1973 Northern Flicker 78 54 78.3 all Yellow Warbler 356 54 198.2 all Common Loon 1 21 2.0 2006 Pileated Woodpecker 36 54 14.1 all Chestnut-sided Warbler 65 54 51.9 all Pied-billed Grebe 2 24 2.1 2008 Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 26 1.3 2011 Blackpoll Warbler 4 48 9.0 2011 Horned Grebe 2 1.0 1981 Eastern Wood-Pewee 58 52 14.8 2011 Black-throated Blue Warbler 42 54 18.8 all Double-crested Cormorant 21 39 19.7 2011 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 11 1.2 1993 Palm Warbler 4 16 1.6 2011 American Bittern 38 2.9 2010 Acadian Flycatcher 1 16 2.0 2011 Pine Warbler 5 26 4.9 2011 Least Bittern 2 25 1.6 2011 Alder Flycatcher 12 1.8 2010 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 1.0 2006 Great Blue Heron 102 53 31.9 2011 Willow Flycatcher 8 37 3.4 2011 Yellow-rumped Warbler 173 54 89.7 all Great Egret 7 2.3 2009 Least Flycatcher 39 54 37.0 all Prairie Warbler 58 54 49.8 all Snowy Egret 4 2.5 2008 Eastern Phoebe 121 54 63.3 all Black-throated Green Warbler 58 54 34.1 all Little Blue Heron 4 1.0 2008 Great Crested Flycatcher 103 54 54.7 all Canada Warbler 6 53 9.3 2011 Cattle Egret 3 1.7 2006 Eastern Kingbird 100 54 77.4 all Wilson's Warbler 3 49 4.2 2011 Green Heron 20 53 10.7 2011 White-eyed Vireo 6 25 2.1 2010 Yellow-breasted Chat 10 1.7 1998 Black-crowned Night-Heron 15 1.5 2006 Yellow-throated Vireo 29 54 25.9 all Eastern Towhee 175 54 96.6 all Glossy Ibis 2 1.0 1984 Blue-headed Vireo 9 51 6.8 2011 American Tree Sparrow 6 2.2 2008 Black Vulture 17 18 7.3 2011 Warbling Vireo 158 54 54.5 all Chipping Sparrow 218 54 137.3 all Turkey Vulture 136 54 54.3 all Philadelphia Vireo 1 21 1.1 2010 Field Sparrow 74 54 46.9 all Osprey 4 45 3.3 2011 Red-eyed Vireo 197 54 69.4 all Vesper Sparrow 37 4.4 2011 Bald Eagle 10 17 3.5 2011 Blue Jay 235 54 223.6 all Savannah Sparrow 12 54 14.9 all Northern Harrier 31 1.8 2011 American Crow 499 54 281.4 all Grasshopper Sparrow 27 2.9 2011 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 35 2.6 2011 Fish Crow 14 44 8.8 2011 Fox Sparrow 8 1.0 2006 Cooper's Hawk 3 30 3.6 2011 Common Raven 21 21 8.6 2011 Song Sparrow 274 54 173.6 all Northern Goshawk 15 1.3 2007 Horned Lark 35 5.5 2009 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 24 1.5 2011 Red-shouldered Hawk 13 30 5.3 2011 Purple Martin 26 51 17.0 2011 Swamp Sparrow 50 54 51.6 all Broad-winged Hawk 11 51 4.4 2011 Tree Swallow 405 54 262.0 all White-throated Sparrow 37 54 27.2 all Red-tailed Hawk 72 54 34.2 all N. Rough-winged Swallow 83 54 27.3 all White-crowned Sparrow 26 53 13.6 2011 Golden Eagle 2 1.0 1995 Bank Swallow 305 54 179.4 all Dark-eyed Junco 5 39 2.9 2011 American Kestrel 9 54 10.3 all Cliff Swallow 3 35 9.3 2011 Summer Tanager 1 1.0 1988 Merlin 1 5 1.0 2007 Barn Swallow 289 54 185.4 all Scarlet Tanager 104 54 65.3 all Peregrine Falcon 2 1.0 2008 Black-capped Chickadee 158 54 129.2 all Northern Cardinal 300 54 134.0 all King Rail 2 1.5 1990 Tufted Titmouse 183 54 79.8 all Rose-breasted Grosbeak 121 54 108.6 all Virginia Rail 7 52 4.1 2011 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 29 3.9 2010 Blue Grosbeak 1 1.0 1998 Sora 37 2.5 2010 White-breasted Nuthatch 89 54 39.0 all Indigo Bunting 30 52 16.8 2011 Common Gallinule 29 2.8 2006 Brown Creeper 1 54 6.6 all Bobolink 220 54 126.8 all American Coot 12 1.3 2007 Carolina Wren 49 43 19.8 2011 Red-winged Blackbird 1219 51 1241.5 2011 Black-bellied Plover 3 1.7 1996 House Wren 100 54 74.2 all Eastern Meadowlark 9 54 35.2 all Semipalmated Plover 18 1.8 2008 Winter Wren 2 49 4.6 2011 Rusty Blackbird 14 25 4.2 2011 Killdeer 56 54 40.5 all Sedge Wren 1 1.0 1980 Common Grackle 337 54 442.6 all Spotted Sandpiper 17 54 20.2 all Marsh Wren 51 53 16.9 2010 Brown-headed Cowbird 165 54 177.3 all Solitary Sandpiper 22 54 17.6 all Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 24 2.2 2009 Orchard Oriole 23 43 5.1 2011 Greater Yellowlegs 8 50 7.7 2010 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 41 6.0 2011 Baltimore Oriole 228 54 172.6 all Willet 1 1.0 1979 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 73 46 28.0 2011 Purple Finch 21 54 21.5 all Lesser Yellowlegs 4 42 4.5 2010 Eastern Bluebird 240 54 58.9 all House Finch 192 48 136.2 2011 Semipalmated Sandpiper 20 4.2 2010 Veery 118 54 78.2 all Red Crossbill 3 2.0 1984 Least Sandpiper 16 50 29.7 2011 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 24 2.0 2007 Pine Siskin 17 24.1 2009 Pectoral Sandpiper 5 25 3.9 2006 Swainson's Thrush 12 53 8.1 2011 American Goldfinch 343 54 278.8 all Dunlin 1 1.0 1986 Hermit Thrush 3 46 3.5 2011 Evening Grosbeak 13 18.2 2011 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 8.0 1982 Wood Thrush 156 54 134.1 all House Sparrow 269 54 177.1 all Wilson's Snipe 4 39 3.2 2007 American Robin 863 54 430.8 all Total Birds 15821 Date American Woodcock 4 54 5.4 all Gray Catbird 622 54 298.6 all Total Species 161 of Count: Wilson's Phalarope 1 1.0 1965 Northern Mockingbird 104 52 64.4 2011 Number of Birders 60 12 Red Phalarope 1 1.0 2006 Brown Thrasher 18 54 26.5 all Number of Groups 26 Black-legged Kittiwake 1 2.0 1971 European Starling 559 54 488.1 all Feeder Watchers 13

Compiled by Herb Thompson, Barbara Butler & Carena Pooth 10 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org February 2012

Allen Frost — Museum Curator & Lecturer

Allen Frost was an authority on the natural to classify birds for the Museum, returning history of Dutchess County. He lectured on April 15, 1927. With help from John widely on local fauna and Baker, Frost presented “Impressions of the flora, spending countless hours Birds of Jamaica” to the Linnean Society photographing birds and flowers. He was the following year on April 10. It is not devoted to detail with a passion for known what other activities he pursued for accuracy. While Frost is often thought of as the Museum. an associate of Maunsell Crosby, he was From 1930 to 1933, Frost worked for much more. the city of Poughkeepsie as an accountant, a Frost was born July 17, 18781 in political appointment earning just over $200 Poughkeepsie to Joseph and Rebecca North per month. During this time he also became Frost. He had three brothers and three curator for the Dutchess County Historical sisters. As a school child he spent much of Society. After a new mayor took office in his time exploring the local woods and 1934, Frost became a “wildlife technician” fields, developing an early interest in nature. with the National Park Service, studying the Apparently he attended Poughkeepsie High natural history of eastern New York, New School but by 1894, maybe 1893, he was Jersey, and Pennsylvania. It is unknown attending Poughkeepsie’s Riverview how long this assignment lasted but in May Military Academy from which he graduated 1941 he became a staff member of the new in 1896. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. His early desire was for a career in medicine, but his first job Late in life Frost was deaf which sadly effected his birding was a teller for the Huguenot National Bank of New Paltz in activities. Otis Waterman recalls showing him a Prairie Warbler 1900. He soon became a bookkeeper at the First National Bank in at Scout Camp Nooteeming in 1944 or 1945, then a rather rare Poughkeepsie then by 1908 a teller and finally assistant cashier. bird. During the winter of 1944-45, Frost was ill for several In 1911 he also began working for the Trussell Manufacturing months. The following winter after an illness of about a week he Co. then located on North Cherry St., Poughkeepsie. This suffered a heart attack and passed away on Jan. 9, 1946. He was company was founded in 1907 by the Trussell brothers to survived by his wife and stepson.2 Ludlow Griscom, a close manufacture high quality loose leaf binders. Effective Jan. 1, friend, described him as modest and unassuming, very loyal in 1913 Frost resigned from the First National Bank to work full his friendships, and a gifted and cautious field observer. time for Trussell as secretary and treasurer. Frost did not write many articles,3 he preferred to teach, On June 4, 1910 Frost married Martha Allen Winant. A although at the time of his death he was planning to write a book divorcée with one son, she was a long time Poughkeepsie school on the flora and fauna of Dutchess County. All of Frost’s notes nurse. For most of their married life they lived in an apartment on and photographs, contained in a number of notebooks, were Holmes St., Poughkeepsie. given to Ralph Waterman for use by the Boy Scouts. The Frost was always active with the Boy Scouts. On March 9, notebooks have subsequently been lost. Some of his class notes 1912 he spoke about birds to the local troop, something he would do survive. do frequently. This is also the year of Frost’s earliest bird NOTES records, although he recalled sightings from the 1890s. By 1915 [1] some records incorrectly record 1877. Frost had become more active in observing birds, often with [2] Martha Gordon Allen Winant Frost (1874-1958) and Walter Lawrence Winant George Gray and soon with Maunsell Crosby. He joined the (1895-1974). Rhinebeck Bird Club in 1916, became an AOU member in 1919, [3] The following were written by Allen Frost: and joined the Linnean Society in 1923, all certainly encouraged  “Campaign Against the English Sparrow,” Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle, April 10, by Crosby. Crosby credits Frost with suggesting the May Census 1914. deploring the expanding House Sparrow and advocating its destruction. in 1919. Then in 1920 and continuing through 1924, Frost and  “White Herons in Dutchess County N.Y.,” Auk, 1930 Crosby camped for up to a week at various locations in Dutchess  “The Eastern Least Bittern,” Bulletin to the Schools, March 1936, with 3 County as they pursued birds. photos. In June 1920 Frost became a member of the Vassar Brothers’  “Effect Upon Wildlife of Spraying for Control of Gipsy Moths,” Journal of Wildlife Management, 1938. Project was in Putnam County. Institute and was soon named curator of their museum, a position he would hold until his death. He became a trustee of the Institute  “The Prairie Horned Lark in Dutchess County,” Bulletin to the Schools, March 1944, with 2 photos. in 1921 and served as its president from 1928 until 1945. His The following, not written by Frost, include his photos: duties also included obtaining the speakers for their popular  Year Book of the Rhinebeck Bird Club for the years 1918, 1919, 1920, lecture series. By the mid-1920s he had started a nature class, includes 2 photos. usually focusing on birds, which he taught during the school year.  “Bird Study Near Home,” Bird-Lore, 1925 includes 4 photos. He conducted these classes into the 1940s, most often for the Boy  “The ecology and economics of the birds along the northern boundary of New Scouts or Girl Scouts. York State” Roosevelt Wildlife Bulletin, 1939, includes 2 photos. It is tempting to say work got in the way of Frost’s birding,  “Autumn Shore Birds in the Albany Region,” Bulletin to the Schools, March but the details are unknown other than he stopped working for 1940, includes 1 photo. Trussell by early 1927. In 1927 Frost began a new job with the Photo of Frost taken Feb. 11, 1943 at the Roosevelt Library & Museum. American Museum of Natural History, likely obtained with Stan DeOrsey support from Crosby. Frost traveled to Jamaica in the West Indies 11 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

Field Trip Notes Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat and Cerulean, Pine, Louisiana and Northern Waterthrush were heard. Wednesday, May 15, 2012 - Nuclear Lake – Soon after we arrived we heard an American Bittern Eleven birders hoped the rain would hold off on a and a Common Moorhen but we did not find them in warm, muggy morning starting our observations in the the kill. There were several Canada Geese, Wood parking lot. A couple of Magnolia Warblers started the Ducks, Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireos, Red- show and not long after heading down the road, a winged Blackbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Catbirds, Tree Swamp Sparrow was heard and a Hummingbird was and Barn Swallows present. We also saw a few Veery, seen perched on the tip of a bare snag. We enjoyed Red-eyed Vireos, Song Sparrows, Blue-gray watching a pair of Chickadees that had a nest in a tree Gnatcatchers, Goldfinches, Kingbirds, Scarlet cavity going in and out of the opening with food for Tanagers, Great Crested Flycatchers, Cedar Waxwings, their young. Tufted Titmice, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 2 A third of the way to the lake seemed to be the area Chipping Sparrows, Cardinals and we heard Wood for the Veeries. We could hear full songs and short Thrush, Eastern Wood Pewee and Pileated calls from both sides, near and far with one coming Woodpecker. down close for a good look. Common Yellowthroat, Down the gated trail from the parking lot we saw or Yellow Warblers and Redstarts were being seen and heard 2 Willow Flycatchers, Swamp Sparrows, Robins, heard the length of the road and beyond, but one and heard a Least Flycatcher. We found a Ruby- sound we heard had some of us stopping, puzzled. throated Hummingbird (1 of 3 seen) hovering above our Janet Allison knew it was a Loon, but by the time we heads and then saw her land on her tiny nest. got to the lake, we couldn’t find it. We did see 6 Overhead some of the group had nice close up views of Spotted Sandpipers on the near shore. Overhead, there a Broad-winged Hawk. We also had a Turkey Vulture was a Crow chasing a Raven and a little farther and and a Red-tailed Hawk. Chimney Swift and Tree Swallow flew over. At the boat launch we found 3 scopes set up by the As we went around the lake, Great Crested group “Friends of Bashakill”. Two were on the Bald Flycatchers were heard with Warbling Vireos, Eagles nest with an adult and an 8 week old young and Gnatcatchers and several Orioles. Two more nests were the other was on the Osprey’s nest. spotted with females either sitting or tending nestlings; At the Garden or Nature Trail we sat on the rocks to one Redstart’s and one Gnatcatcher’s. eat our lunch and then walked the trail before going We kept hearing Blackpolls, and everyone was trying home. We added 2 Rough-winged Swallows, a Phoebe, to get a view, but it became an exercise in frustration. Blue Jay, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Debbi heard a The trees where we were hearing them had a large Black-billed Cuckoo. number of Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped All in all it warmed up to 80 degrees and we all Warblers in them and the black and white coloring of enjoyed the birds at Bashakill. the warblers partially hidden by leaves kept raising our -Barbara Michelin hopes then disappointing. The Cerulean Warbler was the same story, being heard and not seen. Wednesday, May 30, 2012 – IES-Cary Arboretum Still, the warbler count was a rewarding one: 2 Blue- Six Club members met at the IES Gifford House winged, 2 Tennessee, 3 Parula, 2 Yellow, 1 Chestnut- parking lot @ 8:00 am for the midweek field trip. It was sided, 3 Magnolia, 1 Black-throated Blue, 6 Black- a mild (70s), overcast day with a threat of rain in the throated Green, 2 Cerulean, 7 Black and White, 11 forecast which probably accounted for the low number Redstart, 1 Worm-eating, 1 Ovenbird, 1 Northern of participants. The rain never materialized and the Waterthrush, 2 Louisiana Waterthrush, 4 Yellowthroat, abundance of birds(53 species-with c177 individuals) 1 Hooded and 5 Blackpoll, one of which most of us contributed to a very good birding day of approximately finally got to see at the very end of the day on the way 5 hours. out. We spent most of the morning exploring the usual The final bird of note was heard as we were almost trails that begin at the Gifford House. Later in the back out to the parking lot. On the other side of the morning, we drove to the Fern Glen to spend some time swampy area at the bottom of the hill that rises on the birding there. east side of the road we could hear a Yellow-billed We had 3 interesting Waterthrush observations along Cuckoo calling. the ravine of the Wappinger Creek. We first identified Threat of rain and poor lighting did not keep this A Louisiana Waterthrush that was foraging for insects from being a great birding day! along the water’s edge. We then noticed 2 more that -Shelly Redl caused a debate regarding their identification……Louisiana vs. Northern. (Some Saturday, May 19, 2012 – Bashakill. Ten members members offering evidence for Louisiana and others met at the Haven Road parking lot on a cool but sunny pointing out features in favor of Northern). morning. Although warbler migration was coming to [The preference for flowing water suggested Louisiana an end we did have good looks at the “bird of the day” – Waterthrush habitat….however there is some slower a Mourning Warbler in a bush in the over grown moving water(as well as some standing water) along the orchard at the beginning of Haven Road. Jim Clinton Creek’s edge that could attract a Northern found it first and then it came into view for all of us to Waterthrush] see. For some it was a life bird. The thought was that perhaps one of the 2 birds Other warblers we saw were: Yellow, Magnolia, could be a Northern Waterthrush. There were no Black and White, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Redstart, vocalizations to help with identification and we had to 12 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

Field Trip Notes continued…. Wednesday, June 13, 2012 – Yellow Frame Farm. The day seemed nice as we left home and the weather rely on eyebrow width and color(yellow underside of map showed the rain had ended, but Maha Katnani adult Northern vs. buff underside of adult Louisiana). and I encountered steady rain by the time we reached {It was pointed out that there is a whitish phase of the Millbrook. Carol and Ken Fredericks diligently arrived adult Northern that is similar to the adult to say they weren't going to Yellowframe Farm, but we Louisiana….which added to the confusion] could go if we wanted. (Everyone else had the sense to Therefore we were left with eyebrow width for stay in bed.) Let me say here, many thanks to Carol comparison and identification of the 2 birds. A and her dedication in all the trips she leads! Anyway, I photo(D. Kral) was taken that was clear enough for us really wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to to closely examine the eyebrow thickness for 1 of the 2 see the privately owned farm. So, we gave the rain a birds in question. The broader white eyebrow suggests chance to let up. Louisiana rather than Northern(which has a narrow While waiting it turned to a drizzle, and we drove pale eyebrow). The third bird was not seen clearly through Cary IES to see the kestrel and other birds. A enough and shall be left as an unidentified bedraggled Cooper's hawk sat in a tree and dried itself. Waterthrush. Luckily, the rain stopped in less than an hour. At Fern Glen, we identified(sight/call) a 4th We headed up to the beautifully maintained Yellow Waterthrush to be a Louisiana. Frame Farm, with guinea fowl and horses on view as we arrived. Barn swallows dived at the many guinea 53 Species(+ 1 unidentified Waterthrush) along with fowl in the field, but they seemed unperturbed. Statues the number of individuals observed are as follows: adorned the banks of the creek, and a worker reported Mallard(10), Common Merganser(2), Great Blue seeing a beaver in the pond that morning, "Just Heron(2), Black Vulture(1), Turkey Vulture(2), Red- passing through." We continued to the upper barn, tailed Hawk(1), Chimney Swift(4), Belted Kingfisher(1), where another worker showed off a fancy breed of Red-bellied Woodpecker(2), Downy Woodpecker(1), piglets with curly hair. Never have I seen such an Northern Flicker(1), Pileated Woodpecker(1), Eastern immaculate pig barn! Bird houses had house sparrows Wood Pewee(1), Eastern Phoebe(6)…active nest found near the farmhouse, with bluebirds, house wrens and as well, Great Crested Flycatcher(2), Eastern tree swallows in the others. Kingbird(1), Warbling Vireo(1), Red-eyed Vireo(5), Blue We were invited to walk the trails and fields, Jay(2), American Crow(9), Tree Swallow(2), Black- wherever we pleased. From a grove with benches we capped Chickadee(2), Tufted Titmouse(1), Brown entered a small woods, hearing wood thrush and veery. Creeper(1), Eastern Bluebird(9), Veery(6), Wood A mowed path took us through the numerous fields, Thrush(4), American Robin(7), Gray Catbird(12), some grassy and others tangled with overgrowth. Just European Starling(7), Cedar Waxwing(7), Ovenbird(4), as I was hoping to see bobolinks, they appeared in the Louisiana Waterthrush(3), Unidentified field. A brown thrasher hopped ahead of us on the Waterthrush(1), Blue-winged Warbler(4), Black-and- path. We had scarlet tanager, chipping, field and song white Warbler(3), Common Yellowthroat(1), American sparrows, warbling vireo, red-eyed vireo, and cedar Redstart(2), Chestnut-sided Warbler(1), Prairie waxwings. A great blue heron and red-tailed hawk Warbler(4), Black-throated Green Warbler(1), Eastern passed over. Water is in many areas of this farm, a Towhee(7), Chipping Sparrow(6), Field Sparrow(3), worker told us, even on high ground. So at one point Song Sparrow(2), Scarlet Tanager(2), Rose-breasted we turned back, having low boots but not wellies. Grosbeak(1), Indigo Bunting(5), Red-winged Warblers were few: yellow, American redstart, and Blackbird(3), Common Grackle(2), Brown-headed common yellowthroat. Cowbird(6), Orchard Oriole(1), Baltimore Oriole(1), Flycatchers were great-crested, phoebe, kingbird, an American Goldfinch(3). empidonax, and peewee. The peewee was the bird of the day, as Maha observed it was staying near us and - Frank Margiotta then she spotted the nest. Seeing the peewee on the nest was a highlight, but the mother was nervous, so we left her in peace. Correction: The April 28th Shaw field and Bontecou A total of 40 species, and good time had by all! (All Wetlands trip account noted a baby Wood Turtle. I two of us.) found the turtle, about the size of a half dollar, and Adrienne Popko invited us to her house down the speculated it could be a Wood Turtle. The carapace road, where we continued with birding, butterflying (top) had a pattern somewhat like a Wood Turtle. and looking at dragonflies in her yard. She showed us When I got home I looked at the baby turtle page of my her marvelous baby house wren (picture included) in Peterson series reptiles and amphibians field guide. her weekly birdhouse check, as the parent watched The turtle I found had a solid orange plastron from a brush pile. Maha found a new emerged great (underside) which is diagnostic for Painted Turtle. A spangled fritillary butterfly in the garden, waiting in cute little creature, I hope it's doing well. the sunshine for its wings to dry and unfold. Thanks to Adrienne for her hospitality! -Barbara Butler -Aimee LaBarr

13 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

people who thought they might never see this beautiful Photos from Yellow Frame Farm field bird that has been chosen as the State Bird of New trip by Aimee LaBarr York. The male is a bright blue and the bird has a rusty breast. Another blue bird is the indigo bunting. The male is a rich, deep blue and is blue all over, although sometimes brown is seen in the wing. These members of the finch family have the thicker sparrow type bill and are sparrow sized. Often confused with the Blue grosbeak of the south and west which is larger and has a heavy beak and broad rusty wing bars, they are seen in good numbers from early May until late September. Blue grosbeaks, however, have never been officially recorded in the county although from time to time we have a reported sighting which has so far turned out to be the Indigo bunting. Look for Indigo buntings on the ground, sometimes even on the lawn, or in low shrubbery or small trees. He will sing the lively high warbler with double phrases House Wren hatchling form the top of a small tree and the brown female will photo by Amy LaBarr build her neat compact nest in a bush a few feet from the ground. Like many of the blue birds, the blue is not a pigment color but rather the diffraction of the light through the black feathers. It is hard to thing of anything as beautiful as a blue bird not actually being blue, but that the way it is.

About Goldfinch

The bright yellow bird with the black cap, wings and tail seems to bear little resemblance to the drab little bird that spent a lot of time at the feeder during the winter. But as spring approached the male goldfinch began to molt and replace the olive-green feathers with bright yellow. Even in the winter they retain the black wings and tail. The male usually has a yellow spot near the wing but the drab little female stays the same color all year around. During the spring and early summer, we hear and Newly emerged Great Spangled Fritillary see they as they fly about the country in small, loose photo by Amy LaBarr flocks. We see them feeding on weed seeds and hear the cheery, bright song. By the third week in July the female begins to select a nest site. She chooses a spot in a thick hedge or a In Helen’s Words……….. small tree. Here she builds a durable deep cup with thick walls and lines it with thistle and cattail down. EDITOR’S NOTE: The following articles were written The nest is so well built that if will hold water, and if by past founding member Helen Manson Andrews the young are left unprotected during a heavy rain, when she was writing for the Millbrook Roundtable, a they could drown. monthly newspaper back in the 1980’ and 1990’s. The pale bluish eggs are incubated by the female Hope you enjoy her articles as much as we do. alone, but her male feeds her during the 12-14 day before the eggs hatch. The young are fed on seeds, About blue birds - 5/25/1983 which are partly digested by the parents and fed by regurgitation. They are raised entirely on seeds. This Looking through the Field Guide to Birds, I find a is the reason for the lateness in their nesting. They very few birds that are blue. Brown, yellow and gray have to want until there is a good seen supply. In the seem to be the predominate colors. Therefore fall we see many goldfinches feeding in the woods along whenever we see a bird that is blue, except the blue the roadsides and many of these are young of the year. jay, we take a second look. The nest is do durable that we often find them during the winter and into the next spring, but they The Eastern Bluebird is getting to be more common, are not used again. A new nest is built for each brood. especially in central Dutchess, and is seen by many

14 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

Bluebird Trail Monitors- The Next Generation MEMBERSHIP FORM

In the last couple of years there has been an Name(s) ______increased interest in starting new Bluebird Trails and reactivating old Bluebird Trails (BBT) in the area. Both Street ______of these endeavors require trail monitors. And trail monitors have been in short supply. In 2010 the City ______Fountains, a senior’s community in Millbrook asked State ______Zip ______Phone ______the Ralph T Waterman Bird Club to help reactivate the BBT on the Fountains grounds. It was a pleasant Email ______surprise to have 12-year-old Troy Denison volunteer to work along with his dad, Peter on this trail. Troy 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______worked with the BBT committee and his dad making repairs on the nest boxes and getting the trail ready for Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______the 2011-nesting season. During the nesting season Club Patch $3.00 ______Troy along with his dad did the weekly trail monitoring and record keeping. At the conclusion of the breeding Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______season Troy and his dad put on an interesting and very informative presentation of the trail for the residents. Total Enclosed ______Troy is now into his second year of trail monitoring at the Fountains, which started this spring with Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Send completed form and check to: Steve Golladay, cleaning and repairs of the nest boxes. Along with his Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 Bluebird Trail interests Troy, who is a 7th grader at the LaGrange Middle School plays the trombone in the school band, is active in Boy Scouts and takes care of the yard work at his home. The Hazards of Bluebird Trail Monitoring This past winter a camp in the Sylvan Lake area expressed an interest in having a Bluebird Trail put on As those of us who monitor Bluebird boxes can their property. This new trail would need to be attest, each Spring as we clean out our boxes in monitored. This time the call went out to a new anticipation of the Bluebirds’ return, we invariably find member and one who is also a member of the New York that mice have taken up residence in some of the State Young Birders, 12 year old Emanon Freiburger. boxes. They usually have quite large, comfortable Emanon with the support of his parents said he would nests that can have anywhere from one to four mice in very much like to monitor the new trail and would help them. These have to be removed and usually the mice set up the new trial as well. Unfortunately the details come jumping out and scurry to cover somewhere on of setting up the trail at the camp could not be worked the ground. I found that this isn’t always the case, out. The BBT committee had a monitor but no trail. A though. One mouse that was being evicted attached willing trail monitor is a terrible resource to let go to himself to my leg or foot without my knowledge and waste. So the BBT committee set out to find a location when I got back in my car and started down the road for a new trail. A suitable piece of property for a trail in to the next nestbox, I saw him scurrying around under Beekman was located and permission granted by the my feet on the floor of my car! owner to put the trail in. When the day came to I have a five-month old Rottweiler puppy that was “install” the trail Emanon was on hand to help. He riding along with me that day, sitting in the passenger worked on the locating and installing of the boxes. He seat. Luckily he is not yet that alert and never noticed is now doing the weekly monitoring and is eagerly the mouse. I pulled over and got out to try to chase the awaiting the arrival of his first occupants in new boxes mouse out of the car, but he had decided to go up (as of May 9th). When Emanon is not birding or under my seat and would not show himself. I finished monitoring his trail he enjoys playing basketball and the trip to all my boxes wondering if the mouse would playing the acoustical guitar. He is a sixth grader in come out, the dog would notice him and give chase the Union Vale Middle School. inside the car as I’m driving. The scenario I imagined The Bluebird Trail committee is very happy to have ended in a horrible crash, but luckily for all three of these two young men take an early interest not only in us, the mouse decided to stay hidden. His luck did run birding but also in Bluebird Trails. Troy and his dad out, though. I had to set mousetraps in the car to have had to battle house sparrows taking over Bluebird eventually get him out and two days later, no more Boxes and Emanon is still waiting for Bluebirds to find mouse. his nest boxes. So both young men are having to After hearing of my difficulties, Jerry Gilnack has endure some frustrations from Mother Nature but both furnished most of my problem nest boxes with baffles are sticking with their Trails. to discourage the mice. Thank heaven for Jerry!

