With steady rain in the forecast, we had a smaller group than usual for the first Tuesday walk of the spring, but a hardy group of 20 birders set out to see what birds showed up. It turned out the warblers had not yet arrived, but we had a good number of sparrow and woodpecker species. The highlights of the walk were two Cooper’s Hawks seen in the Ramble and an active little Winter Wren giving us long and close looks at Laupot. Many thanks to our volunteer leaders, Alan, Carine, and Kevin.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Northern Shoveler Gadwall Mallard Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Herring Gull Double-crested Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Golden-crowned Kinglet House Wren Winter Wren European Starling Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush American Robin House Sparrow House Finch American Goldfinch Fox Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Michelle Talich and Anne Lazarus Participants: 20 Weather: 35-50 F, sunny, breezy Bird Species: 52 + 2 en route
Conference House Park Twenty Linnaean members met at the Conference House Park visitors center on a bright and sunny day, greeted by a chorus of singing Carolina Wrens, Northern Cardinals, American Robins, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and other avian denizens.
Our excellent leader, Seth Wollney, showed us a Carolina Wren nest cleverly constructed in a metal box on a metal pole. We saw a majestic Bald Eagle and the tiny Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We observed the Red-throated Loons, Buffleheads, and diving Red-breasted Mergansers in the bay. We enjoyed views of Downy Woodpeckers, several Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, and the Fish Crow as they prepared to nest. Overhead, we had excellent views of the newly arrived Osprey and a Cooper`s Hawk establishing territory. We completed our walk of the Conference House with two Eastern Phoebes.
At this location, we saw and heard thirty-five bird species.
Wolfe’s Pond Park Our next destination was Wolfe’s Pond Park. We perused the pond and were happy to see four Common Mergansers associating with a Hooded Merganser and enjoyed the antics of an American Coot. Suddenly, our attention was drawn to two Bonaparte Gulls, transitioning into alternate plumage, flying into the pond. We ultimately counted seven Bonaparte Gulls, including several along the beach. We had excellent looks at a Killdeer, a shorebird species. A graceful Great Egret flew over the pond as one Rough-winged Swallow, a harbinger of Spring, made a brief appearance. Two Bald Eagles captured our attention, and we saw an estimated one hundred and fifty Northern Gannets foraging in the bay.
Great Kills Park Our final destination was Great Kills Park, where twenty-five Horned Grebes, mainly in alternate plumage, were flocking in the harbor. In addition to the expected gulls, we saw a Laughing Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, which was an excellent sighting. One American Oyster Catcher was quietly standing by itself. Several Red-throated Loons were diving close to shore. Ducks included Mallards, Black Ducks, Buffleheads, and Red-breasted Mergansers. We were hypnotized by the estimated fifty Northern Gannets plunging, diving, and flying in the distance. In addition to the water birds, we saw two Bald Eagles, one Red-tailed Hawk, four Turkey Vultures, an Eastern Phoebe, and other land birds.
After the trip officially ended, Richard excitedly called back the remaining participants to point out that the flock of Northern Gannets had increased to about one hundred and fifty birds. What a fantastic site, especially as three Northern Gannets flew around the parking lot. What a dramatic end to such a dynamic trip!
Before the official trip, Richard spotted a Black Vulture flying over Hylan Boulevard, and after the trip, several birders enjoyed watching the Wild Turkeys of Staten Island.
Bird Species
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Mallard American Black Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot American Oystercatcher Killdeer Bonaparte’s Gull Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Northern Gannet Double-crested Cormorant Great Egret Turkey Vulture Osprey Cooper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay Fish Crow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle Northern Cardinal
Bird Species Seen by Some Participants Black Vulture Wild Turkey
Registrar: Leslie Fiske Participants: 10 Weather: Temperature in the low 40s; cloudy into rain; wind speed ESE at 16 mph Bird Species: 37
The rain delayed the trip by a week, and although many of the expected species had already left the area for parts north, we were able to view 37 species under the great leadership of Peter Dorosh.
Beginning at Calvert Vaux Park, we saw a variety of wintering ducks and other lingering birds. We were also treated to great views of an Eastern Meadowlark. We then caravanned to Coney Island Creek, hoping to spot gull rarities, which we unfortunately could not find. However, we did get good views of a Common Loon beginning to show its breeding plumage. Our next stop was at Manhattan Beach Park, where our target was the thousands of Black Scoters reported to be on the channel the prior two weeks. We were not disappointed in our views of the scoters, including three Surf Scoters and one White-winged Scoter. Again, we looked for gull rarities at Sheepshead Bay. We did not see any, but we got some nice views of Lesser Scaup. Our final destination was Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park, where we saw a nice variety of marsh birds and ducks, including American Wigeon and Pied-billed Grebe before we were forced to end the trip when light rain became a deluge.
