Registrar: Christina Black
Weather: Cloudy and cold with a few showers, temperature in high 50s
Participants: 15
Bird Species: 66
Tod Winston led us on a lovely day of birding in several locations, with some of our warm coats coming off as the day progressed. The report here is provided by Tod:
Our day of birding started rather coolly at the Shawangunk Grasslands, but thanks to a warning from Christina, we had come well prepared. And, mercifully, the unseasonably crisp weather did not deter the birds! We quickly found the principal targets of the trip, including singing and displaying male Bobolinks, singing Eastern Meadowlark, and cooperative nesting Eastern Bluebirds. The small and reedy-voiced Grasshopper Sparrow proved a bit scarcer this year… but after a bit of a stake-out, sharp eyes spotted a perched and singing bird in the distance. As we made our way down the trail to check the wooded border of the grasslands, we watched Barn Swallows and Purple Martins swoop over the fields, found an American Kestrel pair perched together in the distance, and heard Field Sparrow and Blue-winged Warbler singing faintly from the opposite side. A second Grasshopper Sparrow granted us a good view, energetic Bobolinks were plentiful, and we got looks at singing Willow Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and both male and female Red-winged Blackbird.
A saunter up the refuge’s driveway allowed closer inspection of the refuge’s Purple Martin colony, and also provided views of several Eastern Kingbirds, Tree Swallows, and more Willow Flycatchers. (Alas, no Alder Flycatcher was heard this year.) The pond and woodlands then supplied a slightly different set of birds, including White-breasted Nuthatch, Cedar Waxwing, American Redstart, Ovenbird, and a still elusive but more audible Blue-winged Warbler. Singing House Wren and Eastern Wood-Pewee also made cooperative cameos, and the high, ringing echo of a Blackpoll Warbler reminded us all of the passage of spring migration.
After a relaxed lunch in the gazebo, we headed off through the neighboring Blue Chip Farms property. This area did not prove as productive as it has in past years, but we did add a few more species to our day list, such as Cooper’s Hawk, Chipping Sparrow, and Warbling Vireo. Savannah Sparrows, however, were not to be heard.
Liberty Loop in Wallkill Marsh, our final destination of the day, has been in recent years a reliable spot for nesting Sandhill Crane and Common Gallinule. Despite much scanning and listening, however, we did not detect either of these species–but were ultimately rewarded with a number of other interesting wetland and scrub birds. From the parking lot, we spotted one Bank Swallow swooping over the marsh and heard the gurgling song of the Marsh Wren; and then, while waiting out a sudden rain shower down the street, we glimpsed a Great Blue Heron. Happily, the rain then abated, permitting us a lovely walk in the dappled shade along the refuge’s stream. Several Wood Ducks flew by, as did a Belted Kingfisher and two Green Herons. A Swamp Sparrow sang its wobbly trill, and a very skulky but ultimately cooperative singing young male Orchard Oriole provided a hard-fought thrill. His chattery song gave us a useful comparison to several Baltimore Orioles in the vicinity. We also again heard a sharp “ping ping ping” call, which we had earlier concluded was the sound of one or more Spotted Sandpipers, seen near the parking lot. As noted by one astute longtime birder in the group, however, we had not actually seen any Spotted Sandpipers. This time, however, the “ping ping ping” very clearly issued from the open beak of that multi-voiced scoundrel, the Red-winged Blackbird! (Birds always have something new to teach you. It keeps things exciting ;-).) We then heard the “wheep!” of a Great-crested Flycatcher and the distant “chebek” of a Least Flycatcher, and finished off our day with a group of excitedly singing and chipping male and female Indigo Buntings.
All in all, we ID’d 66 species on the trip. You can view that complete list below (in addition to three trip checklists in the eBird Trip Report).
Species List
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Killdeer
Green Heron
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tufted Titmouse
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Northern House Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Grasshopper Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Blue-winged Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