-Jerry Gilnack -Shelly Redl

15 Volume 54 Number 6 www.watermanbirdclub.org June 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 FIRST CLASS

President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

[email protected] Janet Allison 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected]

WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS Sun. July 1 Buttercup West *pg. 22 – Leader: Sat. Aug. 18 Deep Hollow – Leader: Barbara Alan Peterson. Meet at parking lot Michelin. Call for meeting place and (Stissing Mt. Ln. & right on Stissing time due to limited parking. Mt. Rd. - off Rt.82, Pine Plains) at 8:00am. For Weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch Sat. July 7 Vassar Farm – Leader: Ken & Carol and beverage. If car pooling to out of county trips Fredericks. Meet at barns at 8:00am. please contribute towards gas for trip. Rain cancels the Sat. July 14 Town of Clinton's Nature Trail – walk. Any questions call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 Leader: Barbara Mansell. Meet at the or trip leader. (* Listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess Clinton Town Hall, 1215 Centre Road County or can be found at (County Route 18, north of www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) Schultzville) at 10:00am. A joint trip with Clinton CAC. Notice: Due to family illness the weekend field Sat. July 28 Cary/IES – Leader: Barbara trips may have leader changes to cover for me when I Michelin. Meet at the Gifford House am out of town. Please check your Wings issue each parking lot on Rt. 44 (was 44A) month to note any changes. Thank you. Millbrook at 8:00am. Barbara Michelin

Sat. Aug. 11 Taconic Hereford off Taconic - Leader: Barbara Michelin. Meet at The next Wings deadline is Aug. 9, 2012. parking lot at 8:00am. Please call if Please send articles to Barbara Michelin you plan to attend. and copies to Janet Allison & Chuck Martinez. Contact information is on this

page.

16 Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

SUMMER/FALL 2012 MEETING NOTICE

There is NO August pot luck picnic (August 27th) this year. Looking ahead our next meeting will be Monday, September 24, 2012 at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Our speaker will be John Thompson, Director of Conservation Science at Mohonk Preserve’s. Look for more details in our September Newsletter.

-Binnie Chase

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2012 FIELD TRIPS WEDNESDAY Aug. 29 Andrew Haight Road *pg. 10. Meet at Farm & Home Rt. 44, Millbrook at 8:00am Sep. 5 Ferncliff Forest *pg. 42. Meet there (Mt. Rutsen Rd., Rhinebeck) at 9:00am. Sep. 12 Stony Kill Environmental Farm *pg. 104 - Rt.9D, Wappingers Falls. Meet at the Manor House parking lot Rt. 9D, Twn Wappingers) at 9:00am. Sep. 19 Vanderbilt Mansion *pg. 126. Meet there (Rt. 9, Hyde Park) at 9:00am. Sept 26 Buttercup West *pg. 22 – Meet at parking lot (Stissing Mt. Ln. & right on Stissing Mt. Rd. - off Rt.82, Pine Plains) at 9:00am.

Oct. 3 Montgomery Place Meet there at 9:00am. Take Rt.9G North of Rhinebeck, turn left on Rt. 199 to Kingston Bridge. Turn onto River Rd. (Dut. 103) to estate parking lot. Oct. 10 Tymor Forest *pg. 124. Meet at the barns (off CR-21/Bruzgul Rd.) at 9:00am. Hot dog roast after walk (optional). Bring your own. Oct. 17 FDRoosevelt National Historic Site *pg. 50. Meet at the new visitor center parking lot Rt. 9, Hyde Park at 9:00am. Oct. 24 Bowdoin Park *pg. 16. Meet at the upper level parking area (off Sheafe Rd., Twn. Wappingers) at 9:00am. Oct. 31 Vassar Farm*p130. Meet at barn parking lot at 9:00am.

Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for trips call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

* * * WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS ARE ON BACK PAGE * * *

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

EXECTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 must be completed in September. Weekly visits & President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 record keeping. We need your help. Contact Susan at Vice-Presedent: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 845-7585796 or email at [email protected] Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 Bluebird Trail Monitor Needed Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291 Stony Kill Environmental Center, Rte 9D, Wappingers nd Committee Chairs Falls is in need of a 2 Bluebird Trail Monitor to share Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 their approximate 40 nest boxes. This Bluebird Trail Circulation: Chet Vincent 452-3716 has quite a long & unusual history to it and Stony Kill Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 has the history book. Duties would include checking Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 the nest boxes every week, keeping written records of Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 all activities in the nest boxes and completing an end of Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 breeding season written report. Stony Kill will do all Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Chuck Martinez 896-6455 the maintenance & repairs of the nest boxes and they NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 will mow the grass to the nest boxes. The breeding Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 season is from the end of March until the end of Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 August & a written report is due by the end of Historian: Adrienne Popko/Carrie Grey 229-5967 September. If interested call Denise Schirmer, Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Program Director @ Stony Kill 845-831-1617 or email - Publicity: Kateri Kosek – 226-6267 [email protected] - or contact Susan Gilnack @ Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 845-7585796 or email - [email protected]. Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 -Susan Gilnack Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 MARK YOUR CALENDAR Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477

What - Annual Dinner November 12, 2011 CALL FOR NEW WEBMASTER

As you all know, the Club has an excellent website due Place - Cappuccino By Coppola's to the efforts of Carena Pooth, who has managed the Route 9, Poughkeepsie, New York site for many years. However, as of this coming November, Carena will no longer be able to continue this important service for our club. We now need a Join us at Stony Kill Farm this summer! member to take on the position. Meanwhile Carena is working to eliminate some of the unnecessary and unused parts of the site so as to simplify its Come Explore Our Barn! For boys and girls entering maintenance. Anyone interested in the position please grades 1 to 4 on Wednesday, August 29, from 10:00 contact me- ([email protected] or 845-462- a.m. to 12:00 noon. Get a behind the scenes look at 5105) as soon as possible. Carena is also available to the farm animals in the Barn at Stony Kill. Get up answer specific questions about the site or the close and personal with our sheep, cows, pigs, position. chickens and turkeys. This program also includes farm activities and games! The website has been a wonderful asset to our club, If you are interested in registering for any of these and we are still in need of a member who will continue programs, it must be done so by the Sunday before the with this important function. We also need to thank program. There is no fee to participate. Register by Carena for the excellent service she has given to our emailing us at [email protected] or calling us at club 845-831-1617. Hope you are able to join us! -Maury Lacher June 2012 Records Bluebird Monitor Needed for the 2013 Canada Goose: 17 rpts, avg 30 ea; 130/11 Tivoli North Bay Breeding Season MM/LS*; 80/6 Wethersfield FT. Mute Swan: 2/2 Sylvan Lk RR*; 4/11 Tivoli South Bay There is presently 2 Bluebird Trail Monitor positions MM/LS*; 2/1 Fisherman’s Pk KH. open - 10 nest boxes in the Pleasant Valley area - Wood Duck: 4 rpts, avg 2 ea; 4/3, 3/17 CIES WLS*; 2/9 Sherow Rd., Arborio Rd. & Salt Point Tpk. and 28 nest Locust Grove KH; 7/27 Locust Grove FT. boxes in the Millbrook area - Sanford Rd., Bangall Rd., Mallard: 8 rpts, avg 4 ea; 9/3 Bontecou Wetland Area AMP*; Canoe Hill Rd., Woodstock Rd. and Rte. 44. Can be 5/16 Rt 22 JunCt BB. combined into 1 trail. Training is available & Common Merganser: 4 rpts, avg 2 ea; 2/3, 2/17 CIES maintenance is done for you. Breeding season is mid WLS*. March through August. A Nest Box Survey report

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

June Records continued… Great-crested Flycatcher: 1-6 in 25 reports; pr nesting in crabapple tree/25 Spackenkill yd EM. Wild Turkey: 13 rpts; 2-6 usual; 2-3f/14-30,10/20 Eastern Kingbird: 19 rpts, 1-4 ea; 4 - 8 daily RHGC two 2f+8poults2-3f/1m/24-30 & 5f/7yg/29 yd. BAM. nests with at least 4 babies in each MP. Double-crested Cormorant: 1/10 Tivoli South Bay MM/LS*. Yellow-throated Vireo: 1-3 in 7 reports from MV; ZS*; DK*; Great Blue Heron: very well reported with 1 - 4 in all reports. BB; 2/27 Locust Grove FT. Green Heron: wide spread in 7 reports, 1 each site WLS*; Blue-headed Vireo: 1/20 Cary IES KH. LS*; BB; BJM. Warbling Vireo: 1-4 in 34 rpts by DFa*; AMP*; BB; KH; BJM; Black Vulture: 2/13 Wendy's, Wappinger Falls KH. and 2 FT. Turkey Vulture: very widely reported; 1-4 in all reports. Red-eyed Vireo: 1-5 in 32 rpts, 5/17 PNR ZS; BB; KH; BJM. Bald Eagle: 2 fledged/17 Poughk”; 2 single reports; 2/15 Blue Jay: many reports 1- 5 by all; pr all + 2/9 ad fed 1yg.& Bowdoin Pk KH; 3/27 Locust Grove FT. 3/24 ad fed 2juv yd. BAM. Northern Harrier: 1/30 Rite Aid, Wappinger Falls KH. Fish Crow: 5/9 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP*; 2/27, 1/29 Red Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/10 Bontecou Wetland Area, Hook LS*; 1/1 Millbrook BB; 1/27 Locust Grove FT. Kennels Rd AMP*; 1/9 Rhinebeck MP. Common Raven: 10 rpts, 1-2 ea; AMP*; BB; 1/27 Locust Cooper’s Hawk: caught a grackle/1 yd BB; 1/15 Bowdoin Grove FT. Pk, 1/20 Cary IES KH. Purple Martin: 1/24 Poet's Walk DK*; 3/20 Pondview Fm Red-shouldered Hawk: 2/8 Norrie Pt SP SB*; 1/8-30 h BB; 1/9 martin box ML. BAM; 1 mostly h Rhinebeck MP. Tree Swallow: very well with high numbers reported; 3 Broad-winged Hawk: 2/20 Rt. 9 Wapp. BJM. reports of nesting with young. Red-tailed Hawk: wel1 reported, 1-2 by most; 5/23 Cary IES Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 7 reports, 1-2 each; 2/15 FT; 3/27 Locust Grove FT. Reese Sanctuary KH. American Kestrel: 9 reports 1 ea; 1/14 N Mabbettsville Rd Barn Swallow: many reports of 1-7 by all around area; 25/9 AMP*; 1/6 Wethersfield FT. Southlands Fm FT. Killdeer: 8 reports of 1-4 by AMP*; MM/LS*; MP; 2/11 Black-capped Chickadee & Tufted Titmouse: many ad+1yg BBT/Humeston fm BJM. reports, good numbers including young. Spotted Sandpiper: 1/10 Bontecou Wetland Area, Kennels Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1/30 PNR FT. Rd AMP*; 1/2 Sylvan Lk RR.*. White-breasted Nuthatch: well reported, 1-3 by most; 5/21 Least Sandpiper: 1/7 TSF MP. Hopeland Sanctuary FT. American Woodcock: 1/17 Buttercup MV*. Carolina Wren: 16 rpts, 1-2 in all ea; 1-2 daily, new nest, Ring-billed Gull: 4/27 Locust Grove FT. parents busy yd JA/KJ. Black-billed Cuckoo: 1/16 AT w of Rt 22 JunCt BB. House Wren: many report, ad & yg; 1-2 ad & 7 yg/all Eastern Screech-Owl: 1/17 PNR ZS*. Mabbettsville Rd AMP*; 10/27 Locust Grove FT. Barred Owl: 2 yg/3 times wk of 17th Fm Ln MHB LG; 1-3 in Marsh Wren: 5/11 Tivoli North Bay MM/LS*. 7 other reports; 2/14 Pok yd mobbed Paul. Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1/20 Cary IES KH. Chimney Swift: 15 rpts, avg 5 ea; 10/13 N. Mabbettsville Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 1/17 Buttercup MV; 3/17 Nuclear Lk ZS*; 1/15 Bowdoin Pk KH; 3/27 Locust Grove FT. Rd AMP*; 8/15 Main St BJM. st nd Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 28 rpts, avg 3 ea, 1-2 most; Eastern Bluebird: many reports, some nesting 1 & 2 2-4/all N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP*. brood; 9/21 Hopeland Sanctuary FT. Belted Kingfisher: 9 rpts of 1 each AMP*; MV*; WLS*; Veery: 43+ rpts, avg 3 ea; 5/16 Nuclear LK BB; 26/30 PNR. MM/LS*; BB; MP; 1/27 Locust Grove FT. Wood Thrush: well reported, 1-2 by most; 5/17 PN ZS*; 5/9 Red-bellied Woodpecker: very well reported; feeding Locust Grove, 10/27 Locust Grove FT. young/16 yd BB; 3/24-30 pr+1juv suet yd. BAM. American Robin: very well reported; good numbers; 39/27 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1-2 on 5 reports; 6/17 PN ZS*; Locust Grove FT. 5/16 Nuclear Lk JunCt BB; 5/30 PNR FT. Gray Catbird: 60 rpts, good numbers WLS*; RR*; BB; KH; Downy Woodpecker: 6 reports of 1-2; adults feeding yg; BAM; BJM; MP; CP/HT. 6/27 Locust Grove FT; 9/30 PNR FT. Northern Mockingbird: 20 rpts, 1-2 ea; JB*; MM/LS*; DK*; Hairy Woodpecker: 1-2 on 6 reports; 2/8-11 f fed 1yg. suet BJM; BAM; MP. yd BAM; 2-4/all yd Poughquag CP/HT. Brown Thrasher: 1/21 Hopeland Sanct FT; 1/8 Norrie Pt SP Northern Flicker: 37 rpts, of 1-2; 10/27 Locust Grove FT; SB*; 1/7 Rockefeller Ln MM/LS*; 1/6 Wethersfield FT; 1/13 4/30 PNR FT. Yellow Frame Fm FT; 1/16 RHGC MP. Pileated Woodpecker: 20 rpts, 1 ea; 2/21 Hopeland Sanct Cedar Waxwing: good numbers, 1-8 by most; 33/6 FT; 2/27 Locust Grove FT. Wethersfield FT; 27/27 Locust Grove FT. Eastern Wood Pewee: 32 rpts, avg 2 ea; 4/16 Nuclear Lk Ovenbird: 16 rpts; 18/17 PNR ZS*; 3/16 Nuclear Lk; 2/16 JunCt BB; at nest/13 Yellow Frame Fr FT; 5/27 Locust Dodge Rd BB; 7/20 Cary IES KH; 18/30 PNR FT. Grove FT; 6/30 PNR FT. Worm-eating Warbler: 1/17 Buttercup MV; 3/17 PNR ZS*; Acadian Flycatcher: 5/17 PNR ZS*; 1/20 Cary IES KH; 2/30 1/15-30 yd Poughquag CP/HT; 2/30 PNR FT; PNR FT. Northern Waterthrush: 1/30 PNR FT. Alder Flycatcher: 1/6 Wethersfield FT. Louisiana Waterthrush: 7 rpts, 1 ea; 2/17, 3/30 PNR; 4/27 Willow Flycatcher: 13 rpts, avg 3 ea; 5/7 Millbrook DFa; Locust Grove FT; 3/30 PNR FT. 4/17 CIES WLS*. Blue-winged Warbler: 15 rpts, avg 2 ea; 5/9 CIES AMP*; Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's): 1/17 Buttercup MV*; 1/20 Cary IES KH; 5/21 Hopeland Sanct. FT; 1/23 Cary IES Least Flycatcher: 8 rpts, avg 1 ea; 1/16 AT w of Rt 22; 1/16 FT. Nuclear Lk JunCt BB. Black-and-white Warbler: 5 single reports; WLS*; ZS*; BB; Eastern Phoebe: extremely well reported, 1-4 by most; 11/6 KH; 3/30 PNR FT. Wethersfield FT; 3 yg nest/29 porch BB. Common Yellowthroat: many reports; 1-3most; 6/14 CIES AMP*; 12/16 AT w of Rt 22 BB; 5/6 Wethersfield FT.

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

June 2012 Records continued…. Observers: JA/KJ - Judy Atwood/Karen Jaquith; SB* - Steve Bauer; JB* - James Boyce; BB - Barbara Butler; ED* - Hooded Warbler: 6/17 PNR ZS*; 5/30 PNR FT. Edward Dettore; DF* - Debbie Fargione; LG* - Linda Gum; American Redstart: 17 rpts with 1-5 ea; 8/17 PNP ZS*; 5/9 KH - Ken Harris; DK* - Deborah Kral; ML - Mary Lunt; EM - Locust Grove, 5/15 Bowdoin Pk KH; 4/30 PNR FT. Eleanor Marr; MM* - Melissa Mezger; AJM/BJM/BAM - Northern Parula: 1/mid-month Mills-Norrie State Park AP, Barbara & Allan Michelin; MP - Mona Payton; CP/HT - unusual for June. Carena Pooth/Herb Thompson; AMP* - Adrienne Popko; RR* Blackburnian Warbler: 1/17 PNR ZS*; 2/30 PNR FT. - Ricki Ravitts; BS* - Ben Sandstrom; WLS* -William & Lisa Yellow Warbler: 45 rpts, avg 4 ea; 11/11 Millbrook DF; 9/6 Schlesinger; WS* - William Schlesinger; BSch* - Ben Wethersfield FT. Schweinhart; ZS* - Zach Smart; ES* - Edmond Spaeth; LS* Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1/17 PNR. ZS*. - Laura Steadman; MV* - Mattie VandenBoom; Pine Warbler: 1/24 Poet's Walk, Red Hook DK*; 2/27 Locust * = reports made through eBird Grove FT. Prairie Warbler: 17 rpts, avg 2 ea; 4/21 Hopeland Sanct FT; Compiler: Judy Atwood 4/20 Cary IES KH. Black-throated Green Warble: 5 rpts, avg 2 ea; 4/17 Pawling Nature Preserve ZS*; 6/30 PNR FT. July 2012 Records Eastern Towhee: 18 rpts, 1-3 each; WLS*; ZS*; BB; KH; Very hot and dry begin of mo. with temps 92 degrees on the 3/30 PNR FT. th th th Chipping Sparrow: 40 rpts, 1-4 each; some ad feeding yg; 4 . On the 13 -18 we had hi 90’s and very humid with pm AMP*; BB; KH; BAM; BJM; MP; CP/HT. thunderstorms (16 of last 21 days of temps in the 90’s per Hudson River Almanac). We had needed steady rain on Fri. Field Sparrow: 22 rpts, 8/21 Hopeland Sanct FT; 5/8 Norrie th Pt SP SB*; 4/20 Cary IES KH; 1-2 in 5 other reports. 20 and continued rain and thunderstorms – some severe - Savannah Sparrow: 8/7, 6/18 Rockefeller Ln MM/LS*; 4 (or through the next week. more) daily TSF MP. Song Sparrow: many reports; good numbers from WLS*; Canada Goose: ebird 7 rpts, avg 24 ea; 62/20 Greig Fm BB; KH; BJM; MP; CP/HT. PS/SR*; 4/25 Bower Pk FT; 2 other reports. Swamp Sparrow: 5 rpts, avg 2 ea; 3/14 Millbrook DFa*; 4/17 Mute Swan: 1/18 pd. Bruzgul Rd. BAM; 6/20 Wapp. Lk, KH; CIES WLS*; 10/16 AT w of Rt 22; 1/16 Dodge Rd JunCt BB. pr/27 Hillside Lk BJM; 1/28 Great Swamp Pres. AD*. Scarlet Tanager: 15 rpts, 1-2 each; 5/21 Hopeland Sanct. Wood Duck: 13/1 incl/12 yg. Buttercup West FT; 15/7 FT; 1/29 h BBT/Secor's BJM; 1/13, 21 h yd. BAM; 4/27 incl/yg. Vassar Farm FT; 7/9 all juvs, CIES JB*; 14/20 Locust Grove FT; 6/30 PNR FT. Shuman Rd, Millbrook AMP*; 2 other reports of 1 each. Northern Cardinal: many rpts, several begging & fed yg; American Black Duck: 1f/5yg/15 RHGC pd-13th hole MP; 5/27 Locust Grove FT. 1/30 Tivoli North Bay SR*; 1f+6yg/31 Denning’s Pt. JC/HRA. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 20 rpts w 1-6 ea; 1-4/all yd Mallard: 5/1 incl/3yg.Buttercup West FT; 13/7 incl/10 Poughquag CP/HT; 4/27 Locust Grove FT. yg.Vassar Farm FT; 45/20 Shuman Rd, Millbrook AMP*; and Indigo Bunting: 17 rpts, 1-3 ea; 5/21 Hopeland Sanct. FT; 2 other reports. 3/16 Dodge Rd JunCt BB; Wild Turkey: families with 3-11 poults by FM,BAM,MP,ES, & Bobolink: 6 rpts, 12(or more??) pairs nesting TSF MP; 7/6 1 FT; most: 12/9 CIES JB*; 15/31 Hopeland JC*. Wethersfield FT; 10/9 Southlands Fm FT; Double-crested Cormorant: 3/21 Klara Sauer Trail KH; 1/27 Red-winged Blackbird: many rpts, ranging 1-75 each; Denning’s Pt. AL; 3/31 Denning’s Pt. JC/HRA. MM/LS*; JA/KJ; BB; KH; BAM; MP; CP/HT; Least Bittern: 1/30 Tivoli North Bay SR*. Eastern Meadowlark - 1/23 Stony Kill BS*; Great Blue Heron: 1-4 by most observers. Common Grackle: 36 rpts, range 1-10 ad & yg; 10/16 AT w Great Egret: first: 1/10 swamp Rt 55 & 292, Pawling GZ; of Rt 22 BB. 1/10 flying over Billings RG; 4 other reports of 1-3 by Brown-headed Cowbird: 23 rpts, 5/3 Kennels Rd AMP*; KH,AL,BAM,SR; most: 6-7/29 Madam Brett, 7/30, 31 5/27 Locust Grove FT. Denning’s Pt. JC/HRA; 8/30 Tivoli North Bay SR*. Orchard Oriole: 15 rpts, 2/3 Millbrook DF; 2/10 Mabbettsville Green-backed Heron: 1-2 by JB,DE,KH,AL,BJM/KH,MP & Rd AMP; 1/30 yd BB; 3/6 Wethersfield FT. FT; most: 5/7 Vassar Farm FT; 3/31 Denning’s Pt. JC/HRA. Baltimore Oriole: 34 rpts, 1-3 all; JA/KJ; BB; KH; BJM; MP; Black-crowned Night - Heron: 1/27 Denning’s Pt. AL; 4/31 CP/HT; 6/3 StonyKill HRA Sramek. Denning’s Pt. JC/HRA. Purple Finch: 7 rpts; 2/1, 7; 1/17 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP*; Black Vulture: 1/11 over Rt.44 Mabbittsville area BAM; 3/15 pr/all fder BB; 1/2 yd Poughquag CP/HT. & 28 walking on home roof/pr + 1juv. Staatsburg DL/HRA. House Finch: extremely well reported; 1m/1f/9, 2f/1m/10, ad Turkey Vulture: 1-4 by most observers; most: 6/18 over fed 1yg./14 & 5/24-30 4ad+1juv yd BAM. Dover village BAM. American Goldfinch: 40 rpts, 1-12 most; 29/18 Stanford Osprey: 1/30 river near Tivoli North Bay SR*. Cemetery, Stanfordville NY DK*. Bald Eagle: 2juv/4 soaring over nest tree Twn Pok TLake/HRA; & 2 other reports; 1/10 north of Trap Rock, Twn Field Trip reports - June 2012 - 6th - Wethersfield; 9th - Pok. flying up river near train tracks NG. Southlands; 13th Yellow Frame Farm; 20th - Hopeland; 23rd Northern Harrier: 1/5 Yellow Frame Fm, Millbrook AMP*. Cary IES; 27th - Locust Grove; 30th PNR; Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/1 Buttercup West FT. Note: 16th was “June Count” date Cooper’s Hawk: 1/21 Innnisfree LS*; 1/21 Tivoli Bays PS/SR*; 1/22 & 29 yd. BAM; 1/28 yd Poughquag CP/HT*; Abbreviations: ad - adult; fdg - feeding; FT - field trip; 1/29 Rt.9 & Old Hopewell Rd. BJM; 1/29, 31 yd BB. JunCt - June Count; juv - juvenile; m - male; Pk - park; PNR - Red-shouldered Hawk: 1/6 HiView Rd. BAM; 2juv/28 Pawling Nature Reserve; Poughk - Poughkeepsie; Sanct - Staatsburg DL/HRA; 1 occ. all mo. yd. MP; 1/30 Clinton JL*; Sanctuary; w - with; yd - yard; yg - young; 1/31 yd Fishkill ES *.

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

July Records continued… Warbling Vireo: 1-2 by KH,AL,BJM & 2FT’s; most: 5/1 Broad-winged Hawk: 1/11 Tamarack Preserve FT; 1/25 Buttercup West FT; 9/9 CIES JB*. Bower Pk FT. Red-eyed Vireo: 1-7 by most observers, FT’s + ebird 14 Red-tailed Hawk: 1-5 incl/juv. + ebird 20 rpts, avg 2 ea; rpts, avg 1 ea; most: 20/11 incl. juv. Tamarack Pres. FT. American Kestrel: ebird 10 rpts, avg 2 ea; 3/15 Greig Fm Blue Jay: 1-8 incl yg being fed noted by JA/KJ,BAM + ebird PS*; 1/17 Waterbury Hill Rd BB; 2/29 Shunpike Rd, Millbrook 39 rpts, avg 2 ea. AMP*. American Crow: 1-10 incl. family/juv. + ebird 56 rpts, avg 4 Merlin: 1/9 Fishkill Route 9 & 84 BY*. ea; most: 15/7 Vassar Farm FT; 16/30 Rockefeller Ln LS*. Peregrine Falcon: 1/1 Pok, Hudson Valley Rail Trl TL*; 1/20 Fish Crow: 1/8 Greig Fm PS*; 60/21 Tivoli Bays PS/SR*; Greig Fm PS/SR*. 1/29 Tivoli Bays -- Kidd Ln & 1/30 Rockefeller Ln LS*. Killdeer: 1-6 by KH,BJM,MP; most: 26/15 Greig Fm PS*. Purple Martin: 1/1 Buttercup West FT; 3/14 flew over yd, Spotted Sandpiper: 1/11 Tamarack Preserve FT; 1/15 Greig calling BB. Fm PS*; 5/27 Denning’s Pt. AL; 1/29 Fishermans Pk KH; Tree Swallow: 1-12 by DE,DK,MP & FT’s; late nest: 2/31 Denning’s Pt. JC/HRA. 1pr+5yg/3 BBT/Diesing farm,BJM; flock/27 Burger Hill Solitary Sandpiper: 1/20 Greig Fm PS/SR*. Rhinebeck FM/HRA.; sev./early mo. TSF and RHGC, then Ring-billed Gull: normal numbers KH; 2/9 Fishkill Rt 9 & 84 most take off MP. BY*; 1/30 Tivoli North Bay SR*. Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 20/9 CIES JB (Jim's Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 1/13 Madam Brett AL; pr mating/21 comment: At least this many in one large flock perched in Dennings Pt KH. snag and flying near it. Appeared to be several families Black-billed Cuckoo: 1/15 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK*. getting together with their fledglings.); flock/27 Burger Hill Eastern Screech-Owl: 1/12 heard Crestwood Rd. Red Hook Rhinebeck FM/HRA & 2 other reports of 1-4 by KH & MP. AG/NG. Bank Swallow: 1/6 Vassar Farm DE/MHB; 4/22 Rocky Barred Owl: 2/1 incl 1juv Buttercup West FT; 1/3 yd, twn Mountain Way, Holmes ES*. Pok. DTignanelli/MHB; 1/6 Ludlow Woods Rd yd DK*; 1/18 Cliff Swallow: 1/15 Greig Fm PS*. h Pond Gut FT; 1/27 Turkey Hollow AA*. Barn Swallow: 1-20 reported + ebird 16 rpts, avg 7 ea; Chimney Swift: 1-14 by KH,BJM,JL ,MZ & FT + ebird 7 rpts, most: 30/21 Beacon waterfront, KH; flock/27 Burger Hill avg. 4 ea; most: 20+/18 Dover village BAM; 20/19 Rhinebk. Rhinebeck FM/HRA; 50-60 daily TSFMP; 29/30 Rockefeller MP. Ln LS*. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1-4 by most observers + Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1/18 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK*; ebird 37 rpts, avg. 2 ea; most: 2f/2-3m/all yd. BAM. 2/28 IES/Cary FT. Belted Kingfisher: 2/1 Buttercup West FT; 1/6 Vassar Farm Carolina Wren:1-3 by most observers & FT’s + ebird 7 rpts, DE/MHB; 5/9 CIES JB*; 2/11 Tamarack Preserve FT; 1/20 avg 2 ea; most: 5/9 CIES JB*. Fishermans Pk, Wapp. Lk., 2/24 Cary IES KH; 3/25 Bower House Wren: 1-4 by most observers & FT’s incl ad & yg/31 Pk FT. yd BB + ebird 38 rpts, avg 5 ea. Red-bellied & Downy Woodpeckers: Normal inc/yg being Winter Wren: 1/11 Tamarack Preserve FT. fed reported by most observers & FT’s. Marsh Wren: 2/9 Madam Brett Pk MZ*; 2/13 Madam Brett Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 4/1 Buttercup West FT; 1-2/1-4 AL; 6/21 Tivoli Bays PS/SR*; 1/30 Tivoli North Bay SR*. yd Poughquag CP/HT*; 2/11 Tamarack Preserve FT; yg/all Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 8/1 Buttercup West FT; 1/11 yd BB. Tamarack Preserve FT; 6/18 Pond Gut FT; 1/31 Hopeland JC*. Hairy Woodpecker: 1-3 by BB,KH,DK, CP/HT & 1 FT; incl nd 1juv/16-31 yd. BAM. Eastern Bluebird: Very well reported incl. yg. 2 nesting + Northern Flicker: 1-2 by JA/KJ,JB,BB,JC,AL,BAM,PS/SR & ebird 35 rpts, avg 2 ea. FT’s + ebird 16 rpts, 1 ea; most: 10/7 Vassar Farm FT. Veery: 1-8 by many observers & FT’s + ebird 31 rpts, avg 2 Pileated Woodpecker: 1-2 by BB/BAM/OW,AMP & FT’s + ea; most: 22/9 CIES JB*; 30/11 Tamarack Preserve FT. ebird 10 rpts, avg 1 ea. Hermit Thrush: 1/18 h Pond Gut FT. Eastern Wood-Pewee: 1-3 by JA/KJ,BB/OW/BAM,KH,MP, Wood Thrush: 1-4 by many observers & FT’s; most: 5/7 LS/MM/SR & 4 FT’s + ebird 39 rpts, avg 1 ea. Vassar Farm FT. Acadian Flycatcher: 2juv/11 Tamarack Preserve FT; 1/18 h American Robin & Catbird: Normal incl yg. noted. Pond Gut FT. Northern Mockingbird: 1-2 by most observers; most: 1-4 Alder Flycatcher: 1/24 Cary IES KH. daily TSF and RHGC MP. Willow Flycatcher: ebird 7 rpts, avg 2 ea; 5/9 CIES JB*; Brown Thrasher: 2/15 Greig Fm PS*; 2/28 IES/Cary FT. 4/15 Greig Fm PS*; 3/21 Tivoli Bays PS/SR*; 1/24 Cary IES Cedar Waxwing: 1-18 by most observers & FT’s incl. 18/28 KH. incl yg. IES/Cary FT..+ ebird 18 rpts, avg 4 ea. Least Flycatcher: 2/9 CIES JB*; 1/18 h Pond Gut FT. Ovenbird: 1-3 by KH,AMP,LS/MM/SR, & FT’s; most: 6/11 Eastern Phoebe: 1-6 by most observers & FT’s + ebird 32 Tamarack Preserve FT; 6/18 Pond Gut FT. rpts, avg 3 ea; incl.2all & 3 yg fledged/7 yd BB. Worm-eating Warbler: 1/4-10 yd Poughquag CP/HT*; 2/13 Great Crested Flycatcher: 1-2 by most observers & FT’s + Madam Brett AL; 3/18 Pond Gut FT; 1/21 Klara Sauer Trail ebird 7 rpts, avg 1 ea; incl. 4(family)/31 yd BB. KH. Eastern Kingbird: 1-4 by BB,DE,KH,AL,LS/MM,MP & 3 FT’s Louisiana Waterthrush: 1/7 3/14 Reese Park KH; 1/12 incl: 5/3 pr+nest w/3yg. Airport Ind. Rd. BJM. Canoe Hill Rd BB/OW/BAM; 1/18 Pond Gut FT. White-eyed Vireo: 1/1 & 21 Cruger Island causeway student Blue-winged Warbler: 1-2 by JC,KH,AL & FT’s. of SR,PS. Black-and-white Warbler: 2/18 Pond Gut FT; 2/13 Madam Yellow-throated Vireo: 1/6 Buttercup East DK*; 1/11 Brett AL; 1/27 Denning’s Pt. AL. Tamarack Preserve FT. Common Yellowthroat: 1-8 by most observers & FT’s + Blue-headed Vireo: 1/5 Tivoli Bays - Kidd Ln LS,SR*; 2/11 ebird 22 rpts, avg 3 ea; most: 23/9 CIES JB*. Tamarack Pres. FT; 2/18 Pond Gut FT; 1/24 Cary IES KH. Hooded Warbler: 1/19 near yard BB; 1/27 Denning’s Pt. AL. American Redstart: 1-2 by BB,KH,DK,KJ,AL,JL & 2 FT’s.