Species Lists
Birds Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Widgeon Mallard American Black Duck Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Red-Breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Ring-Billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Great Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant American Crow Fish Crow European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Red-winged Blackbird
Registrar: Kathleen Matthews Participants:20 Weather:mid-40s, overcast, light wind that picked up later in the morning, precipitation held off until after 1 PM Bird Species:28
On an overcast day in early March, a large group met in Central Park to look for early migrants and assess which winter birds were still in the park. To accommodate the large number of attendees, we split into two groups and fanned out into Strawberry Fields, moved to Hernshead and Oak Bridge, and finally headed into the Ramble.
After we trekked to The Reservoir, we delighted in a large group of Northern Shovelers swimming in a large group and working together to stir up food. Another trip highlight was seeing both a Common Loon and a Red-throated Loon. By 1 pm, the rain started to come down in earnest, so we completed the walk and rushed to find shelter from the late winter storm.
Species Lists
Birds Canada Goose Wood Duck Northern Shoveler Mallard Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Coot Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cooper’s Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Blue Jay American Crow European Starling American Robin House Sparrow House Finch White-throated Sparrow Eastern Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Northern Cardinal
The group met at 9:00 am at the Orchard Beach parking lot, and started walking to the beach, stopping to look at sparrows, cardinals, woodpeckers and a nuthatch along the trail. Some of the group had received reports of Red-necked Grebes on the water, so we scanned the water and indeed found three of them by the coast near Hunter Island. We proceeded to scan the Sound, from the middle of Orchard Beach to Twin and Two Tree Islands, were we were treated to three Purple Sandpipers resting along the rocks. Nearby was an American Widgeon, and we soon spotted a couple more, very well camouflaged by the rocks. As we were looking at the Purple Sandpipers, one of the group pointed out a Razorbill that had come quite close to our shore. We had already seen two Razorbills but those had been distant and visible only through scopes; this one was close and unfazed by us, giving even some of the more experienced birders in our group their closest look ever at this species.
Walking back from the shore, we saw a young Red-tailed Hawk swooping as it practiced hunting. In the grassy field just before the parking lot, we were treated to the sight of a trio of American Tree Sparrows foraging in the grass – we were keeping our distance to avoid flushing the birds and from afar we thought they might be Chipping Sparrows but a sharp-eyed birder pointed out the bi-colored bill, and our identification of the Tree Sparrows was further cemented by photographs. This wrapped up our great morning of birding, lead by the wonderful Jack Rothman who generously shared his expertise and his know-how of the park.
Birds Brant Canada Goose American Wigeon Mallard American Black Duck Greater Scaup Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Red-necked Grebe Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Mourning Dove Purple Sandpiper Razorbill Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Red-throated Loon Common Loon Great Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Red-tailed Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Peregrine Falcon Blue Jay Fish Crow White-breasted Nuthatch European Starling Northern Mockingbird American Robin House Sparrow American Tree Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Anne Lazarus Participants: 10 Weather: some morning clouds, then sunny, wind and gusts in exposed areas, 22 F. warming to about 30 F. Bird Species: 40
Ten enthusiastic Linnaean participants bucked the wind, snow, ice, and cold to enjoy an exciting avian tour of Croton Point Park. We were met at the Croton train station by our excellent leader, Ethan Goodman, who immediately showed us two Bald Eagles. One Mallard was visible in the water, along with many gulls. We walked to the official Croton Park entrance, where a Brown Creeper appeared and stayed around long enough for photographic opportunities, a most unusual and courteous behavior for a Brown Creeper
Also in the area were several flocks of sparrow species, including, American Tree Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and one Field Sparrow.
Our next target was the Red-headed Woodpecker that had been reported in the area. We climbed the hill behind the visitor center and almost immediately found 2 two of them, along with Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Downy Woodpecker and other birds. Ethan spotted a Black Vulture in the distance, along with two Turkey Vultures and another Bald Eagle. We thank Ethan for guiding us to the precise location of these birds, the parking lot for the model airplane field.
We never slowed down. We next walked the periphery of the of the main landfill, where Mary Beth Kooper spotted a Killdeer. Flocks of sparrows were foraging, dominated by American Tree Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows. We stopped for a lunch break, and Ethan treated us to hot beverages and donuts, which we very much appreciated. We continued our walk toward the pine groves and enjoyed Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, more Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Northern Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Gray Catbird, another Brown Creeper, a Song Sparrow, American and White-throated Sparrows, a Cooper`s Hawk, a Northern Cardinal and four Buffleheads.
Our final destination was the very gusty, main landfill. We walked across the top seeing more Savannah Sparrows, a Bald Eagle, a wind-blown American Kestrel, a Red-tailed Hawk and a Common Raven. Two participants remained with Ethan until dusk—Trang Do and Kenelma Perez and were rewarded with views of a Screech Owl, a Northern Harrier and a Cooper`s Hawk.
Thank you Ethan for your scouting, organizing, and a comprehensive ebird list.