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

July Records continued…. Zylkuski, FT-Field Trip, HRA - Hudson River Almanac, MHB - Northern Parula: 1/5 Tivoli Bays -- Kidd Ln SR,LS,MM*, Mid-Hudson Birds unusual for July. *=Sightings recorded via eBird * compiled by B. Butler Yellow Warbler: 1-4 by JA/KJ,JB,AL,AMP,BB/OW/BAM,SR & FT’s + ebird 12 rpts, avg 2 ea; most: 5/24 Cary IES KH; Field Trips: 7/1 Buttercup West; 7/7 Vassar Farm; 7/11 5/25 Bower Pk FT. Turkey Hollow/Tamarack Preserve; 7/14 Clinton Twn Nature Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1/2 Cary IES BB; 2/6 Buttercup Trail; 7/18 Pond Gut; 7/25 Bower Park; 7/28 IES/Cary East DK*; 1/11 Tamarack Preserve FT. Pine Warbler: 1/11 Tamarack Preserve FT. Abbreviations: ad-Adult; Pres-Preserve; RHGC-Red Hook Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1/5 Tivoli Bays -- Kidd Ln SR,LS*; Golf Course; TSF- The Southlands Farm, yd-Yard 1/31 Hopeland JC*. Prairie Warbler: 1/6 Buttercup East DK*; 1/25 Bower Pk FT; Compiler: Barbara MIchelin 1 juv/25 North Ave Pleasant Valley KH. Black-throated Green Warbler: 11/11 Tamarack Preserve FT. August Records: Please e-mail records or via US mail Eastern Towhee: 1-5 reported by BB,KH,DK,BJM, BB/OW/ to: Barbara Butler, 55 Old Camby Rd., Verbank, NY BAM,SR & FT’s 12585 or [email protected] Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow & Song Sparrow: Normal numbers with yg. noted Better yet….enter your records into eBird (ebird.org) and Vesper Sparrow: 4/6, 2/8, 4/15, 2/20 Greig Fm PS/SR*. forget about sending us a report! We are now including eBird Savannah Sparrow: 1/6, 1/8, 1/15, 1/20 Greig Fm PS/SR*. records without requiring a separate report to RTWBC. Grasshopper Sparrow: 1/8 1/15 Greig Fm PS*. Swamp Sparrow: 4/1 Buttercup West FT; 1/2 Cary IES BB; 7/9 CIES JB*; 2/11 Emans Rd., LaGrangeville BAM; 3/18 Field Trip Notes Pond Gut FT; 4/24 Cary IES KH; 1/30 Tivoli North Bay SR*.

Scarlet Tanager: 1-2 by KH,DK,BJM, BAM,AMP, BB/OW/ Wednesday, June 6, 2012, Wethersfield. I wrote BAM & FT’s. notes after I decided to write up this field trip, but I Northern Cardinal: Normal with yg. noted + ebird 43 rpts, can’t find them. I hope I don’t miss anything exciting to avg 2 ea. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1-2 by JA/KJ,BB,KH,DK,CP/HT share with you. Nine of us met at the Farm and Home & FT’s. Center and car pooled to Wethersfield as usual. We Indigo Bunting: 1-5 by most observser & FT’s + ebird 14 started at the lower part by Swan Lake as I discovered rpts, avg 2 ea; most: 6/25 Bower Pk FT. it’s called. There were no swans though, but two Great Bobolink: 12/15 Greig Fm PS*; 20-26 (many juv/mid-mo.) Blue Herons flew in after we arrived. The Yellow daily TSF until late mo, then mostly gone MP; 50/31 Warblers were singing and the Common Yellow Throats Southlands KH & 1 other report by AMP*. too. The big surprise was the Alder Flycatcher that Red-winged Blackbird: 1-12 reported incl. feeding yg/24 yd appeared to me and sang later so we can identify him. BB + ebird 20 rpts, avg 12 ea; most: 150/5 Haight Rd, To me that was the bird of the day because we don’t Millbrook AMP*; 27/24 Cary IES KH; 31/9 CIES JB*. see the Alders too often. Later we saw another Eastern Meadowlark: 1/31 Southlands KH. flycatcher that wouldn’t sing. I guess it didn’t want to Common Grackle: 1-15 by most observers incl35+/19 incl be counted. Bank and Tree Swallows were flying juv. yd. BAM + ebird 15 rpts, avg 8 ea; most: 30/29, 45/30 around and the Warbling Vireo wouldn’t stop singing. Clinton Nature Trl JL *. It’s June so the birds are nesting of course. Great finds Brown-headed Cowbird: 1-6 by BB,KH,CP/HT; most: 10/7 were the Baltimore and Orchard Orioles on nests not Vassar Farm FT; 13/9 CIES JB* too far from each other. We kept seeing them flying Orchard Oriole: pr/13 Vassar Farm DE/MHB; 1/7 Vassar back and forth but couldn’t photograph them. It was a Farm FT; 1/21 Dennings Pt KH. surprise somehow to see a male Bobolink flying in the Baltimore Oriole: Reports of 1-4 by BB,KH,AL,CP/HT & FT; grass by the lake. We also heard their song which is most: 7/15 Greig Fm PS*. really neat. The Eastern Kingbird was perched on his Purple Finch: 2/1-15 yd BB; 1/all yd Poughquag CP/HT*. favorite bush. As we got really close it flew but came House Finch: Numbers up again & reports of 1-12 incl. 6f/2- back again. Then, we had the cutest Eastern Phoebe 3m all & Ad/fed 1yg/2+ad/fed 2yg/15-17 yd. BAM + ebird 15 babies sitting on branches waiting to be fed. That was rpts, avg 4 ea. special! I was also happy when Barbara found a just emerged male Eastern Forktail Damselfly on a blade of OBSERVERS: grass. Metallic green and blue in color, very beautiful. AA*-Audra Avizienis, JAKJ-Judith Atwood/Karen Jaquith, The Veery, Great Crested Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, JB*-Jim Berry, BB-Barbara Butler, JC-Jamie Collins, AD*-Art and the Wood Thrush were singing. Right before we Drauglis, DE-Derrick Eidam, AG-Ann Gilbert, NG-Natalie reached our cars an American Kestrel was kiting above Gilbert, RG-Ruth Greenwood, MK-Maha Katnani, DK*- us. When we reached the house up the hill we had Deborah Kral, AL-Aimee LaBarr, JL*-Janet Leavens, TL*- beautiful flowers, many frogs in the little pool, and a Tristan Lowery, DL-David Lund, FM-Frank Margoitta, MM*- molting white peacock. They always had a pair of pure Melissa Mezger, BAM-Barbara & Allan Michelin, MP-Mona white peacocks but this time the male looked like a Payton, AP-Alan Peterson, CP*-Carena Pooth, AMP*- hybrid with splotches of green and blue. In the woods Adrienne Popko, SR*-Susan Rogers, PS*-Peter we heard the Ovenbirds, Towhees, and a warbler that Schoenberger, ES-Ed Spaeth, LS*-Laura Steadman, HT*- Herb Thompson, OTW-Otis Waterman, JV*-James Van Tassell, BY*-Byron Young, MZ*-Matthew Zeitler, GZ-Gary

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

Field Trip Notes continued… which was dry. Along the road we saw nesting we couldn’t figure out for sure. I chased the song till I bluebirds and tree swallows and watched a great blue found the Redstart. In the mean time, Barbara read to heron fly overhead every half hour or so. The us from the brochure all about the statues they had bobolinks continued to delight as the males sang in full spread out on the property and we enjoyed still throat and occasionally a female flushed up and blooming Mountain Laurel. As few of us were having allowed us a view too. lunch at the picnic table we watched a Baltimore Oriole We reached the former dairy barn that is used for going in and out of the bushes. The Brown Thrasher storage. Here barn swallows were plentiful, and as went into the bush as I walked to my car. It was a they pretty much have the barn for themselves except lovely morning as always at Wethersfield, but I was for some pesky house sparrows, the barn swallows can disappointed with the mowed fields next to the house. fly back and forth through the barn undisturbed. To That’s where we usually see Bobolinks closer up. I our disappointment, the cliff swallows were not have to confess that I picked a Gardenia flower from evident. We surmised that they had abandoned their the plants in the pots. I love their smell which reminds nesting sites from the last couple of years due to house me of home like when the rooster calls. sparrow predation. All in all we had: 80 Canada Geese, 4 Great Blue As we moved to a road on the next field we saw Herons, 1 American Kestrel, 2 Red-bellied goldfinches, a mockingbird and some song sparrows, Woodpeckers, 2 Eastern Wood Pewee, 1 Alder and 1 and heard a yellow warbler. A woodpecker flew by but Great Crested Flycatchers, 11 Eastern Phoebes, 4 without a good look at it we could not distinguish Eastern Kingbirds, 1 Warbling and 3 Red-eyed Vireos, whether it was a downy or flicker. 1 Blue Jay, 3 American Crows, 5 Tree and 5 Barn Rain began to sprinkle and we turned back towards Swallows, 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 1 White- the parking lot, a little sooner than we’d planned. breasted Nuthatch, 1 House Wren, 3 Eastern Canada geese enjoyed themselves in the muddy Bluebirds, 3 Veeries2, 2 Wood Thrushes, 18 American paddock with the falling rain. Robins, 10 Gray Catbirds, 1 Northern Mockingbird, 1 Total count: 17 Canada Geese, 6 Great Blue Heron, 2 Brown Thrasher, 2 European Starlings, 33 Cedar Rock Pigeon, 2 Mourning Dove, 4 Am. Crow, 8+ Tree Waxwings, 3 Blue-winged, 9 Yellow, 3 American Swallow, 25 Barn Swallow, 1 Tufted Titmice -heard, 4 Redstart, 5 Common Yellow Throat Warblers, 2 Bluebirds, 4 Robins, 1 Mockingbird, 22 Starling, 1 Ovenbirds, 1 Scarlet Tanager, 1 Eastern Towhee, 1 Yellow Warbler-heard, 5 Song Sparrow, 10+ Field and 16 Song Sparrows, 2 Northern Cardinals, 7 Bobolink, 10+ Red-winged Blackbird, 2 Grackles, 2 B. Bobolinks, 21 Red-winged Blackbirds, 7 Common Oriole, 1 House Finch -heard, 3 Goldfinch and 2 House Grackles, 3Brown-headed Cowbirds, 3 Orchard and 3 Sparrow Baltimore Orioles, and 2 American Goldfinches. -Mona Payton

-Maha Katnani Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - Hopeland Area. The weather service posted an excessive heat warning for Saturday, June 9, 2012 – Southlands Farms. On today, which perhaps kept the birder numbers down to Sat. 6/9/2012 six of us gathered at Southlands Farms 9. The birds, however, were still active, many tending in Rhinebeck. As we stood in the parking lot and then young in and out of nests. We found families of Field walked down towards the horse paddocks, many barn Sparrows, Tufted Titmice, and Eastern Bluebirds. A swallows swooped around us and through the barns or Prairie Warbler carried food into a thick bush and a divebombed the barn cat as she slunk away to avoid Tree Swallow took food into a nest box. We heard 5 them. House sparrows, starlings, a few rock doves Blue-winged Warblers and 5 Indigo Buntings. Saw and tree swallows also flew around us. several of the blue-wings, but none of the buntings. The weather was a cloudy and rain threatened as we We did the sunny trail first and then appreciated the headed out to the big field. We did not have to venture cool woodland trails. I was pleased to see many out far before we encountered the bobolinks. After bushes of pasture rose, our lovely native wild rose with standing in the unmowed field for a few minutes we large pink blossoms. They were in full bloom. realized that bobolinks were scattered evenly around There were lots of butterflies (Little Wood Satyr, the field where males perched at the top of long stalks Common Wood Nymph) and damselflies (Ebony and sang and defended their territory. The females Jewelwing). Dragonflies filled the air above the well- apparently were already nesting on the field floor near named Dragonfly Pond. each respective male. Red-winged blackbirds, in good We got back to the parking lot by 11am. We decided numbers, were visible and vocal and the males flashed we had been out during the best part of the day and all their wing patches. A couple of grackles and mourning headed out for cooler locations. The last bird found, doves were also present. after most had left, was a Brown Thrasher. Due to the rainy May and June the field was wet with The list for the day: Red-tailed Hawk - 1, Mourning some standing water and the vegetation high. We Dove - 2, Chimney Swift - 7, Red-bellied Woodpecker - entered into the grass about 100 yards and saw a 3, Downy Woodpecker - 3, Northern Flicker - 1, Baltimore oriole in a large pin oak and a titmouse and Pileated Woodpecker - 2, Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2, then heard another oriole. Robins flew up into a large Willow Flycatcher - 2, Great Crested Flycatcher - 4, white oak. Rather than continue through the field into Red-eyed Vireo - 3, Blue Jay - 3, American Crow - 3, the woods, we decided to back-track to the farm road Tree Swallow - 4, Black-capped Chickadee - 4, Tufted Titmouse - 7, White-breasted Nuthatch - 5, Carolina Wren - 1, House Wren - 2, Eastern Bluebird - 4 + 5 yg,

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

Field Trip Notes continued….. this year’s flooding still in residents’ minds, the Wood Thrush - 1, Gray Catbird - 5, Northern Dutchess Watershed Coalition wants to help people Mockingbird - 1, Brown Thrasher - 1, Cedar Waxwing - understand where exactly their water goes and the 4, Louisiana Waterthrush - 1, Blue-winged Warbler - 5, impacts they have on both the quantity and quality of Black-and-white Warbler - 1, Yellow Warbler - 1, water. For more information about watersheds, visit Prairie Warbler - 4, Field Sparrow - 4 + 4 yg, Song http:// www.dutchesswatersheds.org. Sparrow - 2, Scarlet Tanager - 5, Northern Cardinal - For a description of this year’s WAM events and 2, Indigo Bunting - 5, Brown-headed Cowbird - 1, activities(most FREE), check their website Orchard Oriole - 1, Baltimore Oriole - 2, American www.dutchesswam.com. Goldfinch - 4 There was a very good turn out for the walk (16 -Barbara Butler people) - particularly with the forecast of an uncomfortable temperature-humidity. The walk was Saturday, June 30, 2012 – Pawling Nature led for the 4th consecutive time by Alan Peterson. We Rreserve. The road into Pawling Nature Reserve was began the walk at 8 am under sunny skies and a warm in the best shape ever. Veery, Wood Thrush, Black- temperature. We ended earlier than usual in the late throated Green Warbler, and Acadian Flycatcher were morning as the temperature was becoming quite singing in the dense leaves near the parking lot. Flies uncomfortable. and mosquitoes were in abundance so everyone Many of the 16 participants were new people that applied insect repellant and those with nets put them were attracted to the walk because of the WAM on. program. Curtis Schmidt (Editor/General Manager) of Thankfully most of the insects disappeared or passed Northern-Southern News joined us. Curtis is doing a out from the fumes by the time we entered the woods. newspaper article about WAM and RTWBC’s Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drummed, Downy involvement for the next edition of the paper. He also Woodpecker picked, and Louisana and Northern wants to do a future article in the Fall about the Waterthrush sang in the stream below us! Finally we RTWBC. saw Scarlet Tanager, American Redstart, Ovenbird and Some trip highlights: Black-throated Green Warbler. We heard at least five - Purple Martin flying overhead Hooded Warblers, but only saw a couple. - 15 people absolutely silent as Alan reeled off a As we walked along the boardwalk we saw Titmice long list of birds being heard and Chickadees feeding actively thirty feed up in a tree. - And then…..last year on the same walk They were joined by a Worm-eating Warbler and a Red- (7/3/11), we observed 2 Barred Owls (adult & eyed Vireo. We heard or saw 26 Veeries, 22 Red-eyed juvenile). Debi Kral had visited Buttercup W. Vireo, 16 Chickadees, and 18 Ovenbirds. on Thursday (6/28) and As we crested the hill we saw a very cooperative heard/saw/photographed a Barred Owl. On Eastern Wood-pewee. Nearby a Yellow-bellied our Sunday trip, Debi spotted a juvenile Sapsucker pecked away at a tree full of holes. A young Barred Owl and we were able to get a good Waterthrush was spooked. Hard to identify so Ken view of the perched bird. A nearby adult played a Northern Waterthrush. No response. A Barred called and we watched the juvenile fly Louisiana was played and there was an immediate away to join its parent. reply even though the water was still. The list of the 49 species and the number of each The highlight of the day was a gorgeous male observed are as follows: Wood Duck (13-incl. yg.), Blackburnian Warbler who came in to the song on the Mallard (2ad./3yg.), Great Blue Heron (1), Sharp- birdpad. He stayed for several minutes and posed for shinned Hawk (1-chasing a Red-tail H.), Red-tailed photos. While we were mesmerized a Red-breasted Hawk(2), Turkey Vulture (3), Mourning Dove (3), Nuthatch sang. What a surprise this time of year. Barred Owl (1ad./heard & 1juv.seen), Ruby-throated On the way out some birders saw an Acadian Hummingbird (1), Belted Kingfisher (2), Red-bellied Flycatcher and a Black-throated Green Warbler. By Woodpecker (3), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4), Downy then we are pretty tired and very hot. Time to go home Woodpecker (6-incl.yg.), Northern Flicker (1), Pileated for a shower and a nap! Woodpecker (1), Eastern Wood-Pewee (1), Eastern -Carol Fredericks Phoebe (2), Eastern Kingbird (2), Warbling Vireo (5), Red-eyed Vireo (7), Blue Jay (3), American Crow (7), Sunday, July 1, 2012 – Buttercup West. This trip Purple Martin (1), Tree Swallow (3), Black-capped was the 1st of 7 RTWBC walks that are part of the 2012 Chickadee (6), Tufted Titmouse (2), White-breasted Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month(WAM). The Nuthatch (4), House Wren (1), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher RTWBC has been participating since 2009, the first (8), Eastern Bluebird (3), Veery (9), American Robin year that WAM began a program to make Dutchess (11), Gray Catbird (3), Cedar Waxwing (2), Ovenbird (3), County residents aware of the importance of their Common Yellowthroat (12), Yellow Warbler (4), water resources. The Club also is one of the sponsors Eastern Towhee (2), Field Sparrow (3), Song Sparrow of WAM. (13), Swamp Sparrow (4), Scarlet Tanager (1), Northern The theme of the 2012 WAM is: Where Does The Cardinal (5), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1), Indigo Water Go? Water can go into wetlands and be stored Bunting (2), Red-winged Blackbirds (10+ throughout and filtered in a beneficial way; it can also go the trip), Common Grackle (5), Brown-headed Cowbird negatively into homes and roads when it floods. With (2), American Goldfinch (4). -Frank Margiotta

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

Field Trip Notes continued…. Gray Catbird (10), Cedar waxwing (18), Ovenbird (6), Worm-eating Warbler (3), Blue-winged Warbler (1), Saturday, July 7, 2012 – Vassar Farm. On a very Common Yellowthroat (5), Chestnut-sided Warbler (1), warm and humid morning thirteen birders walked at Pine Warbler (1), Black-throated Green Warbler (13), Vassar Farm. Lately, there have not been many birds Eastern Towhee (2), Chipping Sparrow (5-incl. juv.), out in the heat, but there were plenty to see. Field Sparrow(1), Song Sparrow(6), Scarlet Tanager At the vegetable gardens there were House Sparrows, (10), Northern Cardinal (1), Rose-breasted Grosbeak Starlings, Barn Swallows, Goldfinch, and Song (1), American Goldfinch (6). Sparrows. A Pileated Woodpecker flew and then a Green Heron. As we walked we heard Cedar Waxwings Saturday, July 14, 2012 – Town of Clinton Nature and saw a pair of Kingbirds. Trail. This walk was jointly conducted by the RTWBC Along the wood edge we saw an American Redstart and the Town of Clinton Conservation and a catbird, but could not finding a singing Indigo Advisory Council (CAC) for the 3rd consecutive year of Bunting. Then an Orchard Oriole flew over and landed participation in the Dutchess Watershed Awareness in a tree. All got a good look. Mockingbirds confused Month (WAM). The trip was not just about birds us with a variety of songs. Bluebirds and Tree because it focused on several other fauna and flora of Swallows hung around their boxes. A group of three the area (butterflies, dragonflies, aquatic invertebrates, yellow Scarlet Tanagers responded to pishing. and native & invasive vegetation). The trip was very Near the first pond we saw Yellow Warbler, Song successful because it was well attended and Sparrows and a young Baltimore Oriole. At least 15 educational. Special thanks to the Clinton CAC for Wood Ducks and one Phoebe were on the larger pond. their work in planning the trip. Carolina Wren sang and a beautiful male Scarlet Barbara Mansell, a member of RTWBC and the Tanager flew into a tree, hiding in the leaves. Clinton CAC led the walk. Twenty five people were in By the bridge we heard Mallards and a female and attendance – representing RTWBC, Clinton CAC, two young in the still waster above a beaver’s new dam. Clinton residents and others drawn to the walk As we watched the rest of the Mallard young (8) because of WAM. The warm and humid weather scampered up the front of the dam practically crawling conditions did not discourage participants(adults & over each other! children) from enjoying and learning about the animals -Carol Fredericks and plants of the area. Prior to the start of the walk, the Clinton CAC Editor’s note: This trip was the 2nd of the 7 RTWBC presented a program about the macroinvertebrates of walks that are part of the Club’s participation in the fresh water habitats. Members of the CAC collected 2012 Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month of July. and brought in a diverse group of live animals to show people. Their knowledgeable identification of species Wednesday, July 11, 2012 – Tamarack Preserve and presentation explained the relationship between This trip was the 3rd of the 7 RTWBC walks that are the occurrences of invertebrate animals to the overall part of the Club’s participation in the 2012 Dutchess quality of an aquatic habitat. Watershed Awareness Month of July. (There is a range of tolerance to pollution that is We had 14 members attend the walk on a displayed by certain aquatic invertebrates from those comfortable morning (low 60s @ 8am) but hotter (80s) that are very intolerant of pollution to those that are by the end of the morning. very pollution tolerant). Members of the Clinton CAC Here are some highlights for the trip: identified the many collected invertebrates as being - The usual lunch stop at the deck overlooking moderately to very intolerant of pollution – thus the water…..1 Broad-winged Hawk (distant), 2 concluding that the water body from where the Kingfishers with a good look for some photos, 1 collection was made is of high quality. Spotted Sandpiper. Youngsters in the audience particularly enjoyed - Acadian Flycatchers (2) viewing the animals and learning about them. (After - Nice array of vireos, warblers, and wrens (incl. the presentation concluded, all the animals were Winter Wren) released into the area from which they were collected). - Several species with numerous individuals These are the birds that were recorded during the These are the 48 species and the number of each walk: Mourning Dove (1), Chimney Swift (1), Red- observed: Great Blue Heron (2), Turkey Vulture (4), bellied Woodpecker (1), Downy Woodpecker (2), Broad-winged Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (2), Spotted Pileated Woodpecker (1 heard), Eastern Kingbird (1), Sandpiper (1), Mourning Dove (3), Belted Kingfisher (2), American Crow (1), Tree Swallow (2), Black-capped Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2 -distinctive tapping), Chickadee (1), Tufted Titmouse (1), White-breasted Downy Woodpecker (8-incl. juv.), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Nuthatch (2), House Wren (2), Eastern Bluebird (1), Eastern Wood-Pewee (2), Acadian Flycatcher (2), American Robin (2), Gray Catbird (7-incl. juv.), Eastern Phoebe (6), Yellow-throated Vireo (1), Blue- Northern Mockingbird (1), Cedar Waxwing (4), Common headed Vireo (2), Warbling Vireo (1), Red-eyed Vireo Yellowthroat (1), American Redstart (2-group had a VG (20-incl. juv.), Blue Jay (8-incl. family), American Crow look @ a male), Eastern Towhee (1), Chipping Sparrow (4), Tree Swallow (1), Barn Swallow (1), Black-capped (1), Field Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (1), Northern Chickadee (13-incl. family), Tufted Titmouse (2), White- Cardinal (3), Red-winged Blackbird (2), Common breasted Nuthatch (3), Carolina Wren (3), House Wren Grackle (4), House Finch (1), American Goldfinch (2), (1), Winter Wren (1), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1), Veery House Sparrow (3). (20), Wood Thrush (3), American Robin (13- incl. juv.),

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

Field Trip Notes continued…. Our estimated numbers of the 44 species observed are as follows: Canada Goose (4), Great Blue Heron (2), Wednesday, July 18, 2012 – Pond Gut This was the Turkey Vulture (2), Broad-winged Hawk (1- with a nice 5th of 7 bird walks that RTWBC is participating in for view of field marks), Red-tailed Hawk (3), Mourning the July 2012 Dutchess Watershed Awareness Dove (2), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1), Belted Month(WAM). Seven Club members attended the walk. Kingfisher (3- several good views), Red-bellied The oppressive heat index probably discouraged other Woodpecker (2), Downy Woodpecker (5), Northern RTWBC members and WAM participants from Flicker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Eastern Wood- attending the walk. Pewee (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), Great Crested Flycatcher The temperature was in the 70’s at the 8am start of (2), Blue Jay (2), American Crow (4), Tree Swallow (2), the trip but the high humidity (80% range) and lack of Barn Swallow (10- following close to us as we walked a breeze made for very uncomfortable conditions. We across the open ball field, stirring up insects), Black- decided to conclude the walk at 11am as the capped Chickadee (6), Tufted Titmouse (5), White- temperature was approaching the 90s. breasted Nuthatch (4), Carolina Wren (3), House Wren Despite the unfavorable weather, we managed to (4), Eastern Bluebird (8- adults & several juvenile), decided to conclude the walk at 11am as the American Robin (12), Gray Catbird (9), Northern temperature was approaching the 90s. Mockingbird (1), Cedar Waxwing (8), Blue-winged Despite the unfavorable weather, we managed to Warbler (2), Common Yellowthroat (1), Yellow have some good birding – observing 41 species as Warbler (5), Prairie Warbler (1), Eastern Towhee (1), follows: Great Blue Heron (4), Green Heron (1 – very Chipping Sparrow (5), Field Sparrow (4), Song Sparrow good look - perched on a snag), Turkey Vulture (2), (5), Scarlet Tanager (1), Northern Cardinal (3), Indigo Mourning Dove (2), Barred Owl (1 – heard as has been Bunting (6), Common Grackle (1), Brown-headed the case during daylight hours this summer), Ruby- Cowbird (1), House Finch (11), American Goldfinch throated Hummingbird (1), Downy Woodpecker (4), (20). Northern Flicker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Eastern Also of note: Nice view of a dragonfly that Aimee Wood-Pewee (3), Acadian Flycatcher (1), Least LaBarr photographed and Barbara Butler later Flycatcher (1), Blue-headed Vireo (2), Red-eyed Vireo identified as a Twelve-spotted Skimmer. (6), Blue Jay (4), Barn Swallow (3), Black-capped Barbara Butler researched 2 plants that required Chickadee (14), Tufted Titmouse (5), White-breasted identification….Fringed Loosestrife (nodding yellow Nuthatch (4), Carolina Wren (1), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher flower) and Swamp Milkweed. Thanks Barbara and (6), Eastern Bluebird (1), Veery (4), Hermit Thrush (1), Aimee. Wood Thrush (8), American Robin (4), Gray Catbird (4), Cedar Waxwing (6), Ovenbird (2), Worm-eating Warbler Saturday, July 28, 2012 – Cary/IES This trip was (3), Louisiana Waterthrush (1), Black-and-white the final of 7 bird walks that the RTWBC participated Warbler (2), Common Yellowthroat (4), Yellow Warbler in for the July 2012 Dutchess Watershed Awareness (3), Chipping Sparrow (5), Song Sparrow (4), Swamp Month (WAM). The walk was well attended by 16 Sparrow (3), Scarlet Tanager (7), Northern Cardinal (1), people including some “new” people. It was on Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1), American Goldfinch (7). overcast, humid morning with temperature in the low 70s and a threat of some thunderstorms. The group Wednesday, July 25, 2012 – Bower Park This was was at the Fern Glen when some distant rumblings of the second organized trip(within a year) that the thunder were heard. We therefore decided to end the RTWBC made to Bower Park in Pleasant Valley. The walk earlier than usual. We were fortunate to return to walk was part of the Club’s participation in the 2012 our cars before the thunderstorms and heavy rain Watershed Awareness Month. Thanks to Carol and Ken whipped through Northern Dutchess. We did however Fredericks for discovering this park last year and hear 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches during our brief time scheduling this walk. Bower Park has several well at Fern Glen. planned and marked trails that provide good views of a I want to take this opportunity on behalf of Cornell variety of habitats – field, woodland and aquatic University Cooperative Extension Dutchess County and (Wappinger Creek & Great Spring Creek). myself to thank the leaders of the July 2012 RTWBC- Club members on the walk yesterday agreed that we WAM trips…..Alan Peterson, Ken and Carol Fredericks should plan additional trips during other seasons of (also scheduled Wednesday walks and obtained the year. If you visit Bower Park, be certain to walk the necessary permits), Barbara Mansell (scheduling gravel path at the perimeter of the playing fields. It is a Clinton Nature Trail walk with the Town of Clinton good example of an ecotone or transition area between Conservation Advisory Council) and Barbara 2 adjacent ecological communities – woodland and Michelin(scheduled weekend walks and obtained open field. necessary permissions) and all the RTWBC members For the trip itself – 16 people enjoyed beautiful that supported WAM by attending the walks. Also weather during a morning of birding. The weather was thanks to Carolyn Klocker (Sr. Water Resource cooperative with a bright sunny sky, cool breezes and a Educator-Cornell Cooperative Extension), Sheila Buff( temperature in the 70’s for the entire 3 hour walk. It a representative from WAM for providing watershed was a nice “window” to enjoy in light of what the information to walk attendees), Meredith Frenchmeyer weather has been thus far this summer. & Laurie Wallace(Cornell Summer Interns….provided watershed information to walk participants).

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

Field Trip Notes continued… Our estimated numbers of the 32 species observed MEMBERSHIP FORM are as follows: Wild Turkey (4), Great Blue Heron (1), Red-tailed hawk (1 juvenile), Chimney Swift (1-heard), Name(s) ______

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1), Red-bellied Street ______Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Red-eyed Vireo (5), Blue Jay (5), American Crow (5- City ______family-heard + young @ Gifford House park. lot), Black- capped Chickadee (10), Tufted Titmouse (5), Red- State ______Zip ______Phone ______breasted Nuthatch (2 heard @ Fern Glen), White- breasted Nuthatch (5), Carolina Wren (1), Eastern Email ______

Bluebird (3), Veery (2-heard), Wood Thrush (4-heard), 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______American Robin (6), Gray Catbird (8), Brown Thrasher (2-near the Gifford House Park. Lot), Cedar Waxwing Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______(18+ - incl. adult feeding young), Ovenbird (1-good look), Common Yellowthroat (1), Eastern Towhee (3), Club Patch $3.00 ______Chipping Sparrow (3), Field Sparrow (8-clear song), Song Sparrow (1), Scarlet Tanager (2), Northern Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______

Cardinal (1), American Goldfinch (6). Total Enclosed ______

All above by Frank Margiotta Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Send completed form and check to: Steve Golladay, Editor’s Note: Thank you Frank for your writing Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 up the Field Trips for July. Good job with interesting information.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 – Taconic Hereford Thank You Note MUA. With possible rain during the morning Maha and Aimee met Ken Harris and me at the parking lot at To all at Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club, 8:00am. The sky was blue but we could see clouds coming from the west. Maybe we would luck out with I am doing great and I wanted to take a minute and no rain. To start 9 Cedar Waxwings fly over the thank you for your very thoughtful card and thoughts. parking lot. A long time ago I received a gift of “passion for Continuing along the road we found a small pocket of birding” from my father (Otis) and grandfather (Ralph) birds. The birds were flitting high up in the trees and and to receive such a nice card from all the fellow some were feeding on the poison ivy berries. Maha birders was truly appreciated and brightened my day! thought she saw a Wood Thrush and soon it give its I have told the doctor’s time is of the essence relative ground call for ID. Ken found a Black and White to my recovery as fall migration and the Xmas count Warbler and then we found Red-eyed Vireos, will be around the corner before we know it. Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, a male Scarlet Tanager, Thanks again so much! White-breasted Nuthatches including a juv., a Downy -Fritz Waterman Woodpecker, and a female Redstart We heard a Catbird, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and a Veery. It has been a few years since we have had a walk Membership Report here. The under story of a heavily wooded forest has been grazed by the deer and many areas had what I The club currently has 203 memberships. We welcome call sour grass growing. The habitat is all forest unlike new members: Pond Gut (part of this MUA) which has more varied Ted Allen, 36 Federal St., Brunswick, ME 04011 habitat. Robin & Renee Bauerle, 184 Cross Rd, Stormville, NY The forest seemed to be quite but we found a second 12582 pocket of birds with more Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Karen Jensen & Eric Dunne, 53 Park Place #7H, NY,NY Wood-Pewees, Red-eyed Vireos and a female Redstart. 1007 The other birds heard were Red-bellied and Pileated Sr Jackie LaVie fmm, PO Box K, Millbrook, NY 12545 Woodpeckers, Robin, American Goldfinch, Blue Jay and American Crow. Steve Golladay, Membership Chairman Luckily the rain missed us. By 10:30am it was Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club getting hot and humid and we decided to head home. 25 Taconic Drive, Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 845-221-6140 -Barbara Michelin

Volume 54 Number 7 www.watermanbirdclub.org August 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 FIRST CLASS President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 [email protected]

Janet Allison 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected]

WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS For Weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch Sun. Sept. 16 Anthony’s Nose Hawk Migration. and beverage. If car pooling to out of county trips Leader: Steve Golladay. Please call please contribute towards gas for trip. Rain cancels the for time & meeting place @ 221-6140. walk. Any questions call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 or trip leader. (* Listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess Sat. Sept. 22 Vassar Farm *pg. 130 – Leader: County or can be found at Barbara Michelin. Meet at the barns www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) @ 9:00am.

Notice: Due to family illness the weekend field

trips may have leader changes to cover for me when I Sat. Oct. 13 Southern Dutchess Rail Trail, am out of town. Please check your Wings issue each Hopewell Jct. Leader: Barbara month to note any changes. Thank you. Michelin. Meeting at parking lot (off Barbara Michelin Rt.376) at 9:00am

Sat. Oct. 20 Stony Kill *p. 104 for Sparrows – The next Wings deadline is Sept.10, Leader: Barbara Michelin. Meet at 2012. Please send articles to Janet the Manor House parking lot at Allison and copies to Barbara Michelin & 9:00am. Call if you plan to attend. Chuck Martinez. Contact information is

on this page.

Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

SEPTEMBER 2012 MEETING

We start fall with our meeting on Monday, September 24, 2012, at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Our speakers will be John Thompson, Director of Conservation Science at Mohonk Preserve, and Shanan Smiley, Conservation Biologist/Collections Manager at the Mohonk Preserve’s Daniel Smiley Research Center. The program is Climate Change at Mohonk: Weather & Species: 1896-2012. Shanan has studied the ecology of the Northern Shawangunks for the past nine years. Before coming to Mohonk she worked as a biologist in Southern Utah’s Dixie National Forest and Glacier National Park in Montana. Shanan has a B.S. in biology from Montana State University and will be graduating soon with her M.S. in environmental studies with a concentration in conservation biology from Green Mountain College. John performs baseline monitoring of the ecology of the northern Shawangunk Mountains and directs implementation of land management planning to protect and adaptively steward the 7000-acre Mohonk Preserve and promote biodiversity conservation at the landscape scale. He works with researchers and partner organizations to use scientific information to inform conservation throughout the 40,000 acres of protected land in the Shawangunk Mountains. He collects infor- mation on weather, flora, and fauna and is analyzing that data to look at long-term climate trends and effects on local plants and animals. Other major projects include vegetation studies of prescribed fires, rare species monitoring, and invasive species management. John serves as Vice President on the John Burroughs Natural History Society Board of Trustees and Secretary on the Hudson River Environmental Society Board of Directors. We hope you will join us. Cole and Shannon Carpenter will talk about their summer DEC camp at our meeting. Refreshments will follow our program.

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2012 FIELD TRIPS WEDNESDAY Oct. 3 Montgomery Place Meet there at 9:00am. Take Rt.9G North of Rhinebeck, turn left on Rt. 199 to Kingston Bridge. Turn onto River Rd. (Dut. 103) to estate parking lot. Oct. 10 Tymor Forest *pg. 124. Meet at the barns (off CR-21/Bruzgul Rd.) at 9:00am. Hot dog roast after walk (optional). Bring your own. Oct. 17 FDRoosevelt National Historic Site *pg. 50. Meet at the new visitor center parking lot Rt. 9, Hyde Park at 9:00am. Oct. 24 Bowdoin Park *pg. 16. Meet at the upper level parking area (off Sheafe Rd., Twn. Wappingers) at 9:00am. Oct. 31 Vassar Farm*p130. Meet at barn parking lot at 9:00am. Nov. 7 Dennings Point, off Hudson Ave., Beacon. Meet there at 9:00am. Plan to carry lunch. Nov. 14 Millbrook School *pg. 74. Meet at the museum/zoo parking lot at 9:00am. School is off Rte. 44, Millbrook, on Millbrook School Road. Nov. 21 Vassar College Campus *pg. 128. Meet at the greenhouse parking lot off Raymond Avenue, Pok. and park at the south end of lot, at 9:00am. Nov. 28 Harlem Valley Rail Trail – Coleman Station. Meet at Coleman Station Rd. (off Rt. 22, between Amenia & Millerton) parking lot at 9:00am. Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for trips call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS FOR 2012-2013 President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 Vice-President: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 President: Open Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 Vice-President: Barry Haydasz Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 Treasurer: Anamaria Bonilla Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 Corresponding Secretary: Sue Infante Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291 Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta Committee Chairs Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Circulation: Chet Vincent 452-3716 Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 Voting on officers will be held at the October 2012 Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 meeting. Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Respectfully submitted: Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 Binnie Chase & Barbara Michelin Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Chuck Martinez 896-6455 NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 Historian: Adrienne Popko/Carrie Grey 229-5967 WATERMAN BIRD CLUB ANNUAL DINNER Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Publicity: Kateri Kosek 226-6267 Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Monday, November 12, 2012 Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Barry Haydasz 266-8084 COPPOLA'S ON 9 (Cappuchino’s) Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 Rt. 9 (South Road), Poughkeepsie, NY Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477 5:30 - 6:30 PM Cash Bar 6:30 PM Dinner ______Menu (choose one entrée): Broiled N.Y. Sirloin Steak smothered with Mushrooms APPRECIATED KINDNESS Chicken Forestiere Scaloppini in Marsala Wine, Shitake Mushrooms and Roasted Red Pepper Both of us are most appreciative of all the cards, notes, Sauce and phone calls we received over the past month con- cerning the loss of Stan's mother and Joan's brother. It Cod seasoned with bread crumbs and lemon is great to know the club members are so caring. Thank you all. All entrees are served with penne ziti and a Stan & Joan DeOrsey vegetable medley. Bread, salad, tea and coffee Dessert Ice Cream Sundaes BOOK NEEDED Cost: $22.50 I am looking for a copy of a small book with a blue cover, Make checks payable to Waterman Bird Club. The Clove Valley Rod and Gun Club: History. It was Write entree choice on check. written about 1988 by Betty and Bill White. If anyone Mail to : Marge Robinson has a copy for sale, or which can be borrowed to read, or knows someone with the book, please contact me at 207- 31 Tall Tree Lane 933-2266, or email [email protected] or write PO Box 404, Poughkeepsie, NY Monmouth, Maine 04259. I would like to reference the 12601 book for a Wings article on birds of hunting clubs. Thank you. Annual Silent Auction will follow dinner. I should also add that the online copy of Birds of Tickets are 6 for $5. Bring address labels to save Dutchess County has been updated with the latest AOU time writing your name on tickets. changes in addition to being up-to-date with casual and Please bring your donations for the auction to accidental sightings. See the club website. The main text Binnie Chase at our September/October meetings in most other cases has not been updated, perhaps next year. or on our Wednesday walks. Stan DeOrsey No donations night of dinner.

2 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

DEC CAMPERS Summer 2012

The Waterman Bird Club generously sponsored three Dear Waterman Bird Club Members, youngsters to attend the Department of Environ- Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn about the mental Conservation Camps in the summer of 2012. outdoors and taking care of the environment. I met a lot of Eamon Freiburger , known to many Waterman Bird new friends, learned a lot and saw cool animals (even a Club members, was recommended by Binnie Chase. black bear). The NYSDEC Camp DeBruce was really cool Eamon is thirteen years old, lives in LaGrangeville, and the bird watching I learned with you, I taught to them and attends Union Vale Middle School. He is an active too. Going to this camp was so much fun, member of the New York State Young Birders Club and Shannon Carpenter ( age 12) this past spring represented the NYSYBC in the World Series of Birding. Eamon directed the following letter to It is not too early to start getting youngsters between the membership: the ages of 11 and 17 excited about attending a DEC Camp and submitting their names for sponsorship Dear Waterman Bird Club, consideration. The lower limit of the age was changed Thank you so much for sponsoring me to go to the DEC from 12 to 11 in 2012. Early recommendations are camp at Pack Forest this August. I had so much fun at particularly important since the 2012 applications camp. I met a lot of new people and had many new were accepted as of January 2012 and the experiences. Some of the experiences I had were: camping expectation is that the 2013 applications will have a in a tent, canoeing, fishing, hiking, shooting a gun, and similar timeline. birding (I didn't have much free time to go birding and I Kelly Liao only saw 2 species - the Common Raven and Common Loon). My favorite part of the camp though, was when I was fly fishing on the lake, a thunderstorm rolled in and BENCH DEDICATION AT CARY IES we were paddling like crazy to get back to shore without being struck by lightening. There was a pair of Common On September 29, 2012, after the Wednesday walk at Loons swimming in front of us, and we got within 2 feet of Buttercup West, there will be a dedication for the two them before they dove together at the same time. They benches that the Waterman Bird Club has donated to were absolutely gorgeous! I had an awesome time at the Cary Institute in memory of Florence Germond and camp, and thank you so much for letting me go! Kay Sisson. If you can not make the walk at Buttercup Sincerely, West, you are invited to attend the ceremony at 1:30pm. Eamon Freiburger Please meet at the Gifford House parking lot.

Eamon's parents, Eric and Susan Freiburger, expressed their gratitude for the sponsorship and appreciated the quality of the camp. Susan stated FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL "Eric and I were so impressed with the facility at the Pack Forest Camp that we were jealous that Eamon got Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center will to stay and we had to leave. I wish they had a camp like hold its annual Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday, that for adults!" October 13, 2012, from 11:00am to 3:00pm. The goal of this event is to teach the visitor what life would have Two members of the Carpenter family were sponsored been like on a farm and to also teach them about in 2012. Shannon and Cole Carpenter were traditional crafts. There will be educational displays plus recommended by Binnie Chase. The family lives in food and much more. We hope you can join us. Amenia and both youngsters attend Eugene Brooks Donations accepted. Any questions contact Stony Kill at Middle School. Shannon and Cole are active members of 831-1617. 4-H. The Waterman Bird Club has led birding walks for their 4-H group and both youngsters participate in the Dutchess County Fair. The following letters were sent to SNACKS NEEDED FOR MONTHLY the RTWBC: MEETINGS

Dear Waterman Bird Club, As our monthly meetings begin again on September 24, I just wanted to thank you for sending me to NYSDEC we all enjoy the interesting programs, fellowship, and Camp Pack Forest 2012. I had a lot of fun and made a lot snacks at the end of a very pleasant evening. We of new friends. The camp set up all kinds of activities like depend upon volunteer donations of snacks. If you eat Archery, Kayaking, Hiking, Swimmin,g and Environmental and enjoy the snacks then please consider bringing some Studies. I brought back so many great memories and look goodies to one of the meetings. Call or email me and I forward to telling you about them when I meet you all in can let you know what to bring. Thank you. See you at September. the meetings. Thank you again, Susan 845-758-5796 or Cole Carpenter (age 14) [email protected]

3 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

FIELD TRIP REPORTS

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 - Madame Brett. Aimee Hummingbird, 2 Red-bellied, 2 Downy, and 1 Pileated had told me that she saw Great Egrets and Black- Woodpeckers, 3 Northern Flickers, 1 Eastern Wood crowned Night Herons at Denning’s Point. So, I got up Pewee, 4 Eastern Phoebes, 2 Eastern Kingbirds, 5 Blue earlier and went there before our walk at Madame Brett. Jays, 3 American Crows, 7 Black-capped Chickadees, 7 I did get to see at the cove seven Great Egrets and three Tufted Titmice, 3 White-breasted Nuthatches, 3 Great Blue Herons far out with two Mute Swans, and Carolina , 2 House, and 2 Marsh Wrens, 3 American three Black-crowned Night Herons flew over me. It was Robins, 5 Gray Catbirds, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 4 good I went earlier because when I went back after the adult and 5 young Chipping and 2 Song Sparrows, 4 walk at Madame Brett I didn’t see them there. I did have Northern Cardinals, a family of 5 Indigo Buntings, a by the building one Great Blue Heron, two Yellow and family of 5 Baltimore Orioles, and 5 American one American Redstart Warblers, and the Indigo Goldfinches. Buntings were still feeding their young. They kept on Maha Katnani scolding me as I stopped to take photos of some dragonflies and butterflies as if they own the place.

Eight of us met at Madame Brett, and it was a sunny Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - Buttercup East. humid day. As we walked in on the bridge we had one Barbara Butler led a group of 13 people today, including Great Egret fly by us. It’s always a welcome sight to see families and new members. We walked a loop of about 3 the egrets! At the marsh we were treated to the antics of miles. Barbara showed the group bluebird boxes as we two Belted Kingfishers flying low over the water and then walked up the grassy hill. Then we were happy to find a perching on a bare tree with beaks open as if panting. few bobolinks who stayed fairly close by, allowing us to The Marsh Wren was singing and another was answering watch them for several minutes in the tall grass. These but unfortunately wouldn’t show their faces as usual. birds are considered "at risk" in NYS, with severely Ken had seen a Ruby-throated Hummingbird earlier in declining numbers. They weren't in breeding plumage, the morning feeding on beautiful red Cardinal flowers but looked wonderful with their buffy yellow color and growing by the water. Twenty five Barn Swallows and brown stripes. one Tree Swallow were still around feeding on bugs. So At the pond we watched black vultures, woodpeckers, were the 40 Cedar Waxwings. As we went back to the and an empidonax flycatcher. Later as we stood in a trail one lonely American Redstart, either female or juvie, glen, a Cooper's Hawk suddenly zoomed low past us and let us have good looks. From there we hit a spot that’s disappeared into the woods. usually birdy and it didn’t disappoint that day. It was The grand finale of the trip was a molting scarlet mostly birds with young. The young Carolina Wrens tanager, hanging around and giving us good looks at were curious and their parents calling. The Baltimore his spectacular yellow-and-red coat. Orioles were busy flying back and forth, and the Weather: Sunny, little to no breeze, temps upper 60s Chipping Sparrows and the Indigo Buntings were in the to 70s. Complete bird list follows. bushes appearing and disappearing. Four Red-winged Blackbirds flew by us and made me very happy because Aimee LaBarr I haven’t seen them in a while. We also watched one American Crow sitting still in a tree. We wondered if its Black Vulture - 6 o.k., but I read that a young crow can sit like that for a Turkey Vulture - 1 long time. On we continued and we had a Great-crested Cooper's Hawk - 1 Flycatcher and a Downy Woodpecker family low in the Red-tailed Hawk - 2 bush. Then we hit a spot with Joe Pye Weed, which is Mourning Dove - 2 great for butterflies, and other wild flowers. Many bees Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 were buzzing all over the place and we saw an Eastern Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 Tiger Swallowtail, Monarchs, Silver-spotted Skippers and Downy Woodpecker - 3 a Spicebush Swallowtail. I also got a Blue-fronted Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2 Dancer damselfly which is a new species for me. You’d empidonax flycatcher - 1 think the birds are enough, but Maha has to go after Eastern Phoebe - 4 butterflies and odonates (dragonflies & damselflies) as Eastern Kingbird - 1 well. On the way back by the marsh we hit another Red-eyed Vireo - 6 pocket of birds that weren’t there before. There were two Blue Jay - 6 Red-eyed Vireos. I love to hear the flika, flika, flika of the American Crow - 6 Northern Flicker. There were two of them and a Red- Black-capped Chickadee - 4 bellied Woodpecker. We also had warblers one of which Tufted Titmouse - 4 was the Northern Parula. The other warbler stayed as White-breasted Nuthatch - 4 our Mystery Warbler. We were seeing bits and pieces of it House Wren - 1 that weren’t enough to ID it. American Robin - 2 Gray Catbird - 18 All in all we saw: 4 Great Blue and 1 Green Herons, 1 Northern Mockingbird - 1 Great Egret, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 6 Rock Pigeons, 2 European Starling - 1 Mourning Doves, 8 Chimney Swifts, 1 Ruby-throated Cedar Waxwing – 4 4 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

Blue-winged Warbler - 1 capped Chickadee, Carolina Wren, American Robin and Black-and-white Warbler - 1 let us not forget the very vocal Gray Catbird. Common Yellowthroat - 3 On the eastern end of Kennels road, we saw a flurry of American Redstart - 1 activity on both sides of the road, we finally found Eastern Towhee - 2 warblers! I am sure we were quite the spectacle to people Song Sparrow - 6 driving by...birders on each side of the road, calling Scarlet Tanager - 1 molting out each species of warblers as they were identified. Northern Cardinal - 5 Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia, Chestnut sided and Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3 Canada as well as Nashville, Blackburnian and a Bobolink-4 Northern Parula were seen. Red-winged Blackbird - 1 The bird of the day for me, aside from the Blackburnian Baltimore Oriole - 2 Warbler, was an Osprey, soaring high above the pond as American Goldfinch - 6 we neared our vehicles, such a beautiful sight. We ended with walk with lunch at my house, sharing good company and a delicious bounty from Barbara Butler's garden. The tally for the day-55 species as follows: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 – Southern Dutchess Mallard-4, Great Blue Heron-1, Turkey Vulture-2, Rail Trail. We met at the Dutchess Rail Trail lot by the Osprey-1, Northern Harrier-1, Sharp-shinned Hawk-2, Hopewell Junction Depot, being restored. It was slow Red-shouldered Hawk-1, Red-tailed Hawk-1, American birding, not much song at first. We did find some Kestrel-1, Killdeer-1, Rock Pigeon-30, Mourning Dove- Catbirds in a tree full of ripe cherries. Seemed a good 50, Ruby-throated Hummingbird-7, Red-bellied spot for Waxwings, but we didn't find any. Eastern Woodpecker-3, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-3, Downy Wood-pewees called in several places along the trail and Woodpecker-2, Hairy Woodpecker-1, Northern Flicker-1, we got good looks at a few of them. Their habit of Pileated Woodpecker-1, Eastern Wood-Pewee-4, Eastern perching on an exposed dead branch to scan for flying Phoebe-5, Eastern Kingbird-3, Yellow-throated Vireo-1 insects makes them easier to find than other birds. Blue-headed Vireo-1, Red-eyed Vireo-5, Blue Jay-5, Usually hard to see anytime, 2 Red-eyed Vireos let us American Crow-25, Tree Swallow-28, Black-capped see them. They seem to have stopped singing now. We Chickadee-8, White-breasted Nuthatch-6, Carolina saw a female Hummingbird flying around some bare Wren-1, Eastern Bluebird-2, American Robin-15, Gray branches high in a tree. About half dozen Mallards were Catbird-10, Northern Mockingbird-1, Cedar Waxwing-1, found in the Whortlekill Creek. At Lake Walton, we Nashville Warbler-1, Common Yellowthroat-2, Northern found 2 Great Blue Herons, a Mute Swan, and 2 Double- Parula-1, Magnolia Warbler-2, Blackburnian Warbler-1, crested Cormorants. There were a few "pockets" of active, Chestnut-sided Warbler-1, Canada Warbler-2, noisy chickadees, titmice and robins. Chipping Sparrow-1, Savannah Sparrow-2, Song Sparrow-6, Scarlet Tanager-5, Northern Cardinal-6, Barbara Butler Rose-breasted Grosbeak-4, Bobolink-4, Red-winged Blackbird-5, Baltimore Oriole-1, American Goldfinch-10, House Sparrow-20. Adrienne Popko Wednesday, August 29, 2012, Andrew Haight Road. With clear blue skies and low humidity, 18 birders gathered on Haight Road on a beautiful Wednesday ~~~~~~~ morning. The day began with a large flock of Mourning Doves sitting on power lines before Lightning Tree Farm. As we scoped the pond for waterfowl (we were Interesting bird facts: able to find a few Mallards and a Great Blue Heron), several sparrows teased us with fleeting views before Bluebird Eggs – “blue” or “white”? diving into tall grass and dense shrubs. We were able to confirm the identity of Savannah, Chipping and Song Though most of us are familiar with “blue” Bluebird eggs Sparrow as well the ever present English Sparrow. A few – there are also “white” Bluebird eggs. A clutch can be Bobolinks allowed us a brief glimpse. 3 Eastern Kingbird either all “blue” eggs or all “white” eggs. If there are both also entertained us, flying back and forth, across the “blue” and “white” eggs in a clutch it is probably to due road, then landing high in the tree tops. to egg dumping – which is where another female The highlight at this point of the walk was the sudden Bluebird will lay her egg in the already occupied nest. eruption of raptors. A Northern Harrier chasing a Red Bob Peak, a member of the North American Bluebird tailed Hawk in one field as well as an American Kestrel Society from Kentucky, is doing research about the chasing a Sharp-shinned Hawk in an adjacent field. incidence of “white” Bluebird eggs. As we headed toward Kennels Road, disappointed with the lack of warblers, we were treated to several Ruby throated Hummingbirds feeding on Jewelweed, Scarlet Susan Gilnack Tanagers and Rose breasted Grosbeak flitting from tree to tree, as well as the usual American Crow, Black

5 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012 Charles F. Dieterich and the Daheim Game Preserve In 1889 Charles Francis Dieterich bought floor was added in the early 1900s. During land in Millbrook, creating an early private the 1890s, he continued to build, mostly game preserve. He imported a variety of with stone. This included a barn complex,1 species to stock his preserve including exotic a gate house, nine large greenhouses (1895 birds. He also built an elaborate estate. to 1901), a bowling alley (1896), a tennis Dieterich was born in Caub, Prussia, hut, plus cottages for his gardener and farm what is now Kaub, Germany, on June 14, manager. The East Branch of the 1837. He received his education there as a Wappengers Creek was dammed to supply chemical engineer. He emigrated to the water to the estate and its greenhouses United States in October 1867, becoming a resulting in the need for a large stone naturalized citizen in July 1884. bridge. Most of this building was complete In 1870 Dieterich was an engineer for before 1900. All of this was his summer the Peoples Gas Co. in Baltimore. He retreat as he continued to work in New received patents on improved gas generation York City where he lived at 963 Fifth Ave., in 1877 and 1879. At that time gas was a that home is no longer extant. primary means of illumination with many The following is one person’s large cities served by multiple small description of the Daheim estate on first companies. As these companies consolidated seeing the property in 1902: and expanded, Dieterich moved into It is the most beautiful I have yet seen in management. Initially an engineer for the this country. The lodge gate which faces Chesapeake and Equitable Gas Cos., by 1888 the entrance to the main grounds is a he had become president of Chesapeake Gas. He moved to New most enchanting piece of rustic architectural work. Then the York City and helped organize the Electro Gas Co., a major smooth roads intersecting this great tract of fertile land supplier of calcium carbide for making acetylene gas, and renders a drive over the estate a delightful one. The acres of became its president. When Union Carbide Co. was founded in beautiful flowers of all shades of color, which lend charms to 1898 from Electro Gas, Dieterich was again the president. the curiously but pleasantly arranged rustic buildings with Finally when the Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. was formed in which this Elysium is studded make one ask the question of 1917 he was also its first president. It is not clear when Dieterich himself, “How much nearer heaven clothed in my mortal suit formally retired but he remained active as a director of a number can I get than when at Daheim?” There are acres of of gas companies. greenhouses there containing the choicest plants and flowers In both Baltimore and New York City, a close friend and from every corner of the earth. An army of men is employed fellow gas company director was Henry James Davison, Sr. on this beautiful spot. Buildings are going up in all directions, Davison introduced Dieterich to Millbrook. Millbrook had been all beautiful ones. A new sheep barn is at present under way. “discovered” and many estates were being built or planned. Almost the whole area is inclosed by a [8]-foot Page woven Dieterich soon purchased property in Millbrook, and began to wire fence. Hundreds of deer and jack rabbits make their build a grand home, mostly a wooden structure, which he named home within its borders.2 Daheim. However the home was exquisitely furnished with marble, carved woodwork, and sculptures throughout. A third In Deiterich’s personal life, he married Sarah Hill on April 20, 1875. A son, Alfred Elliot Dieterich, was born in 1877. In 1912 Dieterich built a bungalow on the property for his then divorced son, who soon remarried and moved to California. As soon as the buildings were progressing, Dieterich acquired game animals. His first imports were deer. White-tailed Deer from outside New York were purchased in 1891 and raised domestically. Eventually the herd grew to over 200. He also imported six Roe Deer from Germany. These never multiplied as did the White-tailed.3 In November 1898, an area of 2500 acres was enclosed by ten miles of an 8-foot high steal woven wire fence, with a finer mesh at the bottom. Prior to this Dieterich had used a 40 acre enclosure. He also imported European Brown Hare and is credited as the first to successfully do so starting with 500 from Hungary in 1893. As they bred four times per year, they multiplied “like rabbits,” nevertheless importation Daheim, the main house, after third floor was added in the early 1900s. continued to 1911. Their primarily purpose was for

6 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012 Charles Dieterich died from a heart attach on Oct. 5, 1927 in Millbrook. His wife had passed away on Nov. 8, 1919 as the result of an auto accident. It has been said he modeled his estate after his native Germany, while Dieterich clearly imported a variety of European species, over time he focused more on American species. His estate was valued at $4-million, most of which went to his son, who died in 1935, and to his granddaughter.8 In 1935 the entire estate was sold to a syndicate headed by Walter Teagle (1878-1962), head of the Standard Oil Co. (New Jersey) who continued the private game preserve. Map from 1939 showing the location of the various buildings at the former Deiterich Farm. The Subsequently it was sold to the Teagle’s named the bungalow “Fernwood” and applied this name to the entire estate. Hitchcock interests who continue to own it. While sport hunting with dogs. Many hares escaped4 causing many of the buildings retain much of their former glory, the considerable damage to local fruit trees, particularly during greenhouses remain only as foundations. winters from 1909 to 1921. Indeed Dutchess County instituted a bounty of 25¢ from 1912 to 1917 paying a total of $4000. By 1924 the hares had spread through western Connecticut and Massachusetts.5 Then there were various bird species. Ring-necked Pheasants were imported in the early 1890s. Dieterich also stocked Gray Partridge plus native Ruffed Grouse and Northern Bobwhite. In June 1895 he released 24 Greater Prairie Chickens.6 It is said he also tried Capercallie, a large European wood grouse. Apparently the birds too easily escaped or were preyed upon, none became established. It appears he quickly focused on raising Ring-necked Pheasants and Bobwhite. It is not known when Dieterich began to call his Bridge immediately behind Gate House. estate the Daheim Game Preserve, perhaps from the NOTES & SOURCES beginning. The farm was also known as the Daheim Stock [1] about 60% of the barn complex burned in a spectacular fire on Nov. 15, 2007. Farms. He did not advertise his preserve for hunting, only Much has since been rebuilt. allowing friends to thin the deer herd as well take hares and a [2] From “Among the Flockmasters of New York State” in Wool Markets and Sheep, A Journal Devoted to Sheep Culture. vol. 8 no. 1, Sept. 15, 1902, p.2. few pheasants. The main purpose of the deer was to harvest [3] “American Game Parks” in Forest and Stream, July 4, 1896, p.6. them for venison which was regularly shipped to New York [4] It is said that his stonemasons would poach deer by cutting holes in the fence City. Apparently the barn complex served some cows and a through which the hares escaped. number of horses. At one time milk was bottled for local sale. [5] Dieterich, Charles, “The German Hare as a Game and Food Animal” in Bulletin - American Game Protective Association, vol. 3 no. 2, April 1915, p.2-3. Much of Later a flock of Shropshire sheep was added to the business. the value claimed by Dieterich is refuted by James Silver “The European Hare in Then there were the trees. When Dieterich bought the North America” in The Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 28, no. 11, June property, it had been used as a farm but was not in top shape. 1924, pp.1133-1137. [6] “American Game Parks” op cit. Dieterich planted many trees, especially groves of Scotch Pine, [7] Paul, BH, ”Reforesting Methods and Results of Forest Planting in New York Norway Spruce, and European Larch, all imported from State” in Bulletin 374 Cornell University, April 1916, pp.674-679. Germany as three year old seedlings.7 After 1900 mostly White [8] Granddaughter Grace Dieterich Terry Sinclaire (1902-1943) had no children. Pine were planted which he started in his greenhouses. These all Dieterich photo from “American Gas Centenary” in The Baltimore Gas and thrived, many remaining to this day. He even grew palms in his Electric News, vol. 5 no. 6, June 1916, p.363. See also “Charles F. Dieterich - A Tribute” by EC Brown in Gas-Age Record, Oct. greenhouses, two particularly large Senegal Palms were donated 22, 1927, p.635. to the New York Botanical Garden in July 1915. He also had I thank Peter Devers for providing information for this article. fenced orchards which do not remain. Stan DeOrsey

7 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

The Mystery of Migration: geographical barrier is the trend for some Blackcaps in central Europe to migrate west and winter in Britain How Do Birds Do That? rather than cross the Alps. Migratory birds may use two electromagnetic tools to The following is an excerpt from find their destinations: one that is entirely innate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_migration. another that relies on experience. A young bird on its first migration flies in the correct direction according to Physiology and control the Earth's magnetic field, but does not know how far The control of migration, its timing and response are the journey will be. It does this through a radical pair genetically controlled and appear to be a primitive trait mechanism whereby chemical reactions in special photo that is present even in non-migratory species of birds. pigments sensitive to long wavelengths are affected by The ability to navigate and orient themselves during the field. Note that although this only works during migration is a much more complex phenomenon that daylight hours, it does not use the position of the sun in may include both endogenous programs as well as any way. At this stage the bird is similar to a boy scout learning. with a compass but no map, until it grows accustomed to the journey and can put its other facilities to use. Timing With experience they learn various landmarks and this The primary physiological cue for migration is the "mapping" is done by magnetites in the trigeminal changes in the day length. These changes are also system, which tell the bird how strong the field is. related to hormonal changes in the birds. Because birds migrate between northern and southern In the period before migration, many birds display regions, the magnetic field strengths at different higher activity or Zugunruhe (German: migratory latitudes let it interpret the radical pair mechanism more restlessness) as well as physiological changes such as accurately and let it know when it has reached its increased fat deposition. The occurrence of Zugunruhe destination. More recent research has found a neural even in cage-raised birds with no environmental cues connection between the eye and "Cluster N", the part of (e.g. shortening of day and falling temperature) has the forebrain that is active during migrational pointed to the role of circannual endogenous programs orientation, suggesting that birds may actually be able to in controlling bird migrations. Caged birds display a see the magnetic field of the earth. preferential flight direction that corresponds with the migratory direction they would take in nature, even The Atlantic Flyway changing their preferential direction at roughly the same Image borrowed from time their wild conspecifics change course. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/birding/migration/fl In species where there is polygyny and with yways/atlantic/ considerable sexual dimorphism, there is a tendency for males to return earlier to the breeding sites than their females. This is termed as protandry.

Orientation and navigation Navigation is based on a variety of senses. Many birds have been shown to use a sun compass. Using the sun for direction involves the need for making compensation based on the time. Navigation has also been shown to be based on a combination of other abilities including the ability to detect magnetic fields (magnetoception), use visual landmarks as well as olfactory cues. Long distance migrants are believed to disperse as young birds and form attachments to potential breeding sites and to favorite wintering sites. Once the site attachment is made they show high site-fidelity, visiting the same wintering sites year after year. The ability of birds to navigate during migrations cannot be fully explained by endogenous programming, even with the help of responses to environmental cues. The ability to successfully perform long-distance migrations can probably only be fully explained with an accounting for the cognitive ability of the birds to recognize habitats and form mental maps. Satellite tracking of day migrating raptors such as Ospreys and Honey Buzzards has shown that older individuals are better at making corrections for wind drift. As the circannual patterns indicate, there is a strong genetic component to migration in terms of timing and route, but this may be modified by environmental influences. An interesting example where a change of migration route has occurred because of such a 8 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

AUGUST 2012 RECORDS Red-tailed Hawk: 2 juv/15 Pok yard Carolyn Edlund; 1-2/all N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 3/9 Bowdoin Park KH; many other Our weather was generally typical for August. We had about 1 reports. inch per week of rain, relieving the earlier summer near- Semipalmated Plover: 17/9 Budds Corners Rd, Red Hook DK. drought. Killdeer: 30/5 Greig Fm SR,MM,LS,PS; 20/24 Stringham Pk, Lagrange AMP; 30/28 Bangall Rd AMP; 7 other reports of 1-4. Bird highlights… Solitary Sandpiper: 2/4 Dennings Pt AL; 1/18 Bruzgul Rd JB. Lots of Great Egrets – continuing from July. We had very few Spotted Sandpiper: 1/3 River paddle SR; 1/5 Greig Fm last year, but many in 2010. SR,MM,LS,PS; 1/6 Dennings Pt MZ; 1/8 Madam Brett FT; 1/9 Early fall arrivals were an Olive-sided Flycatcher (5th) and Long Dock AL; 1/19 Deep Hollow FT; 2/22 Bontecou Wetland Wilson’s Warbler (18th). Area, Kennels Rd AMP. Warbler migration activity picked up the last few days of the American Woodcock: 1/1 Cary IES BH, Karen Jensen & Eric month. Dunne. Ring-billed Gull: 5/7 Mills-Norrie State Pk JCo; 8/16 Dennings Canada Goose: 30/8 pd. Robinson Ln. BJM; 26/9 Long Dock Pt MZ; 3 other reports. AL; 110/22 Bontecou Wetland Area, Kennels Rd AMP; 180/5 Herring Gull: 2/6 Dennings Pt MZ. Greig Fm SR,MM,LS; 18 other reports. Rock Pigeon: 20/20 Red Hook LS; 30/29 Haight Rd FT; 9 Mute Swan: 6/16 Dennings Pt MZ; 6/12 Lk Dutchess, Holmes other reports. ES; 6/6 Wappingers Lk JCo; 6 other reports. Mourning Dove: 10/3 Bangall Amenia Rd AMP; 11/22 Haight Wood Duck: 3/1 Buttercup W FT; 4/27 Thompson Pond Rd AMP; 10/8 Secor farm, Robinson Ln. BJM; 50/29 Haight Rd MM,LS; 3 other reports. FT; many reports. American Black Duck: 20/24 Thompson Pond MM. Black-billed Cuckoo: 1/2 Riverside Trl, Beacon ES. Mallard: 10/27 Thompson Pond MM,LS; 14/18 Vassar Fm Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 1/4 Dennings Pt AL; 1/7 Hopeland KH; JCo; 12 other reports. 1/10 yd. BJM; 1/31 Stanford Wildlife Preserve DE. Common Merganser: 2/5 CIES WLS; 12/11 Wapp Cr at Eastern Screech-Owl: 1/5,7,10,15 yd Millbrook WLS; 1/6 Hurley Rd HRA Bowler. Tivoli SR; 1/16 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/22 yd Poughquag Ring-necked Pheasant: 1/22 Haight Rd AMP. CP/HT. Ruffed Grouse: 7/31 Tivoli SR. Great Horned Owl: 1/29 Ludlow Woods Rd DK. Wild Turkey: 13 poults/9 Cary IES BB/BJM; 14/10 No Barred Owl: 1/1 Whitlock Preserve FT; 1/19 Deep Hollow FT; Mabbettsville Rd DK; 12-15 every few days various ages MP; 1-2/18-29 Ludlow Woods Rd yard & nearby DK. 12 other reports. Common Nighthawk: 1/23 Dutchess Stadium MHB Relson; Double-crested Cormorant: 2-6/4-15 Dennings Pt, Long 1/29 Wappingers Falls HRA Seymour; 3/30 River paddle SR. Dock AL,JCo; 1/17 Bruzgul Rd JB; 2/22 Lake Walton FT; 1/30 Chimney Swift: 8/8 Madam Brett FT; 19/12 FIshermans Park Bontecou Lk DK. KH; 10/16 Dennings Pt MZ; 9/20 Red Hook LS; 8 other reports American Bittern: 1/12 flying over 9G near Lemon Lane of 3-7. Karen Jensen & Eric Dunne. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 5/18 Ludlow Woods Rd yard Least Bittern: 2/3 River paddle SR. DK; 7/29 Haight Rd FT; many reports of 1-4. Great Blue Heron: Largest counts from Beacon area: 4/8 Belted Kingfisher: 2/5, 1/11, 1/19 CIES WLS; 2/8 Madam Madam Brett FT; 6/15 Dennings Pt bay HRA Lake; 5/16 Brett FT; 2/19 Deep Hollow FT; 9 others. Dennings Pt MZ; 20+ reports of 1-3 from other places. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 3/29 Haight Rd FT; 3 incl 1juv. all Great Egret: Most reports from Dennings Point, Madam Brett, yd. BAM; many reports of 1-2. Long Dock area, 1-7/4-20, AL,FT,MZ,ES,HRA. 1/11 Wapp Cr Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1/6 yard BB; 3/29 Haight Rd FT; 1- at Hurley Rd HRA Bowler; 6/12 Wapp Lk KH; 4/15 Wapp Lk 2/6-30, 3/31 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP. BJM; 1/26 flying over TSF MP; 1/27 Thompson Pond MM,LS; Downy Woodpecker: 4/13 Wappingers Falls JCo; 5 all yd. 1/30 Bontecou Lk DK. BAM; 2-4/all yd Poughquag CP/HT; many reports of 1-3. Green Heron: 7/6 & 9/9 Hillside Lk. BJM; 7/16 Dennings Pt Hairy Woodpecker: 2/22 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK; 2/13 MZ; 4/26 TSF MP; 16 other reports of 1-3. Wappingers Falls JCo; 2-3 all yd. BAM; 1-2/all yd Poughquag Black-crowned Night-Heron: All reports from Dennings Point. CP/HT; 12 other reports. 1/4 AL; 3/8 AL/MK; 1/15 HRA Lake; 2/15 JCo; 3/16 MZ. Northern Flicker: 2/6, 2/16 Dennings Pt MZ; 1-2/1-30, 3/28 N. Black Vulture: 3/11 Poughquag CP/HT; 6/15 Buttercup East Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 4/31 Tivoli SR; 3/8 Madam Brett FT; FT; 4/29 T of Pok HRA Lake; 1/29 Bowdoin Park KH. 3/9 2/29 Bowdoin Pk KH; 1/all yd Poughquag, 1/all Daley Rd Turkey Vulture: 7/24 Thompson Pond MM; 1-2 every few CP/HT; 15 others. days then 6/31 RHGC MP; 30+ reports of 1-4. Pileated Woodpecker: 1/18, 2/22, 1/31 Ludlow Woods Rd Osprey: 1/3, 1/30 River paddle SR; 1/16 Dennings Pt MZ; yard DK; 1/25,26 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP ; 1 most days yd. & 1/29 Haight Rd FT. nearby BAM; 1/all yd Poughquag CP/HT; 11 others. Bald Eagle: 1 ad/27&31 near Abel’s Pond, Verbank reported American Kestrel: 1/9 Budds Corners Rd, Red Hook DK; 1/30 to BB; 5 others along or near the Hudson. Skidmore Rd, Lagrange DK; 1/14 Waterbury Hill Rd BB; 1/29 Northern Harrier: 1/25 Waterbury Hill BB; 1/29 Haight Rd FT. Haight Rd FT. Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/3 Bangall Amenia Rd AMP; 1/6 Red Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1/5 CIES WLS. “In the lowlands of Hook LS; 1/22 DRT Hopewell Jct FT; 2/29 Haight Rd FT. Cary, near the kiosk that describes bird soundscapes, about 7AM today. Great look; high in a dead tree.” First fall record Cooper's Hawk: 1/16, 18, 21 & 22 yd. BAM; 1/26,28 N. th Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 7 other reports. since 2000, when one was seen on the 6 . The earliest fall Red-shouldered Hawk: 1/21 yd. BJM; 1/22 DRT Hopewell Jct record is Aug 3, 1990. FT; 1/29 Haight Rd FT; heard a few times, Rhinebeck MP. Eastern Wood-Pewee: 1-2/1-27 4/31 N. Mabbettsville Rd Broad-winged Hawk: 1/1 Buttercup W FT; 1/12 Buttercup AMP; 4/11 TaconicHereford FT; 4/22 DRT Hopewell Jct FT; East DK; 1/30 Rt 44, Millbrook DK. 4/29 Haight Rd FT; 30+ other reports. 9 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012 empidonax flycatcher: 1/15 Buttercup East FT. Eastern Bluebird: 6/3 Bangall Amenia Rd AMP; 6/18 Bruzgul Willow Flycatcher: 1/3 River paddle SR; 1/14 Cary IES. Rd JB ; 2 adults daily tending to 3rd brood, Rhinebeck home Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's): 2/5 Greig Fm PS. MP; 25+ other reports. Least Flycatcher: 1/14 Cary IES KH. Veery: 4/1 Buttercup W FT; 1/5 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Empidonax sp.: 1/31 Pok Rural Cemetery DK. 1/14 Cary IES KH; 1/29 Cary IES BH; 1/31 Ludlow Woods Rd Eastern Phoebe: 4/8 Madam Brett FT; 6/14 Cary IES KH; 5/29 yard DK. Haight Rd FT; 6/12 1-4/8-31N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Hermit Thrush: 1/18 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK. 20+other reports. Wood Thrush: 2/1 Cary IES BH; 2/7 Hopeland KH; 1/11 Great Crested Flycatcher: 2/3 River paddle SR; 1/1, 1/7, 2/18 TaconicHereford FT. Vassar Fm JCo; 2/4 Dennings Pt AL; 10 others reported. American Robin: 20/3 Bangall Amenia Rd AMP; 20/6 Bard Eastern Kingbird: 2/8 Madam Brett FT; 2/9 Long Dock AL; 4/1, College LS,MM; 35/13 Haight Rd AMP; 12-30/all N. 2/7, 10/18 Vassar Fm JCo; 3/29 Haight Rd FT; 15+ other Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 90/29 Bowdoin Park; many other reports. reports of 2-10. Yellow-throated Vireo: 1/10 Madam Brett AL; 1/11 N. Gray Catbird: 6/5, 6/11, 10/19 CIES WS; 8/18 Vassar Fm Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/26 yd Poughquag CP/HT; 1/29 JCo; 12/14 CIES KH; 18/15 Buttercup East FT; many other Haight Rd FT. reports of 1-6. Blue-headed Vireo: 1/7 Hopeland KH; 1/14 Cary IES KH; 1/29 Northern Mockingbird: 6/1, 5/7, 14/18 Vassar Fm JCo; 15 Haight Rd FT. other reports of 1-4. Warbling Vireo: 2/10 Madam Brett AL; 1/14 Cary IES KH; Brown Thrasher: 1/1 Whitlock Preserve FT. 2/19 CIES WS; 1/27 yd Fishkill ES; 1/29 N. Mabbettsville Rd European Starling: 60/10 No Mabbettsville Rd DK; 200/27 AMP. Thompson Pond MM,LS; 12 other reports. Red-eyed Vireo: 6/15 Buttercup East FT; 5/19 Deep Hollow Cedar Waxwing: 40/8 Madam Brett FT; 15/15 Dennings Pt FT; 5/29 Haight Rd FT; 20+ other reports. JCo; 30/16 Madame Brett ES; 30 reports, avg 5 each. Blue Jay: 5/1 Clinton Nature Trl JL; 5/6 Dennings Pt MZ; 9/19 Ovenbird: 1/28 Ludlow Woods Rd DK; 1/31 Tivoli SR. Deep Hollow FT; 5/31 Tivoli SR; many reports. Worm-eating Warbler: 1/4 Dennings Pt AL; 1/28 N. American Crow: 10/10 Taconic State Pkwy South AMP; 10/12 Mabbettsville Rd AMP. Tivoli Bays, Cruger Island Rd MM,LS; 25/29 Haight Rd FT; Louisiana Waterthrush: 1/1 Cary IES BH. ever present. Blue-winged Warbler: 1/1 Cary IES BH; 1/7 Hopeland KH; Common Raven: 1/14 Cary IES KH; 1/27 over yard BB; 2/27 1/15 Buttercup East FT; 1/18 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK; 2/20 Thompson Pond MM,LS; 5 reports betw Ludlow Woods & yd Fishkill ES. N.Mabbettsville Rd yards AMP, DK . Black-and-white Warbler: 2/4 Dennings Pt AL; 3/19 Deep Tree Swallow: 40/3 Bangall Amenia Rd, 15/22 N. Hollow FT; 2/28 Ludlow Woods Rd DK; 1/31 N. Mabbettsville Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 28/29 Haight Rd FT; 10 other reports 1- Rd AMP; 9 other reports. 12. Tennessee Warbler: 1/13 Wappingers Falls JCo. Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 10/27 Thompson Pond Nashville Warbler: 1/19 Deep Hollow FT; 1/29 Haight Rd FT. MM,LS. Common Yellowthroat: 3/1 Buttercup West FT; 5/14 Cary IES Barn Swallow: 100/5 Greig Fm SR,MM,LS; 40/13 Haight Rd KH; 3/15 Buttercup East FT; 2/29 Haight Rd FT; 1/31 yard BB; AMP; 30/22 Haight Rd AMP; 50-60/1-11, 10/18, 4/26 TSF MP; 10+ other reports. last - 5/27 Thompson Pond MM,LS; 15 other reports of 1-10. Hooded Warbler: 1/4, 1/29 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP. Black-capped Chickadee: 13/15 Cary IES BH; 14/19 Deep American Redstart: 4/1 Buttercup W FT; 2/29 Haight Rd FT; Hollow FT; 14/12 Tivoli Bays, Cruger Island Rd MM,LS; many 14 other reports. reports. Northern Parula: 1/29 Haight Rd FT. Tufted Titmouse: 6/6 Dennings Pt MZ; 10/22 DRT - Hopewell Magnolia Warbler: 1/3 Hopeland KH; 1/28 Ludlow Woods Rd Jct FT; 6/31 Tivoli SR. DK; 2/29 Haight Rd FT; 1/31 yard BB. Red-breasted Nuthatch: Family of 5 Fern Glen, CIES BH, DK, Blackburnian Warbler: 1/29 Haight Rd FT. BB; 1/11, 1/16 yd Millbrook WLS; 1/25 247 N. Mabbettsville Rd Yellow Warbler: 1/1, 3/7 Vassar Fm JCo; 4/21, 2/31 N. AMP; 1/23 Hopeland Sanctuary JCo; 1/26-31 yd. & nearby Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 10+ other reports. BAM; 1/6&9 yard BB. Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1/29 Haight Rd FT; 3/31 yard BB. White-breasted Nuthatch: 5 (incl 1 juv)/11 TaconicHereford Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1/31 Ludlow Woods Rd yard FT; 1-3/all 4/22 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 4/18 Vassar Fm DK. JCo; 4/20 Red Hook LS; 6/29 Haight Rd FT; many reports. Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1/26 yd Poughquag CP/HT. Carolina Wren: 3 (1 yg)/8 Madam Brett FT; 1-2/15-31 N. Prairie Warbler: 1/4 Dennings Pt AL; 1/14 Cary IES KH. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 3/14 Cary IES KH; 1/19-31 yd Black-throated Green Warbler: 12 (3 families)/19 Deep Poughquag, 2/all Daley Rd CP/HT; 2 all yd. BAM; 18 other Hollow FT; 10/31 yard BB; 8 other reports. reports. Canada Warbler: 1f/6 yard BB; 5/28 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; House Wren: 9/1, 1/31 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Numbers 2/29 Haight Rd FT. declined after mid-month, but.. 2yg/16-29 box Robinson Ln. Wilson's Warbler: 1/18 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK. Earliest BJM; 15 reports. fall record is August 16, 1919. Marsh Wren: 1/3 River paddle SR; 2/8 Madam Brett FT; 1/10 warbler sp.: 5/31 Ludlow Woods Rd yard DK. Madam Brett AL. Eastern Towhee: 4/1, 2/15m 1/.29 Cary IES BH; 5/1 Whitlock Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 3/1 Buttercup W FT; 1/11 3/5 3/19 Preserve FT; 3 & yg/all yard BB; 5 other reports. CIES WLS; 1/28 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/16, 27 yd Chipping Sparrow: 4 (5 yg)/8 Madam Brett FT; 6/18-21 incl 3 Poughquag CP/HT; 8 other reports. juv. yd. BAM ; 7/22 Kennels Rd AMP; 7/7 Mills-Norrie State Pk Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1/19 Deep Hollow FT. JCo; 10/20, 10/31 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP ; 20+ other repts.

10 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

Field Sparrow: 4/13 Hopeland Fm DK; 6/15, 4/29 Cary IES BH; 11 other reports. MEMBERSHIP FORM Vesper Sparrow: 1/17 MHMedGrp-Fishkill ES. Savannah Sparrow: 1/9 Long Dock AL; 2/29 Haight Rd FT. Name(s) ______

Song Sparrow: 6/15 Buttercup East FT; 6/29 Haight Rd FT; Street ______4/1&7 Vassar Fm JCo; 20+ other reports. Swamp Sparrow: 1/1 Buttercup W FT; 1/2 Riverside Trl, City ______Beacon ES; 1/3 River paddle SR;1/14 Cary IES KH. Scarlet Tanager: 1 molting/15 Buttercup East FT; 5/29 Haight State ______Zip ______Phone ______Rd FT; 3/31 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 19 other reports. Northern Cardinal: 5/1 Buttercup W FT; 6/29 Haight Rd FT; Email ______2-3pr + juv/all yd. BAM; 1-4 on most lists. 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 3/11, 2/19 CIES WLS; 3/1, 2/18 Vassar Fm JCo; 4/29 Haight Rd FT; 4 other places. Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______Indigo Bunting: 6/3 2/7 Hopeland KH; 3/4 Dennings Pt AL; 5 (family)/8 Madam Brett FT; 3 reports Dennings Pt, plus 6 other Club Patch $3.00 ______places. Bobolink: 3/13 Haight Rd AMP; 2/22 N. Mabbettsville Rd Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______AMP; 4/29 Haight Rd FT; 18-20/1-26 TSF MP. Red-winged Blackbird: 6/24 Thompson Pond MM; 5/29 Total Enclosed ______

Haight Rd FT; 4-8 daily TSF MP; 14 other reports of 1-4. Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Common Grackle: 75/7 yd Fishkill ES; 12 reports of 1-8. Send completed form and check to: Steve Golladay, Brown-headed Cowbird: 200/20, 250/28 Bangall Rd AMP; 5 Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 reports of 25-75. Orchard Oriole: 1/1 Vassar Fm JCo; 3/3 Hopeland KH. Baltimore Oriole: 5 (family)/8 Madam Brett FT; 8/12 Buttercup East DK; 4/11 CIES WLS; 4/18 Vassar Fm JCo ; 16 other MEMBERSHIP REPORT reports. Purple Finch: 1f/25 feeder yd. BAM. Please welcome new members: House Finch: 2-8 at most feeders, reports of young being fed. Alfred & Susan Orcutt American Goldfinch: 10/1 Vassar Fm JCo; 10/29 Haight Rd PO Box 1114 FT; 6-12/all yd Poughquag CP/HT; well reported. Millbrook NY 12545 House Sparrow: 25/20 Red Hook LS; 20/29 Haight Rd FT; 10 other reports. Veronica & Dominic Schepis

890 N Hillside Lake Rd Bobcat: 1/7 Peach Hill HT. Wappingers Falls NY 12590

Abbreviations DRT - Dutchess Rail Trail Renewing member: HRA - Hudson River Almanac John Simpson IES - Institute of Ecosystem Studies 610 Clermont Ln. MHB - Mid-Hudson Birds Wappingers Falls NY 12590 Pok - Poughkeepsie RHGC - Red Hook Golf Club Steve Golladay, Membership Chairman TSF - Southlands, Rhinebeck 845-221-6140

Observers - JB* - James Boyce, BB - Barbara Butler, JCo* - Jamie Collins, DE - Derrick Eidam, FT - Club Field Trip, MK - Maha Katnani, DK* - Deborah Kral, AL - Aimee Labar, JL* - Janet Leavens, MM* - Melissa Mezger, BAM - Barb & Allan September Records: Please email to Michelin, BJM - Barbara Michelin, MP - Mona Payton, CP - [email protected] or via US mail to Carena Pooth, AMP* - Adrienne Popko, SR* - Susan Rogers, Barbara Butler, 55 Old Camby Road, Verbank, NY 12585. WS* - William Schlesinger, WLS* - William & Lisa Schlesinger, PS* - Peter Schoenberger, ES* - Edmond Spaeth, LS* - Laura Better yet…enter your records into eBird (ebird.org) and forget Steadman, HT - Herb Thompson, MZ* - Matthew Zeitler about sending us a report! We are now including eBird records * = reports made through eBird without requiring a separate report to RTWBC.

Compiler – Barbara Butler

11 Volume 54 Number 8 www.watermanbirdclub.org September 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533

President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive FIRST CLASS MAIL Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 [email protected] Janet Allison 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected]

WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS For Weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch Sat. Oct. 13 Southern Dutchess Rail Trail, and beverage. If car pooling to out of county trips please Hopewell Jct. Leader: Rosa Corbeels. contribute towards gas for trip. Rain cancels the Weather permitting meeting at parking walk. Any questions call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 lot (off Rt.376) at 9:00am or trip leader. (* Listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County or can be found at Sat. Oct. 20 Stony Kill *p. 104 for Sparrows – www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) Leader: Barbara Michelin. Meet at the Manor House parking lot at 9:00am. Due to family illness the weekend field trips Call if you plan to attend @ 297-6701. Notice: may have leader changes to cover for me when I am out Sat. Nov. 3 Shaw Field & Pond Leader: Adrienne of town. Please check your Wings issue each month to Popko. Weather permitting meet at her note any changes. Thank you. home – 355 Mabbettsville Rd., Millbrook Barbara Michelin at 9:00am Please call if you plan to attend @ 264-2015. The next Wings deadline is October 8. Sat. Nov. 10 Southern Dutchess Rail Trail – Leader: Barbara Michelin. Weather Please send articles to Chuck Martinez permitting meet at the Gold Gym, and copies to Barbara Michelin and Janet Wappingers Falls parking lot @ 9:00am. Allison. Contact information is above. Please call if you plan to attend @ 297- 6701.

12 Volume 53 Number 9 www.watermanbirdclub.org October 2012

OCTOBER MEETING

Our meeting is on Monday, October 22, 2012 at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Come see “Going way south for the winter” -- Peter Relson and Carol Anderson share photos from their 2011 trip to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island and Antarctica. Peter and Carol are members of our club and he has given many programs of their trips over the years. Please join us for an interesting evening. Refreshment will follow our program.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 FIELD TRIPS WEDNESDAY Nov. 7 Dennings Point, off Hudson Ave., Beacon. Meet there at 9:00am. Plan to carry lunch. Nov. 14 Millbrook School *pg. 74. Meet at the museum/zoo parking lot at 9:00am. School is off Rte. 44, Millbrook, on Millbrook School Road. Nov. 21 Vassar College Campus *pg. 128. Meet at the greenhouse parking lot off Raymond Avenue, Pok. and park at the south end of lot, at 9:00am. Nov. 28 Harlem Valley Rail Trail – Coleman Station. Meet at Coleman Station Rd. (off Rt. 22, between Amenia & Millerton) parking lot at 9:00am.

Dec. 5 Thompson Pond *pg.112. Meet there (off Lake Rd., Pine Plains) at 9:00am. Dec. 12 Holiday Party. Meet at the Verbank Methodist Church, Rt.82 & Clove Valley Rd. at 9:00am. Walk followed by 11:00am lunch. Bring a dish to share. (members only) (Snow date Dec. 19). Dec. 19 James Baird State Park *pg. 66. Meet at the restaurant parking lot at 9:00am. Dec. 26 Norrie Point *pg.78. Meet at the museum parking lot at 9:00am.

Most of the above places are listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess County and/or on our website at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions call Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619.

1 Volume 54 Number 9 www.watermanbirdclub.org October 2012

EXECTIVE OFFICERS 2011-2012 most importantly we will be honoring the Foundation's President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 founder and current Board member Bill Reiner. Vice-Presedent: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 We hope that you can join us...additional details will Treasurer: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Recording Secretary: Deborah Kral 914-204-1114 follow. For further information, email us at Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 [email protected] or call us at 845-831-1617. Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 Immediate Past President: Rodney Johnson 876-2291 Committee Chairs Department of Environmental Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Conservation Education Camps Circulation: Chet Vincent 452-3716 Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 The Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club sponsors Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 youngsters to attend the Department of Environmental Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 Conservation Summer Environmental Conservation Barbara Michelin 297-6701 Chuck Martinez 896-6455 Education Camps Program. NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 The camps provide opportunities for young people to Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 learn about forestry, aquatic life, general ecology, and Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 human environmental impact. The camp program Historian: Adrienne Popko 845-264-2015 ensures campers a safe environment, great facilities, Carrie Grey 229-5967 wholesome food, and a highly trained staff. There are Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 four camp locations throughout New York State which Publicity: Kateri Kosek – 226-6267 accommodate different age groups. Information about Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 the camps can be obtained at www.dec.ny.gov Go to Barry Haydasz 266-8084 "Education" and click on "Environmental Education Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 Summer Camps" then "How to Apply to Camp" and Web Site: Carena Pooth 724-5107 also "Information for Camp Attendees" Wednesday Field Trips Carol Fredericks 452-7619 The camps serve to reaffirm the interest in nature Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 that some youngsters have already demonstrated as Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477 well as to inspire others to appreciate the bounty of our earth-- including birds. Bench Dedication at Thompson Pond Applicants must be between 11 and 17 years of age. Please submit the names as soon as possible since the process of selection is a lengthy one. Names On Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Thompson Pond of applicants submitted to the club will be considered there will be the dedication for a bench that the and the selection of the participant will be announced Waterman Bird Club has donated to Thompson Pond at later date. The Bird Club covers the cost of the fee in memory of Bob Kendall. You are invited to attend for the camp; the parents are responsible for the ceremony at 10:00am with a short walk to follow transportation and other expenses. the dedication. Please submit the names and information about the applicants, as well as questions, to: Executive Officers for 2012-2013 -Kelly Liao President: John Winkler 6 Mane Way Vice-President: Barry Haydasz Pawling, New York 12564 Treasurer: Anamaria Bonilla Recording Secretary: Abby Dux Corresponding Secretary: Sue Infante Editor’s Note: The September Records were not Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta ready for publication and will be put into our Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl November issue.

Voting on officers will be held at our October 2012 meeting. Send October records by Nov 5th to Respectfully submitted: [email protected] Binnie Chase & Barbara Michelin or send via U.S. mail to Carena Pooth, 22 Brothers Rd, Poughquag, NY 12570 Stony Kill Foundation Celebration

Save the Date! The Stony Kill Foundation, Inc. will celebrate its 35th Anniversary on Sunday, October 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Dutchess Manor. The cost is $60 per person. This is a fundraiser for the organization, and 2 Volume 54 Number 9 www.watermanbirdclub.org October 2012

Editor’s note: At the Executive Board Meeting on created by the plan could provide a travel corridor for Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012 Debi Kral told us that the DEC predators and allow them to move hundreds of feet into has approved the request from the Town of fields to predate birds’ nests and thus create a Shawangunk on the Incidental Takings Permit. The population sink.” Also, the movement of traffic and following letter was written by Aimee Labarr to inform activity would become visible, frightening the birds. club members the status of the Galeville Park. During the DEC’s 15-day public comment period, Galeville Park Update 10/5/12: Short- the minimum required, individuals and groups sent more than 100 letters. The DEC has not yet issued its eared Owls and other Species at Risk finding, and may be taking more time due to the volume of objections. If the project goes forward, it’s The Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club joined with other possible a coalition of groups will form to deal with the bird clubs and conservation groups in sending the issue. For more information, or if you’d like to be DEC a letter opposing a large, multiple use involved, contact: Aimee LaBarr development in the Town of Shawangunk’s Galeville [email protected], 845-831-4267. Park, adjacent to the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR. The town applied for a draft Incidental Take Permit, for P. S. Word is that the Town of Shawangunk the taking of endangered/threatened species. The wants construction immediately, this season. We species assumed by the town to be present in Galeville know that they've kept the gate to Galeville Park locked Park are the endangered short-eared owl, and the since last week. A locked gate is usually a sign that construction is imminent. 10/11/12 threatened northern harrier, upland sandpiper and Henslow’s sparrow. Field Trip Notes The town issued a Negative Declaration, finding no need for research or an Environmental Impact Study Saturday, Sept 16, 2012 - Anthony’s Nose Members (EIS). Rosa Corbeels, Maha Katnani, Debbi Kral and Steve Golladay were met at the starting point of the walk by The town’s proposal is a 55-acre athletic complex special guests Mr. Goshima and his daughters Kanon with courts for basketball, volleyball and tennis, a (age 11)& Fuuka(7). Mr. Goshima is a former colleague football field, another field, pavilion, playground, of Steve’s who is “on assignment” to the US from meeting hall, bathrooms, and parking for over 200 Japan. Last May Goshima-san joined Steve for a bird cars. The plan states a 10-acre loss of grassland walk at Doodletown. Since then his family has joined habitat, and partial removal of cedar trees used by the him and his girls, especially Fuuka, have been short-eared owls for roosting. Mitigations listed, fascinated by the unfamiliar visitors to their feeders. intended to reduce impact on the Not content with just species identification she has endangered/threatened species, were found to be observed with diligence, noting for example when insufficient in comments sent by NY & NJ Audubon, cardinals started bringing their young to the feeder and NYS Ornithological Association, Mid-Hudson Group when the young started to come on their own. Aware of Sierra Club, Mearns Bird Club and other groups. my affection for the Japanese Red-crowned Crane, Fuuka presented me with two different crane origami The following species are not mentioned in the she had folded when we met on South MT Pass Rd for town’s application, but are listed (in addition to the our walk. I wondered how the approximately 4 mile species above) on the Bird Checklist for Shawangunk hike (round trip) to Anthony’s nose would test the girls’ Grasslands NWR: Endangered – peregrine falcon and interest in birds but both sisters came through with loggerhead shrike; Special Concern – sharp-shinned flying colors. The group spent approximately 2 hours hawk, Cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red- from 11:00 -1:00 eating lunch and observing from the shouldered hawk, common nighthawk, red-headed “Nose” in beautiful sunny weather with a moderate woodpecker, horned lark, yellow-breasted chat, vesper breeze from the West. Also joining us were club sparrow, grasshopper sparrow; At-Risk – eastern members Karen Jensen and Eric Dunne. We did not meadowlark, bobolink and savannah sparrow. Without keep an official tally but we saw at least a dozen any study, it is impossible to know the environmental Sharp-shins, 2 Coopers, 1 N. Harrier, 2 Osprey (one at impact on these populations, all in sharp decline. extremely close range), 1 Broad-wing Hawk, several Red-tails, a Raven, and Black and Turkey Vultures. The John Burroughs Natural History Society is Also entertaining were the many migrating flocks of concerned about the widespread loss of large, Blue Jays, up to 20 or more in a group who would all contiguous grassland habitats in the 20th century. take off simultaneously for the perilous river crossing. They stress the importance of managing areas adjacent (A Blue jay attacked over the river by a falcon is a”dead to the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR and state, duck.”) Sometimes the jays would lose their courage “converting the woodland west of the parking area will part way across and retreat back to the “Nose”, only to not benefit grassland birds, but would create a try again later. Other birds seen include Ruby- negative “edge effect” to the grassland, thus increasing crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Black & White& predation, removing a noise buffer, and eliminating Magnolia Warblers, Pileated WP, both nuthatches, and perching and nesting habitat… the narrow hedgerow Red-eyed Vireo. - Steve Golladay 3 Volume 54 Number 9 www.watermanbirdclub.org October 2012 Not too many birds escaped the heightened senses Field Trip Notes continued… of thirteen birders. The sightings or songs or chip notes Saturday, September 22, 2012 – Vassar Farm. On all elicited conferences among the birders. The guide an overcast morning and 61 degrees 14 members met at the barns parking lot. At the first pond a Belted books were pulled out more than once in an effort to Kingfisher was found. Chet and Maha were a little correctly identify a bird. The infernal...huh...eternal early and birded along the weedy edge of the Rubgy question of whether the bird swooping across the field and they found a House Wren and 2 Common walkway was a Cooper's or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk was Yellowthroats. again a source of discussion. We walked to the community gardens to look for It is highly unlikely that many birds were missed or sparrows and found about 50 House Sparrows along that any of the birds in the following extensive tally with a few American Goldfinch and House Finch. Also were incorrectly identified. The birds: five Wood seen were Chipping and Song Sparrows and 1 female Ducks, three Gadwalls, three Mallards, two Great Blue Purple Finch which was discussed at length as to the Herons, one Pied-billed Grebe, one Turkey Vulture, one ID. Ken Harris found “the bird of the day” an Orange- Red-tailed Hawk, two Barred Owls, two Kingfishers, crowned Warbler. Unfortunately it was not relocated three Red-bellied Woodpeckers, two Downy for others to see. Woodpeckers, one Hairy Woodpecker, five Flickers, one Continuing on we walk the path behind the garden of Pileated Woodpecker, one Eastern Wood-Pewee, eleven squash and found 7 Northern Mockingbirds and Blue Eastern Phoebes, one Blue-headed Vireo, three Red- Jays going overhead in numbers of 15 to 18 in several eyed Vireos, twenty-six Blue Jays, three American groups. Also found were 2 Field Sparrow, several Crows, seven Black-capped Chickadees, two Tufted Catbirds, Robins, Flickers, and 4 Mourning Doves. We Titmice, two White-breasted Nuthatches, one Red- heard and saw 2 Ravens flying overhead heading west. breasted Nuthatch, four Carolina Wrens, one Marsh We walked into the old dump and given a tour and Wren, four Eastern Bluebirds, one Wood Thrush, four talk about the restoration of the dump along with Gray Catbirds, ten Cedar Waxwings, three Common photos of what it looked like at the beginning of the Yellowthroats, one Yellow-rumped Warbler, one project. To our surprise there was a pond with Nashville Warbler, one Pine Warbler, two Palm waterlillies and American Lotus flowers. In the bushes Warblers, one Magnolia Warbler, two Chestnut-sided along the edge were 2 Common Yellowthroats. Warblers, three Black-throated Green Warblers, four Binnie Chase and Carol Fredericks left early from the Song Sparrows, three Swamp Sparrows, three White- dump area and hit the jack pot on the way back to the throated Sparrows, three Cardinals, forty Blackbirds, parking lot. They saw: 1 Yellow-rumped, 3 Black and and three American Goldfinches. White, 3 Magnolia and 5 Black-throated Green -Kelly Liao Warblers, 1 Ovenbird, 5 Red-eyed and 3 Blue-headed Vireos, 15 Robin, 12 Catbird, 12 Flicker, 1 Pileated, 4 Waterman Bird Club Annual Dinner Downy, 4 Chickadee, 5 Tufted Titmice and 2 White- breasted Nuthatch at the Rugby field and into the path COPPOLA'S ON Rt. 9 ( South Road ), Poughkeepsie, up the hill behind the field. NY, November 12, 2012 ( Monday )5:30 - 6:30 PM We walked to the back pond and continued on to the

Educational building taking the trail back to the large Cash Bar @ 6:30 PM. enclosed garden. We had a Mallard, 2 Phoebe, many

Cedar Waxwings and 2 Wood Duck were heard in the Dinner Menu: swampy area created by the beaver and its dam at the Broiled N.Y. Sirloin Steak smothered with Mushrooms bridge. Along the fence of the large garden were Cod seasoned with bread crumbs and lemon several Bluebirds, 3 Savannah Sparrows and 4 Palm Chicken Forestiere Scaloppini in Marsala Wine. Warblers. Shitake Mushroom and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Others birds seen or heard were: 1 Chimney Swift, 10 All entrees are served with Penne ziti and a vegetable American Crow, 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker, many medley. Starlings, 3 Cardinals, 3 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Bread, salad, tea and coffee. Prairie Warbler, 1 Towhee, 4 Carolina Wrens, 1 Turkey Dessert Ice Cream Sundaes. Cost - $22.50 Vulture, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Cooper’s Hawk and 3

Canada Geese. Make checks payable to Waterman Bird Club -Barbara Michelin Write entree choice on check and mail to :

Marge Robinson Wednesday, September 26, 2012-Buttercup West. 31 Tall Tree Lane The swampy area of Buttercup West was already Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 ablaze in the vivid colors of Fall even though the season had just begun and the day was mostly Annual Silent Auction will follow dinner. overcast. The setting was perfect for doing what Tickets are 6 for $5. Bring address labels to save time experienced birders do best: working in a group to writing your name on tickets. confirm the bird population in a given area on a given Please bring your donations for the auction to Binnie day. Maybe there is something to this social media Chase at our September/October meetings or on our nonsense--at least in terms of shared knowledge. Wednesday walks. No donations night of dinner.

4 Volume 54 Number 9 www.watermanbirdclub.org October 2012

BLUEBIRD REPORT - 2012

Tree House Trail Monitors Town Boxes Bluebirds Swallows Wrens Chickadee Titmouse Sparrow Janet Allison Milan,Stanford 31 103 54 5 Jennifer Anderson & Stanford 16 15 50 15 Debi Kral

Peter & Troy Denison Washington 16 36 5 3 4 Abby & John Dux Washington 36 111 37 23 Carolyn Edlund Poughkeepsie 6 7 4 11 Eamon Freiburger Beekman 3 3 4 Susan&Jerry Gilnack RH,Milan,HP,Rhine 77 205 213 20 Susan Joseph HP,Milan 10 21 10 Debi Kral Stanfordville 8 19 10 Sr Jackie LaVie fmm Washington 7 11 Frank Margiotta Milan,Rhinebeck 24 20 16 20 Barbara Michelin Wapp.,E.Fishkill 44 72 68 25 Roger & Irena Morse Washington 20 24 5 5 Adrienne Popko Washington 38 101 108 18 8 vacant Pl.Val.LaG.Wash. 41 75 61 32

TOTALS 377 823 645 172 13 4

Barbara Butler Backyard 8 Maha Katnani Backyard 3 Volume 54 Number 9 www.watermanbirdclub.org October 2012 Selling Birds Eggs in 1894 The accompanying full page advertisement from The Museum Stack’s prices compare very favorably with other dealers. T magazine in November 1894 has Frederic Stack of Poughkeepsie he difference being, Stack offered very few expensive eggs. selling a large variety of birds eggs as a “Wholesale and Retail His focus seemed to be on those lower priced and more easily Dealer.” It is not known when Stack obtained his stock, possibly gathered. Stack’s claim of “Lowest Prices in America” might be as early as 1893, likely by purchasing another dealer’s stock. But true, but if so it is based on buying $20 worth for $10, probably by 1896 Stack was out of business, likely selling his stock to the his “wholesale” offer. In this ad, Stack lists over 200 species and next dealer. Nevertheless egg collecting, known as oology, was a subspecies using names from the first edition of the AOU Check- popular hobby with many dealers and magazines specializing in List (1886). The AOU once gave English names to subspecies, a the trade. One can easily see the impact an expanding hobby of practice no longer followed. The Check-List also numbered each this nature could have on the birds. species and subspecies in sequence. These numbers were used extensively in the early years for quick identification, particularly of eggs. This is the “numbered” in ad text at the top, “list” meaning the AOU Check-List. His least expensive eggs sold for 2¢ for Bluebird, Catbird, Chipping Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. It is possible Stack collected these himself near Poughkeepsie. Except for Rock Pigeon and House Sparrow, neither of which he lists, these were likely the most common locally nesting birds at that time. Perhaps American Robin and Red-winged Blackbird too, which he sold for 3¢. Gray Sea Eagle (now White- tailed Eagle) at $2 and Whooping Swan at $1.50 are the most expensive listed, both are European species certainly originating from European dealers along with such other species as Corn Crake (20¢), Skylark (15¢), and White Wagtail (10¢). However there are also a number of common inexpensive eggs omitted from the list, perhaps he sold out or reflected low stock of a supplier. These include Yellow Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, and Baltimore Oriole. It is not known if Stack’s eggs came with a provenance indicating date and location taken, likely not, yet this data was often kept by individual collectors, such as Lispenard Horton at Gretna. While responsible collectors would only take one egg from a nest, others not only took the full set of eggs but the nest too. The contents of a collected egg were removed as part of the preservation process, Stack also sold tools to aid in accomplishing this. The “new catalogue” Stack offered is likely the only edition published, no copy has been found. See Wings over Dutchess, April 2012 for a review of Stack’s life. Stan DeOrsey Volume 54 Number 9 www.watermanbirdclub.org October 2012

CARENA POOTH – NYSOA MEMBERSHIP FORM At the recent NYSOA Annual Meeting in Owego, the most exciting part for Waterman Bird Club members Name(s) ______was the awards announcements. The Gordon M. Street ______Meade Distinguished Service Award was presented to our own Carena Pooth. The award recognizes City ______outstanding service to NYSOA. The roster of Meade Award winners is a who’s who of the people who have State ______Zip ______Phone ______been key to The Federation of NY State Bird Clubs and now NYSOA’s success for over 50 years. Presenter Email ______

Kathy Schneider read a list of Carena’s contributions 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______which was quite lengthy. More remarkable than the length of the list was the number of items that were Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______truly significant, both in their impact on the organization and in the time and talent involved. Here Club Patch $3.00 ______is a selection. Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______Carena redesigned the website and has enhanced it significantly over time, bringing NYSOA into the Total Enclosed ______information age. Full sets of Kingbird journals and NYSARC (NYS Avian Records Committee) reports have Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club been scanned to digital images. Carena made them Send completed form and check to: Steve Gollsday, available on the website and they are all searchable, Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 creating a great resource for members and researchers. She served as president of NYSOA 2009-2011 and at the same time was the chairman of Waterman’s Membership Report hosting of the NYSOA Annual Meeting in the fall of 2011. The club currently has 207 memberships. Perhaps her most significant accomplishment for the We welcome new members. future of NYSOA and of birding is her part in the founding of the New York State Young Birders Club. Debra Carpenter, Amenia, NY She has been the prime mover and adult mentor to the Alfred and Susan Orcutt, Millbrook organization since 2007. Veronica and Dominic Schepis, Wappingers Falls Congratulations to Carena for well-deserved And renewing member recognition. John Simpson, Wappingers Falls - Barbara Butler Steve Golladay, Membership Chairman Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive, Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 845-221-6140

7 Volume 54 Number 9 www.watermanbirdclub.org October 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club 25 Taconic Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 FIRST CLASS President: Maury Lacher 37 Alda Drive Poughkeepsie NY 12603 [email protected] Wings over Dutchess, Editors: Barbara Michelin 23 Hi View Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 [email protected]

Janet Allison 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected]

WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS For Weekend walks dress for the weather, bring lunch Sat. Oct. 27 Thompson Pond – bench dedication and beverage. If car pooling to out of county trips and walk. Meet there at 10:00am. See please contribute towards gas for trip. Rain cancels the article on page 2. walk. Any questions call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 or trip leader. (* Listed in Where to Bird in Dutchess Sat. Nov. 3 Shaw Field & Pond Leader: Adrienne County or can be found at Popko. Weather permitting meet at www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm) her home – 255 Mabbettsville Rd., Millbrook at 9:00am Please call if you plan to attend @ 845-264-2015. Notice: Due to family illness the weekend field Sat. Nov. 10 Southern Dutchess Rail Trail – trips may have leader changes to cover for me when I Leader: Barbara Michelin. Weather am out of town. Please check your Wings issue each permitting meet at the Gold Gym, month to note any changes. Thank you. Wappingers Falls parking lot @ Barbara Michelin 9:00am. Please call if you plan to attend @ 297-6701.

Sat. Dec. 8 Southland Farm – Leader: Mona The next Wings deadline is Nov. 8, 2012. Payton. Weather permitting meet at Please send articles to Barbara Michelin the parking lot at 9:00am. Please call Mona if you plan to attend @ 876- and copies to Chuck Martinez & Janet 2836. Allison. Contact information is on this page. Sat. Dec. 15 Christmas Census – mark your calendar. More details in our November Newsletter.

8 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

MEETING NOTICE Jan. 30 James Baird State Park *pg. 66. Meet at the restaurant parking lot (off There are NO November or December meetings. Taconic State Pwy north of Rt. 55) at Mark your calendar for our next meeting on Monday, 9:00am. January 28, 2013, at the Freedom Plains Church Parish Hall, Route 55, Freedom Plains, across from WEEKEND FIELD TRIPS Arlington High School, at 7:30 PM. Sat. Dec. 8 Southland Farm – Leader: Mona Happy Holidays and good birding to all our Payton. Weather permitting meet at members! the parking lot at 9:00am. Please call Mona if you plan to attend @ 876- 2836. DECEMBER 2012 & JANUARY 2013 Sat. Dec. 15 Christmas Census – See details this FIELD TRIPS issue. WEDNESDAY Sun. Dec. 16 Sharon, CT/Dutchess CBC – Jane Dec. 5 Thompson Pond *pg.112. Meet there Rossman - Leader. See details in this (off Lake Rd., Pine Plains) at 9:00am. issue. Dec. 12 Holiday Party. Meet at the Verbank Wed. Dec. 26 Kingston/Bard College CBC – Jim Methodist Church, Rt.82 & Clove Clinton - Leader. See details in this Valley Rd. at 9:00am. Walk followed by issue. 11:00am lunch. Bring a dish to share. (members only) (Snow date Dec. 19). Dec. 19 James Baird State Park *pg. 66. Tues. Jan. 1 Pawling (Hidden Valley) CBC. See Meet at the restaurant parking lot at details in this issue. 9:00am. Sat. Jan. 12 Norrie Point *pg. 78 - Leader: Dec. 26 Norrie Point *pg.78. Meet at the Barbara Michelin. Weather permitting museum parking lot at 9:00am. meet at the museum parking lot, and please call if you plan to attend @ Jan. 2 Stony Kill *pg. 104 - Rte. 9D, 297-6701. Wappingers Falls. Meet at the Manor Sat. Jan. 19 Waterfowl Count: See details in this House parking lot at 9:00am. issue. Jan. 9 Vassar Campus *pg.128. Meet at the barn parking lot (light at Hooker & Most of the walks are listed in Where to Bird in Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie) at Dutchess County and/or on our website at 9:00am. www.watermanbirdclub.org/BirdersGuideWhere.htm. Jan. 16 Thompson Pond *pg.112. Meet there Inclement weather cancels walk. Dress for the (Lake Rd., Pine Plains) at 9:00am. weather, bring lunch and beverage. Any questions for Jan. 23 Lakeside Park (Holiday Hills) in Wednesday Trips call Adrienne Popko @ 264-2015 or Pawling, NY *pg. 48. Meet at the Carol Fredericks @ 452-7619. Any questions for parking lot at 9:00am. Entrance at Weekend Trips call Barbara Michelin @ 297-6701 or the intersection of Lakeside Dr., trip leader. Coleman Blvd., and Corbin Rd.

1 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

EXECTIVE OFFICERS 2012-2013 President: John Winkler 677-5606 Executive Officers for 2012-2013 Vice-Presedent: Barry Haydasz 266-8084 President: John Winkler Treasurer: Anamaria Bonilla 646-208-8509 Vice-President: Barry Haydasz Recording Secretary: Abby Dux 677-5835 Treasurer: Anamaria Bonilla Corresponding Secretary: Suzanne Infante 831-3494 Recording Secretary: Abby Dux Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl 473-2001 Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta 758-5803 Corresponding Secretary: Sue Infante Immediate Past President: Maury Lacher 462-5105 Committee Chairs Member-at-Large: Frank Margiotta Bluebird Trail: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Member-at-Large: Shelly Redl Circulation: Chet Vincent 452-3716 Programs: Binnie Chase 724-5912 Membership: Steve Golladay 221-6140 Web Site update Records: Barbara Butler 677-9025 Newsletter: Janet Allison 266-2340 Please note Carena Pooth has retired as our web-hen. Barbara Michelin 297-6701 The Executive Board has a committee looking into her Chuck Martinez 896-6455 replacement. Until further notice please check your NYSOA Delegate: Barbara Butler 677-9025 newsletter for field trips as the web calendar is not Rare Bird Alert: Deborah Kral 868-7934/914-204-1114 being updated. We will be putting the newsletter on Education: Alan Peterson 266-5093 the web as a PDF file for members who have email Historian: Adrienne Popko 264-2015 Carrie Grey 229-5967 newsletters or mailing you a paper copy. Thank you. Hospitality: Susan Gilnack 758-5796 Publicity: Kateri Kosek – 226-6267 -Your newsletter Editors Sunshine: Dora Russell 454-2628 Library: Ken Fredericks 452-7619 Barry Haydasz 266-8084 In Memory of Howard Slocum Conservation: Kelly Liao 855-0192 Web Site: open A long time member, Howard Slocum, died on Wednesday Field Trips Adrienne Popko 264-2015 October 30, 2012. He was an active member for about Carol Fredericks 452-7619 Weekend Field Trips: Barbara Michelin 297-6701 15 years before he became ill in the last few years of Census: Herb Thompson 609-577-3477 his life. He was always ready to help others as a volunteer, helped with our Christmas and May Census President: John Winkler and he monitored a bluebird trail of 16 boxes from 123 Old Camby Rd. 2000 to 2004 in Stanfordville. Verbank, NY 12585 Many of our members who know him will remember [email protected] Howard as a person who liked to eat, especially sweets.

Wings over Dutchess, Editors: If he could not attend a field trip he would come to eat Barbara Michelin lunch with us. He was a good hearted man as we 23 Hi View Road teased him about coming late to walks, but he found Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 us each time and was always ready to eat. [email protected] Our sympathy goes out to his family. He will be Janet Allison missed. 28 Patricia Lane Clinton Corners NY 12514 -Barbara Michelin [email protected] Chuck Martinez 100 South Terrace Bluebird Trail Monitors Needed Fishkill, NY 12524 [email protected] We presently have 2 openings for Bluebird Trail Monitors - 11 Nest Boxes in Pleasant Valley and 25 Nest Boxes in Millbrook. Training & maintenance are The next Wings deadline is Jan. 7, 2013. available. Nice way to spend a cople of hours each Please send articles to Janet Allison and week and to help conserve the Bluebird population. Please call 845-7585796 or email at copies to Chuck Martinez & Barbara [email protected]. Spring is just around the Michelin. Contact information is on this corner. page. -Susan Gilnack

Notice: Due to family illness the weekend field Membership Report 11/12/2012 trips may have leader changes to cover for me when I by Steve Golladay am out of town. Please check your Wings issue each month to note any changes. Thank you. As of Oct 31 the club had 207 memberships; as of 11/12/2012, we have 97 memberships paid up for Barbara Michelin 2012-13. We welcome new members, Suzanne & Edward Kaplan, Wappingers Falls, and Gina Nichol ( Sunrise Birding LLC), Cos Cob, CT.

2 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

113th Christmas Bird Count Waterfowl Count in January

The 2012 Christmas Bird Count will be Saturday Mid-January is the time to bundle up and go out to the December 15 this year. I hope you will join us for a river, creeks, lakes and ponds to count waterfowl. The day of counting birds. 2013 Waterfowl Count period is Jan 19-27. We will try The following leaders can always use help counting. to cover the county on Jan 19th, a Saturday. Rain or If you are interested in participating, contact one of the snow date is Sunday, the 20th. We are part of a state- team leaders or myself, Herb Thompson 609-577-3477 wide effort which monitors waterfowl populations. See (cell). This year there is no participation fee. The CBC http://nybirds.org/ProjWaterfowl.htm for more edition of American Birds from National Audubon will information and results from past counts. be distributed electronically next fall. This saves cost and conserves paper. Last year seven groups worked on the count in Dutchess County. Three groups covered the Hudson Leaders & area and nearby areas, while the others checked the Barbara Butler - Rockefeller Fld. Sta., Verbank, Tymor, “inland” ponds and streams. If you’d like to join a N. Clove Valley group, contact me by Monday, the 14th. Carol Fredericks - Vassar Farm Krista Morris & Barry Haydayz - Moores Mills, Baird Barbara Butler, compiler Park [email protected] Barbara Mansell & Liz Martens - Salt Point, N. 677-9025 Poughkeepsie Barbara Michelin – Twn Wappingers, Twn Poughkeepsie, Pok. Cemetery, Locust Grove Alan Peterson - Hopewell, E. Fishkill, Twn Wappingers. Department of Environmental Sylvan Lake Conservation Education Camps Chet Vincent - Pleasant Valley, LaGrange

Herb Thompson, compiler The Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club sponsors [email protected] youngsters to attend the Department of Environmental Conservation Summer Environmental Conservation Other Dutchess County CBC’s Education Camps Program. Sunday, December 16th is the Sharon/Lakeville CBC. The camps provide opportunities for young people to The count circle includes parts of Amenia and much learn about forestry, aquatic life, general ecology, and of Millerton/Northeast, including most of the Harlem human environmental impact. The camp program Valley Rail Trail. Anyone interested in helping out can ensures campers a safe environment, great facilities, contact Jane Rossman – 518-789-3523. wholesome food, and a highly trained staff. There are Wednesday, December 26th a new CBC circle has been four camp locations throughout New York State which formed by Mark Dedea for Kingston area and Dutchess accommodate different age groups. Information about County including Tivoli Bays and Bard College. For the camps can be obtained at www.dec.ny.gov Go to Dutchess County the leader is Jim Clinton. Anyone "Education" and click on "Environmental Education interested in helping him please call 331-0749. Summer Camps" then "How to Apply to Camp" and also "Information for Camp Attendees" Pawling (Hidden Valley) CBC The camps serve to reaffirm the interest in nature that some youngsters have already demonstrated as As always, Pawling (Hidden Valley) CBCers will usher well as to inspire others to appreciate the bounty of our in the New Year with birding at the crack of dawn (or earth-- including birds. even earlier!) on January 1st. Enjoy traffic-free roads Applicants must be between 11 and 17 years of age. while others nurse hangovers! If you go owling before Please submit the names as soon as possible since the dawn, you may get a great "first bird of the year"! But process of selection is a lengthy one. Names even if you start out later with something more of applicants submitted to the club will be considered humble—a crow, say—you still stand the chance of and the selection of the participant will be announced getting some very good birds throughout the day. After at later date. The Bird Club covers the cost of the fee the sun sets, we will have our traditional dinner at for the camp; the parents are responsible for McGrath’s in Pawling. If you'd like to give us a hand transportation and other expenses. (even if you can't join us for dinner), please contact me Please submit the names and information about the via email or by phone. applicants, as well as questions, to: Carena Pooth, compiler [email protected] -Kelly Liao 724-5107 6 Mane Way Pawling, New York 12564

3 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012 Treasury Report of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club for Fiscal Year 2012

Total Assets Balance - 11/01/2011 $ 27,421.88 INCOME Membership Dues $ 3,480.00 Sales (Patches, Decals, Bluebird box, raffle, etal) $ 262.00 Audubon CBC Participation Fee $ 85.00 Contributions - Donations (banner) and Matching Grants $ 1,257.00 Contributions – Memorials $ 100.00 Certificates of Deposit Interest $ 169.97

Total F.Y. 2012 Income $ 5,353.97 $ 5,353.97

EXPENSES Newsletter Postage, Labels, and Tape $ 914.27 Newsletter Printing $ 1,030.48 Rent (Church & Library for meeting room) $ 725.00 Speaker Fees $ 150.00 Audubon CBC Fee $ 170.00 DEC Camp Sponsorship $ 1,050.00 Insurance (Commercial Package) $ 263.00 NYSOA Club Fee and Delegates' Expenses $ 925.45 Miscellaneous (Postal Box, Supplies, and other expenses) $ 957.42 World Series of Birding Sponsorship $ 345.00 Donations: Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary, CCEDC, The University of Connecticut Foundation, Ferncliff Forest, Millbrook School Trevor Zoo, Friends of Peach Hill, and Stony Kill Foundation $ 885.00 NYS Young Birders Club Partnership, 2012 Scholarship $ 325.00

Total F.Y. 2012 Expenses $ 7,740.62 $ (7,740.62)

Net F.Y. 2012 $ (2,386.65)

Balance on hand 10/31/2012 (checking account) $ 2,675.78

General Fund CDs Balance - 10/31/2012 $ 9,204.22

Book Sales Fund CD Balance - 10/31/2012 $ 5,691.98

Memorials Fund CD Balance - 10/31/2012 $ 2,828.48

Endowment Fund CD Balance - 10/31/2012 $ 4,634.77

Total Funds Assets - 10/31/2012 $ 22,359.45

Total Assets Balance - 10/31/2012 $ 25,035.23

Respectfully submitted by Kenneth J. Fredericks

4 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

New Reference Guide The last major addition is to change the shading which The Birds of Dutchess County Reference Guide, otherwise indicates a species nests in Dutchess County to include known as the bar graph checklist, has been updated. We give where the nest is usually placed. A different shading design these quite often to new members and others interested in indicates nests from mid to high in trees, in bushes or low in local birds so frequently we need to print more. Such is the trees, in nest cavities or nest boxes, on or near the ground case now, but a number of changes have been included in including burrows, and in man made structures (other than the new edition. nest boxes). First I have made all the AOU changes from their last In making all these changes minor formatting changes three updates, through update 53. The most notable changes were made. The arrows indicating population trends based are in the bird sequence. Falcons were made their own order on our censuses were updated. And minor updates were and now follow Woodpeckers, as do Parrots. Longspurs are made to the list of places to bird. their own family and now precede Warblers. And the Wood- I hope you will actually read and study this new guide, Warbler sequence is much changed as well. The most there is so much to learn about our local birds. If you receive significant name change is the Eastern Whip-poor-will Wings as a paper copy, a new copy of the Reference Guide which was split with the southwestern form now called should be included. Otherwise copies are available on all Mexican Whip-poor-will. club walks and at meetings as well as from Barbara Butler or I have also updated the Casual and Accidental list for all Barbara Michelin. new sightings. This includes adding confirmed Slaty-backed Stan DeOrsey

Gull, Nelson’s Sparrow, and Le Conte’s Sparrow. Plus there have now been enough sightings of Glaucous Gulls to move it to the regular section with a bar graph. Field Trip Notes As if there were not enough reference information Saturday, October 13, 2012 – Southern Dutchess already included, I have added more. A light line has been Rail Trail. There had been frost over night so it was a added to group species in the same genus. The genus is the clear cold morning with blue sky and sunshine as 5 first portion of the scientific name. Within a family there Waterman Birders met in Hopewell Jct. may be one or many genera. Often when hybridization We had a nice problem leaving the parking lot occurs it is within species of the same genus. Similarly when because of birds. We could see Yellow-rumped the AOU splits or lumps species that too is within the same Warblers feeding on poison ivy and a nearby oak tree genus. Knowing which species are in the same genus may as well as kinglets, sparrows and a Tohee in the area. help with identification as they share much in common. We could also hear White-breasted Nuthatch, Red- With DNA studies this area is frequently changing. bellied Woodpecker, Chickadees and Titmice in trees Another change is adding a sun (for day) or moon (for around the lot. night) symbol to indicate if the species migrates by day or We had House Sparrows and a Cardinal as we moved up the trail. After we went through the night. With the help of automated computers, a number of underpass we saw a hawk (Allan saw it first) and spent people record the nighttime chips of migrating birds to study the next half hour trying to identify it. The hawk was a when and where various species migrate. You do not need young Buteo and cooperated by staying close to us. It such a system but simply going out at night and listening can changed perches and even caught a small rodent and be quite interesting at the proper time. There is even a CD of ate it quickly as we debated with species to call it. chips to help identify night migrating species. In the case of After much discussion we put down Red-shouldered on our Reference Guide, the symbol is added at the order or our list. family level when all listed species migrate at the same time Up the trail we saw more Kinglets – (Ruby & Golden- of day. A few species, notably swans and some shorebirds, Crowned), more Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Blackpoll migrate day and night until they reach their destination. Warbler (Barbara Butler had the best look), Birds are amazing and there is always more to learn. Chickadees, Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, and heard Red-bellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. We One other change is also about migration. Previously I also heard Flickers and Robins. noted species shown in small capital letters as being On Lake Walton we saw Canada Geese, Wood neotropical migrants. Now I have added a small superscript Ducks, Mallards, a Pied-bill Grebe, Great Blue Heron number to indicate the route these neotropical migrants and Killdeer. follow. They do not all simply “fly south.” There are four In what sky was visible through the trees we saw routes and most of one species usually follow the same Turkey Vultures and a Cooper’s Hawk. route, with some exceptions. The four routes are directly On our way back to the parking lot we had good over the Atlantic Ocean to South American (fall only), looks at Bluebirds and House Finches. The parking lot through Florida and along the islands across the Caribbean was bird quiet when we got back so seeing 34 species Sea, across the Gulf of Mexico generally from the Yucatan we headed to our various destinations after enjoying Peninsula, and around the Gulf through Texas. Knowing our morning of birding. -Chet Vincent which route they take may add to your appreciation of their abilities and difficulties faced.

5 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

Field Trip Notes continued…. Red-tailed Hawk was sitting on the last Bluebird box as we walked closer to the barns. Wednesday, October 17, 2012 – FDRoosevelt Walking along and in the gardens we found 20 National Historic Site. Nice to see a good number of Cedar Waxwings, 1 Eastern Phoebe, 10 House Finch, Club members (17) and 1 new person meet at the FDR 10 White-crowned Sparrows including one nice adult, site at 9am for the midweek birding walk. The weather 5 Swamp Sparrows, 10 Savannah Sparrows, a few was cooperative – very sunny with negligible wind. The more Song Sparrows, 1 female Red-winged Blackbird, 1 temperature steadily rose from 40’s at the start into Palm Warbler, 5 Cowbirds, and an American Kestrel on the 60’s by the time the walk concluded at the fence pole of the Common gardens. We heard and noon…..making it comfortable for several members to saw a Raven overhead, and saw 1 Cooper’s Hawk, 4 remain for lunch. Black Vultures and 10 Turkey Vultures soaring by. The dominant species conservatively recorded were Other birds seen were 9 Mourning Doves, 1 Ring- Eastern Bluebirds(20), Cedar Waxwings(17), Chipping billed Gull, 8 Blue Jay, 17 Am. Crows, 2 White- Sparrows(27), White-throated Sparrows(14), American breasted Nuthatch, 1 Tufted Titmouse, 14 Am. Robins, Crows(20) and American Goldfinches(22). Several 15+ Starlings, 9+ House Sparrows and heard 4 birders had a good view of a Hermit Thrush(field marks Carolina Wrens and 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet. seen: reddish tail & spotted breast). We heard some elusive Golden-crowned Kinglets that were concealed in -Barbara Michelin the autumn colored leaves of the tall tree canopy. Also noteworthy was one Rusty blackbird and one Red- Wednesday, October 24, 2012 Bowdoin Park. A breasted Nuthatch that didn’t provide many of us with small but intrepid group of birders assembled in a view. Bowdoin Park on a gray, misty morning following a Our estimated numbers of the 38 species observed rainy night. I recalled our eagle family, who raised two are as follows: Canada Goose (1), Turkey Vulture (1), eaglets here succesfully this year and last. They're Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Belted typically not around this time of year, but we look Kingfisher (1), Red-bellied Woodpecker (3), Downy forward to seeing Mom and Dad again in the spring. Woodpecker (1), Hairy Woodpecker (3), Northern Heading straight up into the woods, we took the blue Flicker (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Blue Jay (13), American and orange trails in hopes of sparrows. Large numbers Crow (20), Black-capped Chickadee (11), Tufted of white-throats were seen, a couple of hermit Titmouse (6), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), White- thrushes, Carolina wrens, yellow-rumps, golden- breasted Nuthatch (3), Carolina Wren (1), Winter Wren crowned kinglets, and plenty of cedar waxwings with (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (2), Eastern Bluebird (20), juveniles. We were happy to see a red-breasted Hermit Thrush (1), American Robin (3), European nuthatch and six yellow-bellied sapsuckers, including Starling (4), Cedar Waxwing (17), Yellow-rumped one very handsome male. Sparrows followed along with Warbler (4), Chipping Sparrow (27), Field Sparrow (1), us, making it a challenge to find anything different as Song Sparrow(5), Swamp Sparrow (1), White-throated we searched through the same ones repeatedly. A fox Sparrow (14), Dark-eyed Junco (8), Northern Cardinal sparrow afforded us a couple of glimpses, not to be (2), Red-winged Blackbird (8), Rusty Blackbird (1), seen again. Purple finches right next to the trail gave Brown-headed Cowbird (1), House Finch (1), American us good looks. We proceeded around the slippery, wet Goldfinch (22), House Sparrow (4). boardwalk of the Mapleknoll Marsh, but it was quiet. Still, even a short break in the weather gives us a -Frank Margiotta chance to get out, stretch our legs, and see a few birds. Life is good. The mist turned to a light rain, and we Saturday, October 20, 2012 – Stony Kill. On a headed back. sunny morning with temperatures in the 50’s 8 Bird list: Canada Goose – 6, Red-tailed Hawk – 1, members met at the Manor house parking lot. There Red-bellied Woodpecker – 5, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – was a large pocket of birds around the parking lot and 6, Northern Flicker – 1, Pileated Woodpecker – 2, Blue lawn and bushes just north of the Manor house. We Jay – 1, American Crow – 60, Black-capped Chickadee found about 24 White-throated Sparrows, 25 Dark- – 10, Tufted Titmouse – 3, Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1, eyed Junco, a few Song Sparrows, 4 Chipping White-breasted Nuthatch – 6, Carolina Wren – 3, Sparrows, 2 Blue-headed Vireos, 2 Downy and 2 Hairy Golden-crowned Kinglet – 6, Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 Woodpeckers, 5 Northern Flickers, some Chickadees, a Eastern Bluebird – 1, Hermit Thrush – 2, American Cardinal and a brief look at a Winter Wren. Overhead Robin – 150, Northern Mockingbird – 3, Cedar 2 Red-tailed Hawks soared. We also heard 3 Red- Waxwing – 60, Yellow-rumped Warbler – 12, Chipping bellied Woodpeckers. Sparrow – 5, Fox Sparrow – 1, Song Sparrow – 3, Walking down along the road to the barns at the White-throated Sparrow – 50, Northern Cardinal – 6, kiosk we found 9 Bluebirds. While looking at the Purple Finch – 4, House Finch – 1. bluebird I found in the field behind the bluebird a Meadowlark. As everyone got to see it we noticed there -Aimee LaBarr were 3 Meadowlarks. Further down the road in the field we found about 30+ American Goldfinch with 4 Pine Siskins feeding with them. The Meadowlarks and Siskins were a nice surprise with good views by all. A

6 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

September 2012 Records Sandhill Crane: 1/23 Poet's Walk Christine Guarino. Killdeer: 13/21, 15/22, 2/24 Overlook Pk. CV; 23/29 Greig

Fm SR,PS. 9 rpts, avg 9 each. Canada Goose: 175/29 Kennels Rd, Millbrook AMP; 200/30 Greater Yellowlegs: 1/9 & 15 Greig Fm PS. Ryder Pond, Stanford AMP. 12 rpts, avg 66 each. Solitary Sandpiper: 1/15 Greig Fm PS; 1/17 yd BB. Mute Swan: 4/12, 5/28 Fishermans Park KH; 5/30 River Spotted Sandpiper: 1/19 Vanderbilt FT. paddle SR. 9 rpts, avg 3 each. Wilson's Snipe: 1/22 Greig Fm SR,PS. Wood Duck: 15/16 Thompson Pd CP/HT; 9/29 Ryder Pd, Ring-billed Gull: 3/20 Cruger Island RM; 1/28 Fishermans Stanford AMP. 12 rpts, avg 5 each. Park KH. Gadwall: 3/26 Buttercup W FT. Great Black-backed Gull: 1/30 River paddle SR. American Black Duck: 6/27 Rt 82 Pine Plains DK; 2/30 Rock Pigeon: 25/6 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP; 52/22 Greig Tamarack Lk AMP. 4 rpts, avg 3 each. Fm SR,PS. 3 rpts. Mallard: 30/27 Rt 82 Pine Plains DK; 25/30 Market Ln, Mourning Dove: 75/8 VilWapps PH; 6-10/all yd Poughquag Clinton Crs AMP. 10 rpts, avg 13 each. CP/HT. 14 rpts, avg 12 each. Green-winged Teal: 2/27 Strauss Marsh CV; 4/27 Rt 82 Eastern Screech-Owl: 1/6 Clinton yd Alan Peterson; 1/23 Pine Plains DK. Smithfield NG. 5 rpts, avg 1 each. Ring-necked Duck: 2/27 Shaw Field, Shunpike AMP. Great Horned Owl: 2/30 Ludlow Woods Rd yd DK. Bufflehead: 2/29 Ryder Pond, Stanford AMP (early). Barred Owl: 2/2 Ludlow Woods Rd, Stanford DK; 2/26 Common Merganser: 2/29 CIES WLS; 4/30 CIES AMP. Buttercup W FT. 5 rpts, avg 2 each. Ruddy Duck: 4/29 Ryder Pd, Stanford AMP. Common Nighthawk: 8/20 Cruger Island RM; 3/21 Chukar: 2/14 Likely a released bird Knight Rd. WLS. Rhinebeck JCl. 4 rpts, avg 10 each. Ring-necked PHeasant: 2/6 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP. Chimney Swift: 8/16 Creek Rd, Wappingers KH; 1/22 Wild Turkey: 23/13 Duell Rd., Stanford DK; 12-16/every few Vassar Farm FT. 5 rpts, avg 4 each. days tsf MP. 8 rpts, avg 11 each. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 4/1 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Common Loon: 2/30 River paddle SR. Millbrook AMP; 1/23, 1/25 yd, young bird at feeder twice on Pied-billed Grebe: 3/26 Ryder Pd, Stanford AMP; 3/30 25th and not since CV. 16 rpts, avg 2 each. Tamarack Lk AMP. 4 rpts, avg 2 each. Rufous Hummingbird: 1/11 Details given, but no photo or Double-crested Cormorant: 9/25 Norrie Point CV; 1/30 other observers. yd Fishkill ES. River paddle SR. 6 rpts, avg 3 each. Belted Kingfisher: 2/26 Buttercup W FT; 1/28 Fishermans American Bittern: 1/30 CIES AMP. Park KH. 14 rpts, avg 1 each. Great Blue Heron: 12/20 Cruger Island RM; 25/30 River Red-bellied Woodpecker: 5/19 Vanderbilt FT; 2/all yd BB. paddle SR - 16 counted from one location in the south Tivoli 19 rpts, avg 2 each. Bay. 16 rpts, avg 4 each. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 2/2 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Great Egret: 9/5 SchoolHouse Rd, Clinton BB; 1/30 Ryder Millbrook AMP; 1/24 Ludlow Woods Rd DK. 6 rpts, avg 1 ea. Pd, Stanford AMP. 13 rpts, avg 2 each. Downy Woodpecker: 4/16 Thompson Pd CP/HT; 2-3/all yd Green Heron: 1/23 Creek Rd, Wappingers KH; 1/28 Poughquag CP/HT. 23 rpts, avg 2 each. Fishermans Park KH. 3 rpts. Hairy Woodpecker: 4/16 Thompson Pd CP/HT; 2/all mo. yd. Black-crowned Night-Heron: 1/1 Wappingers Crk JCo; 1/23 BAM. 11 rpts, avg 2 each. Creek Rd, Wappingers, an immature KH. 2 rpts. Northern Flicker: 18/22 Vassar Farm FT; 4/30 CIES AMP. Black Vulture: 3/27 HVRT CV; 1/30 Market Ln, Clinton Crs 25 rpts, avg 3 each. AMP. 7 rpts, avg 2 each. Pileated Woodpecker: 4/16 Thompson Pd CP/HT; 1/all yd Turkey Vulture: 10/12 StonyKill FT; 6/30 Stanford Wildlife Poughquag CP/HT. 18 rpts, avg 1 each. Preserve AMP. 25 rpts, avg 4 each. Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1/2 heard and then saw, yd BB. Osprey: 2/22 Buttercup West LF,DK; 1/26 Buttercup W FT. Eastern Wood-Pewee: 6/1 Yellow Frame Fm, Millbrook Bald Eagle: 2/20 Cruger Island RM; 1/30 River paddle SR. 8 AMP; 1/26 Buttercup W FT. 16 rpts, avg 2 each. rpts, avg 1 each. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 2/13 Hopeland JCl. Northern Harrier: 1/16 Thompson Pd CP/HT; 1/30 River Least Flycatcher: 1/8 CIES JF; 1/12 StonyKill FT. paddle SR. 8 rpts, avg 1 each. Eastern Phoebe: 11/26 Buttercup W FT; 3/all yd BB. 26 rpts, Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/22 Buttercup West LF,DK; 1/27 avg 3 each. Shaw Field, Shunpike AMP. 6 rpts, avg 1 each. Great Crested Flycatcher: 1/2 Nuclear Lk CP/HT; 1/16 Cooper's Hawk: 2/22 Vassar Farm FT; 2/30 Market Ln, Thompson Pd CP/HT. 5 rpts, avg 1 each. Clinton Crs AMP. 12 rpts, avg 1 each. Eastern Kingbird: 1/7 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP; 1/12 Red-shouldered Hawk: 3/17 tree yd. & neighborhood BAM; StonyKill FT. 1/30 Market Ln, Clinton Crs AMP. 13 rpts, avg 1 each. Yellow-throated Vireo: 1/7 h Lk. Walton BJM; 2/16 Broad-winged Hawk: 400/9 over Fishkill yd in 15 minutes - Thompson Pd CP/HT. 2 rpts. 5:30pm Russ O'Malley; 1/23 Southlands PS. 7 rpts; 1 of 400, Blue-headed Vireo: 8/22 Buttercup West LF; 1/30 CIES 6 of 1. AMP. 11 rpts, avg 2 each. Red-tailed Hawk: 3/3 Greig Fm PS; 3/30 Market Ln, Clinton Warbling Vireo: 1/5 CIES AMP; 1/16 Thompson Pd CP/HT. Crs AMP. 21 rpts, avg 2 each. 3 rpts. American Kestrel: 4/15 Budds Corners Rd PS; 1/29 Red-eyed Vireo: 10/12 StonyKill FT; 1/29 Ludlow Woods Rd Crestwood Rd NG. 7 rpts, avg 2 each. yd DK. 18 rpts, avg 3 each. Merlin: 1/19 Andrew Haight Rd, Millbrook DK. Blue Jay: 560/19 Vanderbilt FT; 2-6/all yd Poughquag Peregrine Falcon: 1/15 over Millbrook Dick Ryley. CP/HT. 23 rpts, avg 39 each. Sora: 1/9 Greig Fm - flushed twice from a field PS. American Crow: 75/16 Thompson Pd CP/HT; 90/30 Market American Coot: 1/27 Strauss Marsh with mallards CV; 1/29 Ln, Clinton Crs AMP. 19 rpts, avg 19 each. Ryder Pond, Stanford AMP. 3 rpts.

7 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

September 2012 Records continued… Black-throated Blue Warbler: 2/29 Ludlow Woods Rd yd Fish Crow: 4/6 Shop Rite Wapp. BJM. DK; 1/30 CIES AMP. 4 rpts, avg 1 each. Common Raven: 6/15 StonyKill Jim Clinton; 1/often yd BB. Yellow-rumped Warbler: 4/30 CIES AMP; 4/30 River paddle 10 rpts, avg 2 each. SR. 14 rpts, avg 2 each. Tree Swallow: 300/6 Ludlow Woods Rd yard - congregating Black-throated Green Warbler: 18/22 Buttercup West LF; on utility wires and flying over hayfields, photographed DK; 1/25, 1/27 yd CV. 14 rpts, avg 3 each. 2/25 247 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook (last) AMP. 3 rpts. Blackburnian Warbler: 2/12 StonyKill FT; 1/16 Buttercup Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 36/1 Wappingers Crk MN. 3 rpts. JCo; 3/22 Buttercup West LF (late). 3 rpts. Pine Warbler: 1/19 Vanderbilt FT; 1/26 Buttercup W FT. Barn Swallow: 18/3 Greig Fm PS; 6/15 Greig Fm PS. 3 rpts. Prairie Warbler: 1/3 yd BB; 1/22 Vassar Farm FT. Black-capped Chickadee: 11/19 Vanderbilt FT; 5/all yd BB. Palm Warbler: 8/22 Greig Fm SR,PS; 6/29 Greig Fm SR,PS. 21 rpts, avg 4 each. 11 rpts, avg 3 each. Tufted Titmouse: 12/19 Vanderbilt FT; 2-6/all N. Blackpoll Warbler: 2/24 Ludlow Woods Rd yd DK; 1/25 yd Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP. 16 rpts, avg 4 each. CV. Red-breasted Nuthatch: 5/26 CIES BH; 1/27 h neighbors & Black-and-white Warbler: 3/22 Vassar Farm FT; 1/26 CIES yd. BAM. 16 rpts, avg 2 each. BH. 10 rpts, avg 2 each. White-breasted Nuthatch: 8/2 Nuclear Lk CP/HT; 3/all yd American Redstart: 6/22 Buttercup West LF (last); 2/26 BB. 21 rpts, avg 3 each. yard BB. 10 rpts, avg 2 each. Brown Creeper: 2/19 CIES BH; 1/22 Buttercup West LF. Ovenbird: 1/22 Vassar Farm FT. Carolina Wren: 4/19 Buttercup West LF; 2 all mo. yd. BAM. Common Yellowthroat: 6/9 Greig Fm PS; 2/29 CIES WLS. 17 rpts, avg 2 each. 10 rpts, avg 2 each. House Wren: 3/8 CIES JF; 1/22 Vassar Farm FT. 6 rpts, avg Hooded Warbler: 1/3 yd Poughquag CP/HT; 1/20 N. 1 each. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP (late). Sedge Wren: 1/13 StonyKill Steve Golladay; 1/15 StonyKill Canada Warbler: 2/6 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP; 1/11 N. Jim Clinton. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP. Marsh Wren: 1/22 Buttercup West LF,DK; 1/26 Buttercup W Scarlet Tanager: 12/15 StonyKill Jim Clinton; 1/26 Buttercup FT; 1/30 River paddle SR. W FT. 8 rpts, avg 4 each. Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1/28 yd CV; 2/30 CIES AMP. Eastern Towhee: 3/26 Shunpike DK; 2/all yd BB. 10 rpts, Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1/29 Ludlow Woods Rd yd DK; avg 2 each. 1/17-30 yard BB. 5 rpts, avg 1 each. Chipping Sparrow: 38/19 Vanderbilt FT; 4/all yd BB. 13 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 1/8 CIES JF; 2/15 StonyKill Jim rpts, avg 8 each. Clinton. Field Sparrow: 8/29 Greig Fm SR,PS; 2/all, 2 yg/9 yd BB. 9 Eastern Bluebird: 10/22 Vassar Farm FT; 12/29 Kennels rpts, avg 4 each. Rd, Millbrook AMP. 18 rpts, avg 5 each. Vesper Sparrow: 1/13 Cary IES Dick Ryley; 1/3, 4/9, 1/15, Veery: 2/2 W Clove Mtn Rd BB; 1/4 h yd. BJM. 1/29 Greig Fm PS. 6 rpts, avg 1 each. Swainson's Thrush: 1/16 yd Poughquag CP/HT. Savannah Sparrow: 60/22 Greig Fm SR,PS; 38/23 Greig Hermit Thrush: 1/12 Cary IES Dick Ryley; 1/15 StonyKill Jim Fm PS. 8 rpts, avg 14 each. Clinton. Grasshopper Sparrow: 1/9 Greig Fm PS. Wood Thrush: 1/2 W Clove Mtn Rd BB; 1/26 Buttercup W Song Sparrow: 20/26 Shunpike DK; 25/29 Greig Fm SR,PS. FT. 15 rpts, avg 8 each. American Robin: 64/1 Bowdoin Park and others KH; 6/27 Lincoln's Sparrow: 5/24 StonyKill Steve Golladay; 4/26 HVRT, and others CV. 16 rpts, avg 14 each. Shunpike DK. 7 rpts, avg 3 each. Gray Catbird: 22/22 Vassar Farm FT; 1-3/all N. Swamp Sparrow: 3/27 Shaw Field, Shunpike AMP; 1/29 Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP. 26 rpts, avg 5 each. CIES WLS. 7 rpts, avg 3 each. Northern Mockingbird: 8/22 Vassar Farm FT; 1/30 yard BB. White-throated Sparrow: 4/16 Thompson Pd CP/HT; 12/29 12 rpts, avg 2 each. CIES WLS. 6 rpts, avg 4 each. European Starling: 300/21 Southlands DK; 50/22 Vassar White-crowned Sparrow: 1/29 Greig Fm SR,PS. 1 rpt. Farm FT. 6 rpts, avg 94 each. Dark-eyed Junco: 2/9 Mount Beacon Pk RB; 15/25 Old American Pipit: 52/22, 64/23, 48/29 Greig Fm SR,PS. Coach Fm, North Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP. 7 rpts, Cedar Waxwing: 50/22 Vassar Farm FT; 20/27 Reese Park avg 3 each. KH. 12 rpts, avg 15 each. Northern Cardinal: 9/19 Vanderbilt FT; 4-5 all mo. yd. BAM. Tennessee Warbler: 1/12 StonyKill FT; 1/15 Roosevelt 20 rpts, avg 3 each. Farm Lane KH. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 3/15,22 CIES WLS; 1/24, 1/25 Orange-crowned Warbler: 1/22 Vassar Farm FT; 1/25 yard CV. 11 rpts, avg 1 each. Vassar Farm Peter Bedrossian. Indigo Bunting: 1/12 StonyKill FT; 4/9, 7/22, 1/23 Greig Fm Nashville Warbler: 1/7 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP; 1/26 PS,SR. 5 rpts, avg 3 each. Buttercup W FT. 5 rpts, avg 1 each. Bobolink: 3/6 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP; 4/9, 1/23 Greig Fm Northern Parula: 1/11 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP; PS. 1/15 CIES WLS. 5 rpts, avg 1 each. Red-winged Blackbird: 100/30 Market Ln, Clinton Crs AMP; Yellow Warbler: 4/13 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Millbrook AMP; 100/30 Tamarack Lk AMP. 6 rpts, avg 42 each. 3/30 CIES AMP. 3 rpts. Common Grackle: 700/8 yd Fishkill ES; 1/23 yard CV. 5 Chestnut-sided Warbler: 2/12 StonyKill FT; 2/26 Buttercup rpts, avg 161 each. W FT. 7 rpts, avg 1 each. Brown-headed Cowbird: 20/4 N. Mabbettsville Rd, Magnolia Warbler: 4/22 Vassar Farm FT; 1/26 Ludlow Millbrook AMP; 3/28 yard CV. Woods Rd, Stanford DK. 7 rpts, avg 2 each. Baltimore Oriole: 1/6 yd Poughquag CP/HT.

8 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

September 2012 Records continued… Northern Pintail: 5/4 Cary Institute MW; 2/15 The Fly CV; Purple Finch: 2/11,17 Rhinebeck JCl; 5/all yd BB. 18 rpts, 1/28,29 Fishermans Pk KH avg 4 each. Green-winged Teal: 20/13 Buttercup WHS/LDS; 20/13 The House Finch: 15/30 Market Ln, Clinton Crs AMP; 10-20/all Fly vBB; 3/27 Thompson Pd FT; 5 rpts from CV incl 18/15 yd Poughquag CP/HT. 16 rpts, avg 10 each. The Fly & 17/22 Strauss Marsh Pine Siskin: 1/9 yd Poughquag CP/HT. Ring-necked Duck: 35/27 Thompson Pd FT; eBird 6 rpts, American Goldfinch: 30/12 StonyKill FT; 10-15/all yd avg 21 each incl 35/11 Bontecou Lk DK; 30/12 Ryder Pd Poughquag CP/HT. 26 rpts, avg 6 each. AMP; 4 rpts from CV incl 89/20 Ryder Pd & 29/22 StraussM House Sparrow: 10/12 StonyKill FT; 50/22 Vassar Farm FT. Lesser Scaup: 2/28 Sylvan Lk CV 5 rpts, avg 13 each. Black Scoter: 1/31 SylvanL CP/HT hummingbird moth: 1/15 Godfrey Park, Verbank BB. 1 rpt. Bufflehead: 2/27 Wapp Lk BJM; 5/30 DrakeL vBB; 1/31 WappL MaKa Observers – JA/KJ - Judy Atwood/Karen Jaquith, RB* - Hooded Merganser: 28/31 Hillside Lk BAM; 1/26 Verbank Ryan Bass,JB* - James Boyce, BB - Barbara Butler, JCl* - Rd DK Jim Closs, JCo* - Jamie Collins, KCF - Ken & Carol Common Merganser: 2/9 CIES KCF; 12/19 Fishermans Pk, Fredricks, KH - Ken Harris, LF* - Larry Federman FT - Club 8/21 Reese Sanct KH; 3/27 Wapp Lk BJM; 8/22 Round Pd Field Trip, JF* - John Fitzpatrick, AG/NG - Ann & Natalie CV; eBird 3 rpts incl 4/3 CIES AMP Gilbert, DK* - Deborah Kral, MN* - Michael Nicosia, BAM - Red-breasted Merganser: 1/21 Wapp Crk HRA Barb & Allan Michelin, BJM/ - Barbara Michelin, RM* - R Ruddy Duck: 1/1 & 20,2/9,5/13 & 6/27 Lk Oniad BJm; Miller, MP - Mona Payton, CP - Carena Pooth, AMP* - 110/28 SylvanL CV; 100/31 SylvanL CP Adrienne Popko, DR - Dick Ryley, SR* - Susan Rogers, JR* - Ring-necked Pheasant: eBird 2 rpts Joshua Rose, WS* - William Schlesinger, WLS* - William & Ruffed Grouse: 1/26 Upton Lk Christian Schl vBB Lisa Schlesinger, PS* - Peter Schoenberger, ES* - Edmond Wild Turkey: 15+ rpts incl 15/9 yd Rhinebeck JC; 16/7 N Spaeth, HT - Herb Thompson, MW* - Margaret Wentworth Mabbettsville Rd AMP * = reports made through eBird Pied-billed Grebe: 10+ rpts incl 2/13 DRT Hopewell FT; 4/15 Fishermans Pk KH; 3/20 Wapp Lk BJM/KH; 6/31 WappL Field Trips: 5th Ferncliff Forest 12th Stony Kill farm 19th vBB; 5/21 Bontecou Lk DK; 4/28 SylvanL CV Vanderbilt Mansion 26th Buttercup West Red-necked Grebe: 1/30 Fisherman’s Pk KH Double-crested Cormorant: Many reports incl 3/26 Compiler – Barry Haydasz Overlook Pk CV; 4/27 Wapp Lk BJM; 40/9 Pok vBB; 50/13 Chelsea vBB OCTOBER 2012 RECORDS Great Cormorant: Great Cormorant 1/31 BannermanI BAM Great Blue Heron: 25+ Reports of 1-2 each; 7/11 Tivoli Last year at the end of October we had a freak snowstorm. This Bays KH year October 29th brought Sandy, a huge storm that crippled NYC Great Egret: 1/20, 3/27 Wapp Lk BJM; 2/31 WappL vBB; 2- and coastal areas in the tri-state region, although it did not do a 4/4-29 Fishermans Pk KH; eBird 5 rpts, avg 1 each incl 1/11 lot of damage in Dutchess. Meanwhile, predictions that this will be Bontecou Lk DK; 1/4 Ryder Pd AMP & DK good winter for finches are borne out by significant numbers of Green Heron: 1/25 Fishkill HRA Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, Evening Grosbeaks, and even a Black Vulture: 8 rpts, avg 2 each Common Redpoll. Turkey Vulture: Many reports 1-5 ea. plus 10/20 Stony Kill FT; 10/15 Mashomak CV; eBird 29 rpts, avg 2 each incl Snow Goose: 1/11 1/18 Tivoli Bays KH; 25/13 Dutchess NH; 10/14 Taconic nr Baird AMP 1/22 Strauss Marsh CV; 1/30 S Tivoli Bay SRo Osprey: 1/31 WappL vBB Brant: going downriver all wk 8-15th Chelsea vBB; 20/26 Northern Harrier: 1/10 Tymor FT; 1/27 Thompson Pd FT; HudsonR Pok Train Sta MP; 2/27 Waryas Pk KH; 20/27 1/27 Peach Hill vBB; 6 rpts of 1 ea from CV & KH; eBird 5 Marist College SRo; 12/30 Waryas Pk vBB rpts, avg 1 each incl 2/4 StonyKill Fm ES Cackling Goose: 1/22 Round Pd CV Sharp-shinned Hawk: Many reports 1 ea. plus eBird 5 rpts, Canada Goose: eBird 44 rpts, avg 36 each incl 154/16 avg 1 each Kennels Rd, Millbrook,NY AMP; 150/16 Ryder Pd AMP; Cooper’s Hawk: Many reports 1 ea. plus eBird 7 rpts, avg 1 ALSO 800/15 The Fly, 1000/22 Round Pd CV each Mute Swan: 10+ rpts incl 19/15,19 Fishermans Pk KH; 12/20 Bald Eagle: 8 rpts of 1-2 each; 3/22 Dennings Pt KH WappLk BJM/KH; eBird 14 rpts, avg 5 each incl 11/31 Red-shouldered Hawk: About 10 rpts of 1 each Redwing Bkmn CP/HT Broad-winged Hawk: eBird 1 rpt incl 1/9 yd Fishkill ES; Wood Duck: 10/13 DRT Hopewell FT; 20/11 1/18 Tivoli Red-tailed Hawk: Most reported 1-2 ea. plus eBird 34 rpts, Bays KH; 16/15, 26/17 Thompson Pd, 14/20 Ryder Pd CV; avg 1 each incl 6/13 yd Pok WL 10/27 Thompson Pd FT; 11/31 Hillside Lk BAM; eBird 16 Golden Eagle: 1/10 Dutchess Quarry vBB rpts, avg 5 each incl 10/24 Ryder Pd DK American Coot: 10/27 Wapp Lk BJM; 1/27 Thompson Pd Gadwall: 8/27 Wapp Lk BJM; 1/15 3/28 2/29 Fishermans Pk FT; 1/23 PlVal RG; 2/17 Thompson Pd, 2/22 StraussM, 2/28 KH; 2/27 Montgomery Place MDD; 8/31 WappL vBB SylvanL CV; 1/27 Waryas Pk, 8/28 Veterans Pk KH American Wigeon: 1/13 Buttercup WHS/LDS Killdeer: 2-4/most Southlands MP; 3-28/all Overlook Pk CV; American Black Duck: 12/22 Round Pd, 5/4 4/12 Traver Pd, eBird 8 rpts, avg 12 ea incl 51/5 Greig Fm PS; 6/16 Vail 2/15 The Fly CV; 1/24 ButtercupW DR; 1/27 Thompson Pd School CP/HT; 30/24 Overlook Pk, Pok AMP FT; eBird 2 rpts incl 3/27 Montgomery Place MDD Spotted Sandpiper: 1/9 Fishermans Pk KH Mallard: Many reports incl 20/31 Vassar Fm FT; eBird 24 Greater Yellowlegs: 1/15 The Fly CV rpts, avg 8 each Pectoral Sandpiper: 6/15 The Fly CV

9 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

October 2012 Records continued…. Winter Wren: 1/17 FDR FT;1/20 StonyKill FT; 2/21 CIES Wilson's Snipe: 1/20 Ryder Pd CV CV; 1/22 Vassar Fm KCF Ring-billed Gull: 32/24 Overlook Pk CV; eBird 8 rpts, avg 21 Marsh Wren: 1/2,9 CIES CV/KCF; 1/18 Tivoli Bays KH each incl 125/24 Stringham Pk AMP Golden-crowned Kinglet: Many rpts incl 8/21 yd Lagrange, Herring Gull: 5 rpts, highest 37/11 Tivoli Bays 10/27, 6/28 Pok JA/KJ; 6/24 Bowdoin Pk FT; 9/27 CIES KH Rock Pigeon: usual numbers Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 35+ rpts, avg 2-3 each Mourning Dove: 60+ rpts incl 20/20 Vassar Fm KCF; 30/30 Eastern Bluebird: 60+ rpts incl 10/1 Vassar Fm KCF; 20/17 yd Fishkill ES; 2-20/all N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP FDR FT; 9/26 CIES DK; 8/17 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 8- Eastern Screech-Owl: 1/7 WappL HRA; eBird 3 rpts incl 10/daily Southlands MP 1/27 Montgomery Pl MDD; 1/6 N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Swainson’s Thrush: 2/1 Reese Sanct; 1/11 Tivoli Bays KH; 1/21 yd ed Hook ESh 1/16 yd Poughquag CP; Great Horned Owl: 1/7 WappL HRA; eBird 2 rpts incl Hermit Thrush: 1/12 yd BAM; 1/13 Southlands MP; 1/17 2/21,26 Stanfordville DK FDR FT; 1/20 Vassar Fm KCF; 8/24 ButtercupW DR; 2/24 Barred Owl: 1/4,10 JA/KJ; 1/5,13,21,26 yd Rhinebeck MP; Bowdoin Pk FT; 6/26 yd Fishkill ES; 1/26 yd Stanfordville DK; 1/7 WappL HRA; 1/27 Peach Hill vBB; 2/7,13 N. 3/27 Montgomery Pl MDD; 1/31 Vassar Fm FT; 4 rpts from Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/14,21 Reese Sanct KH; 1/28 Tivoli various places KH Bays SRo Wood Thrush: 1/1 Reese Sanct KH; 1/11 Stanfordville DK; Chimney Swift: 9/4 Travis Rd Plankenhorn Fm CV American Robin: 35+ rpts incl 100/10, 20/13,20 yd Belted Kingfisher: 30 rpts of 1-2 each Poughquag CP; 50/15 yd Fishkill ES; 50/4 yd Stanfordville Red-bellied Woodpecker: 60+ rpts, avg 1 each DK; 150/24 Bowdoin Pk FT; 122/25 Overlk Drive-in CV; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 6/24 Bowdoin Pk FT; eBird 6 130/25 Crown Maple Dover BB/BC/CV; 70/31 Vassar Fm FT rpts, avg 2 each Gray Catbird: 25+ rpts, incl 13/2 CIES CV; 11/3 CIES AMP; Downy Woodpecker: 60+ rpts, avg 2 ea incl 5/13 yd Pok 5/4 yd Stanfordville DK; 10/5 CIES KH WL Northern Mockingbird: On most rpts 1-5 each Hairy Woodpecker: 30+ rpts, avg 1 each Brown Thrasher: 1/11 yd Fishkill ES; 1/31 Vassar Fm FT Northern Flicker: 20+ rpts, avg 1 ea incl 5/4 Stanfordville European Starling: eBird 14 rpts, avg 69 each incl 300/10, DK; 1/20 yd Poughquag CP; Pileated Woodpecker: About 20 rpts, avg 1 each; American Pipit: 57/5, 28/6 Greig Fm PS; 12/9,22, 38/26 American Kestrel: 1/13 Buttercup WHS/LDS; 1/14, 5/5, 2/6 Overlook Pk CV; 180/21 Greig Fm RG; 3/27 Montgomery Pl Greig Fm PS; 1/16 Haight Rd AMP; 1/14 Vail Fm CP/HT; MDD; 45/24 Overlook Pk, Pok AMP; 40/26 Southlands KH 1/20 Stony Kill FT; 1/24 Fishkill CR; 3 rpts from CV Cedar Waxwing: 15 rpts incl 107/23 Bowdoin Pk RG; ALSO Peregrine Falcon: 1/27 Waryas Pk KH 60/24 Bowdoin Pk FT; xxxx/14 streaming through Bowdoin Eastern Wood-Pewee: 1/1 Bowdoin Pk KH HRA Least Flycatcher: 1/1 Vassar Fm KCF Snow Bunting: 4/27 Marist College SRo Eastern Phoebe: 2/13 Southlands MP; 1/17 FDR FT; eBird Black-and-white Warbler: 1/1 Vassar Fm KCF 23 rpts, avg 2 each incl 4-5/3,6,7 CIES AMP & WHS/LDS; Tennessee Warbler: 1/1 Vassar Fm, 1/2 CIES KCF 7/8 Haight Rd AMP; 1/20 Stony Kill FT; 2/9 Overlook Pk, Orange-crowned Warbler: 2/8 Vassar Fm KCF; 1/31 1/2,21 CIES CV; 1/22 Vassar Fm KCF Vassar Fm FT Blue-headed Vireo: 1/1-2 & 8 yd BJM; 2/5 CIES, 1/18 Nashville Warbler: 1/3 CIES AMP; Montgomery Pl, 2/12 Reese Sanct KH; 1/3 yd Pok vBB; 1/3,7 Common Yellowthroat: 3/2 Locust Grove KH; 1/6 CIES CIES, 1/11,19 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/7 yd Poughquag WHS/LDS; 1/9 CIES KCF; 1/10 Tymor FT; 1/21 CIES CV; CP/HT; 2/20 Stony Kill FT; 2/27 Montgomery Place MDD; 2/27 Peach Hill vBB Red-eyed Vireo: 2/1 Vassar Fm, 2/2 CIES KCF; 1/11 Magnolia Warbler: 1/1 Bowdoin, 1/15 CIES KH; 3/1 Vassar Stanfordville DK; 1/20 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Fm, 2/2, 1/9 CIES KCF; 1/2 Cary IES CV Blue Jay: 80+ rpts, avg 3 each Yellow Warbler: 1/2 Overlook Pk CV American Crow: 60/24 Bowdoin Pk FT; 100s Peach Hill Blackpoll Warbler: 2/9 Fishermans Pk, 1/12 DRT; 3/27 vBB; 80-100/30 Pok CV; eBird 78 rpts, avg 9 each incl (late) Waryas Pk KH 207/16 Kennels Rd Millbrook AMP; 100/26 yd Stanfordville Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1/9 CIES, 1/11 Bower Pk DK KCF; 1/14 Reese Sanct KH Fish Crow: 1/20 Shop Rite Wapps BJM Palm Warbler: 2/2,9 Overlook Pk, 3/5 Vassar Fm, 2/2 CIES Common Raven: 12+ rpts 1 each; 2/6 StonyKill KH CV; 11/6 StonyKill, 1/26 Southlands, 2/27 CIES KH; 4/6-7 Tree Swallow: 3/15 Mashomak CV; 300/5 N Mabbettsville Rhinebeck MP; 1/10 Tymor FT; 4/18 Tymor DR; 4/31 Vassar Rd AMP Fm FT; eBird 9 rpts, avg 4 each incl 6/26 CIES DK; 7/5 Greig Black-capped Chickadee: 80+ rpts, avg 4 each Fm PS; 6/14 Trinity Pawling CP/HT; 1/20 Stony Kill FT; 3/25 Tufted Titmouse: 70+ rpts, avg 3 each Vassar Fm KCF Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1/4-8,11,21,29 yd. BAM; 2/5, 3/27 Yellow-rumped Warbler: 45+ rpts incl 16/10 Tymor FT; CIES, 1/11 Tivoli, 1/31 Pok Rural Cem KH; 1/6,14 yd 20/13 DRT Hopewell FT; 20/22 Vassar Fm KCF; 12/24 Millbrook WHS; 3/10 Tymor FT; 1/17 FDR FT; 1/24 Bowdoin Bowdoin Pk FT; 18/8, 36/16 Haight Rd, Millbrook AMP; Pk FT; 1/27 Montgomery Pl MDD; 1-2/often Pok CV Prairie Warbler: 1/4 StonyKill Fm ES; White-breasted Nuthatch: 61 rpts, avg 3 each Black-throated Green Warbler: 6/1 Vassar Fm KCF; 2/2 Brown Creeper: 1/21 Reese Sanct KH; 1/22 Vassar Fm Locust Grove KH KCF; 2/26,1/29-31 yd Pok CV; 2/27 Montgomery Place MDD; Eastern Towhee: 1/13 DRT Hopewell FT; 1/14 Bowdoin KH; 1/17,30 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 1/28 Tivoli Bays SRo; 1/15 LaGrangeville EF; 1/25 Crown Maple Dover BB/BC/CV; Carolina Wren: 40+ rpts, avg 1-2 each 2/27 Montgomery Pl MDD House Wren: 1/20 Stony Kill FT

10 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

October 2012 Records continued…. Chipping Sparrow: 12/13 Lk Oniad BJM; 1/13 DRT MEMBERSHIP FORM Hopewell FT; 27/17 FDR FT; 4/20 Stony Kill FT; 5/24 Bowdoin Pk FT; eBird 12 rpts, avg 3 ea incl 11/23 Bowdoin Name(s) ______Pk RG; 1/25 yd Poughquag CP; 6/25 Crown Maple Dover Street ______BB/BC/CV; 1/27 Montgomery Pl MDD; 1/27 CIES KH Field Sparrow: 2/1 Old Overlook Rd CV; 1/7 Fowler Rd City ______Millbrk AMP; 6/5, 3/6 Greig Fm PS; 2/8 yd Stanfordville DK; 6/12 Bower Pk KCF; 1/17 FDR FT State ______Zip ______Phone ______Vesper Sparrow: 1/6 Greig Fm PS; 1/26 Southlands KH; 4/27 Southlands MP Email ______Savannah Sparrow: 4-10/daily Southlands MP; 1/3 CIES AMP; 31/5, 36/6, 1/14 Greig Fm PS; 10/21 Greig Fm RG; 1-yr. Membership - $20.00 ______

1/16 Stony Kill DK; 10/20 Stony Kill FT; 1/27 CIES, 4/26 Club Car Sticker $3.00 ______Southlands KH Fox Sparrow: 1/18 Tymor DR; 1/21 CIES, 1/23 yd Pok CV; Club Patch $3.00 ______1/23 Locust Grove, 1/26 Southlands KH; 1/24 Bowdoin Pk FT; 1/26 CIES DK; 1/31 Vassar Fm FT Optional Tax Deductible Contribution ______Song Sparrow: On most rpts incl 18/7 CIES AMP; 28/5,6 Greig Fm PS; 20/21 Greig Fm RG Total Enclosed ______Lincoln'sSparrow: 1/7 CIES AMP; 4/8 Vassar Fm, 2/9 Make check to Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club CIES, 1/11, 2/12 Bower Pk KCF; 1/26 CIES DK; 3/5, 1/6 Send completed form and check to: Steve Gollsday, Greig Fm PS; 1/5 CIES, 2/6 StonyKill, 2/12 DRT, 1/26 Membership Chairman, 25 Taconic Dr., Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 Southlands KH; 1/31 Vassar Fm FT Swamp Sparrow: 5/20 Stony Kill FT; 8/21 CIES CV; 16 rpts 1-3 ea Evening Grosbeak: 1/24 yd Poughquag CP; 4/27 White-throated Sparrow: 20/1 Vassar Fm KCF; 18/24 Montgomery Pl MDD; 2/21 AMP’s yd CV; 2/18-20, 5/21, 9/24, ButtercupW DR; 50/24 Bowdoin Pk FT; eBird 57 rpts, incl 8/25 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 6/20,21 yd Pok vBB 15/3, 32/7 CIES AMP House Sparrow: Several rpts incl 20/22 Vassar Fm KCF White-crowned Sparrow: 1/23 yd Pok CV; 3/25 Vassar Fm KCF; 10/20 StonyKill FT; eBird 13 rpts, avg 2 ea OTHER CREATURES: Dark-eyed Junco: On most reports incl 30/23 Bowdoin Pk River Otter: 3/20 Ryder Pd, eating small turtles; also RNDU RG; earliest 5/3 yd Pok vBB; 1/6 Greig Fm PS flew away from otters when they came close CV Scarlet Tanager: 2/2 CIES KCF Red Fox: 1/18 yd Poughquag CP Northern Cardinal: On most rpts; eBird 63 rpts, avg 2 ea Observers: Janet Allison (JaA); Judy Atwood & Karen Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1/1 yd Pok CV Jaquith (JA/KJ); Barbara Butler (BB); Binnie Chase (BC); Jim Dickcissel: 1/26 Southlands KH Closs (JC); Mark DeDea (MDD); John & Abby Dux (JAD) Red-winged Blackbird: 50/24 ButtercupW DR; 30/20 Ken & Carol Fredericks (KCF); Eamon Freiburger (EF); Eric Tamarack Pd CV; eBird 18 rpts, avg 132 ea incl 300/8, Gehring (EG); Rich Guthrie (RG); Ken Harris (KH); Nancy 1000/31 Haight Rd, 500/17 Shuman Rd AMP; Houlihan (NH); Debi Kral (DK); William Lenhart (WL); Eastern Meadowlark: 4/20 Stony Kill FT Barbara & Allan Michelin (BAM/BJM/AJM); Mona Payton Rusty Blackbird: 1/17 FDR FT; 3/24 ButtercupW DR; (MP); Carena Pooth (CP); Adrienne Popko (AMP); Susan Common Grackle: 400/8 yd, many w/tails molting! Verbank Rogers (SRo); Carlos Ross (CR); Dick Ryley (DR); William & BB; 50/11 yd Pok, 400/24 nr Domin Fm CV; eBird 10 rpts incl Lisa Dellwo Schlesinger (WHS/LDS); Peter Schoenberger 100/16 Oak Summit Rd. Verbank DK; (PS); Elisa Shaw (ESh); Ed Spaeth (ES); Herb Thompson Brown-headed Cowbird: 100/6-7,13, 75/21 Southlands MP; (HT); Chet Vincent (CV); Margaret Wentworth (MW); Field eBird 5 rpts, avg 31 each incl 100/8 Haight Rd, 50/16 AMP; Trip (FT); Various birders via Barbara Butler: vBB; Purple Finch: On most rpts incl 20/2 CIES KCF; 15/2 CIES Hudson River Almanac: HRA CV; eBird 46 rpts, avg 5 ea incl 12/9,11,20,21 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Field Trips (FT): 3rd Montgomery Place, 10th Tymor, 13th House Finch: eBird 50 rpts, avg 5 ea incl 12/3 CIES AMP; DRT Hopewell, 17th FDR, 20th StonyKill, 24th Bowdoin, 27th 10/24 Elm Drive Millbrook JAD; 10/29 N Mabbettsville Rd Thompson Pd, 31st Vassar Farm AMP; 30/6 StonyKill KH Common Redpoll: 2/20, 1/21 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; Abbreviations: CIES: Cary Insitute of Ecosystem Studies; Pine Siskin: On most rpts; 4/8 yd Verbank BB; 36/17-30 yd DRT: Dutchess Rail Trail Clinton Crs JaA; 28/23, 54/24, 75/25 yd Pok CV; 50/24 Elm Drive Millbrk JAD; 70/24 PlVal yd vBB; 30/26 yd Stanfordville Please e-mail records to [email protected] DK; 35/24, 40/26,27, 45/28 N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; 40/21 Or send via US mail: Red Hook Home ESh; 20/28 yd Pok KCF November records to Barbara Michelin, 23 Hi View Rd., American Goldfinch: On most rpts incl 18/5 Vassar Fm; Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 eBird 69 rpts, avg 7 ea incl 6-15/all N Mabbettsville Rd AMP; December records to Deborah Kral, 156 Ludlow Woods Rd, Stanfordville, NY 12581 Or enter your records into eBird (ebird.org) and we will get them from there. Compiler - Carena Pooth

11 Volume 54 Number 10 www.watermanbirdclub.org November 2012

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club FIRST CLASS 25 Taconic Drive Hopewell Jct., NY 12533

Waterman Name Tags and send them by December 31, 2012. Your name tag will be mailed directly to you.

It's time to order your name tag from the R. T. Waterman Bird Club. Proudly identify yourself as a Stony Kill news: The Barn at Stony Kill will be open Waterman member by wearing your name tag during to visitors every Saturday and Sunday in November, outings. Reach out to visitors and new members; make from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please stop by for a tour of the them feel welcome to our field trips. farm animals. The attractive Waterman name tag comes in white We will also be selling our 2013 calendar with with your name in green lettering, and the official pictures of the farm animals. The cost is $20.00 (cash Waterman bird insignia. or checks made payable to Stony Kill Foundation, Each name tag is $2.00 shipping per household, plus Inc.). Proceeds will help support the care and $6.75 per name tag. So, if you are getting one name maintenance of our livestock. If you love our animals tag, please send $8.75. The cost for two people getting as much as we do, your support would be most name tags is only $15.50. appreciated. They also make perfect holiday gifts! Please mail me a check and include your name, printed as you would like to see it on your name tag, THANK YOU! For further information, email or call with your address. Send to: Aimee LaBarr, 1347 Rt. us at [email protected] or 845-831-1617. 9D, Beacon, NY 12508. Please make checks payable to me, Aimee LaBarr, not Waterman Bird Club. I will put the orders together

12