Birds Canada geese Mallard Bufflehead Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Cooper`s Hawk Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Eastern Screech Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Golden-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina wren European Starling Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird American Robin Field Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated SparrowSavannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Northern Cardinal
Registrar: Janet Wooten Weather: Sunny, breezy and cold outside, pleasant inside Participants: 10 Bird Species: 30+
Kevin treated us to an excellent tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s paintings, sculptures, and other objets d’art that feature or include birds. His impressive knowledge of the subject and his willingness to share it with us were also on display. He introduced us to many little-known treasures and explained the significance of birds in some of the more popular paintings in the Museum’s permanent exhibits.
Because of our avian focus, Kevin mentioned a book by publisher, author, and naturalist Jeremy Mynott, Birds in the Ancient World, that organizes human relationships to birds into six categories: Birds of the Natural World, Birds as a Resource, Living with Birds, Invention and Discovery, Thinking with Birds, and Birds as Intermediaries. We used these themes to gain insight into the art we saw as we weaved our way smoothly through the museum.
We started in some of the Met’s lesser known galleries, beginning with the ancient Roman Empire and Islam and proceeding to 17th/18th-century India and Asia. We were delighted by the many owls and roosters, peacocks and guinea fowl, depicted on pottery, worked into vases, whistles, and cups, woven into carpets, and painted onto wall fragments.
Currently on view until June 9, 2024, is ‘Indian Skies’, an exhibit of exquisite watercolors from India that feature pigeons, mynas, orioles, and a goshawk.
We made our way to 19th-Century European Paintings; through China and Japan, where falcons and cranes appear on kimonos, scrolls, and screens; then on to the Americas (parrots!), European Paintings from 1300-1800, Musical Instruments, and finally to the open storage and installation space in the American Wing, where we viewed a painting of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers, a perfect way to end our avian art adventure.
Species List Birds Condor (feathers) Cranes Curlews Doves Ducks Eagles European Goldfinch Eurasian Blue Tit Falcons Geese Goshawk Great Hornbill Guinea Fowl Herons Hoopoe Ivory-billed Woodpeckers Kingfisher Magpies Mynas Orioles Owls Parrots/Macaws Partridges Peacocks Pheasants Pigeons Roosters Shrike Snipes Sparrows Storks Swallows Swans Wild Turkeys
Registrar:Kristin Ellington Number of Participants: 11 Weather: Friday, Feb 16, in Saratoga and Washington Counties: Partially sunny and a bit chilly with a low of 25°, a high of 42°, and winds from the south averaging 7 mph. Saturday, Feb 17th, in the Adirondacks: Sunny and cold with a low of 4°, a high of 17°, and little to no wind, with morning snowfall from the lake effect. In the afternoon, the chill increased as winds gusted up to 20 mph from the southwest. Sunday, Feb 18, in the Adirondacks: Sunny and quite cold, with a low of 0°, a high of 8°, and little to no wind in the morning. In the afternoon, strong gusts of up to 25 mph came from the southwest at 3-9 mph. Monday, Feb 19, in the Adirondacks and Shawangunk Grasslands NWR: Morning in the Adirondacks was sunny and quite cold, with a low of -6° and westerly winds at 8 mph. In the Shawangunk Grasslands, it was 36°, with winds at 8 mph. Number of Bird Species: 57
Day 1: Friday, February 16 Saratoga County and Washington County Grasslands
On a gorgeous but chilly Friday morning, an enthusiastic group of Linnaean Society members embarked on a trip from the city to the Adirondacks. Along the way, we made stops at the hotspots on our loaded itinerary. Our primary targets were wintering ducks, grassland songbirds, and as many raptors and owls as possible. Our list for the day totaled an impressive 39 species.
Peebles Island State Park – Saratoga County Our first destination was Peebles Island State Park, located at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. Participants were delighted by a close view of several Common Mergansers. We also saw a Bald Eagle, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and a Common Raven. Overall, the location was fairly quiet, so we quickly moved on.
Hudson River Hotspots – Saratoga County We then started car birding along the Hudson River in Saratoga County, where we saw numerous Common Goldeneyes, American Black Ducks, Common Mergansers, Buffleheads, Mallards, and enormous flocks of Canada Geese. Other highlights included a Northern Flicker, Black-capped Chickadees, a Tufted Titmouse, Dark-eyed Juncos, an Eastern Bluebird, and large flocks of American Crows. We were most excited by a large flock of Horned Larks and a smaller flock of Snow Bunting found along Grange Hall Road in Northumberland.
Fort Miller Road and Riverside Cemetery – Washington County After a delicious and warming lunch, we drove along Fort Miller Road, where we saw our first Northern Pintail of the day and more Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, and American Black Ducks. Along the road, we were lucky to view a Great Horned Owl in our scopes while standing far away to avoid bothering this sensitive species. Just past the Riverside Cemetery were feeders hosting House Finches, American Tree Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatches, and a Red-winged Blackbird. We were also treated to a trifecta of the Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Pileated Woodpecker.
Washington County Grasslands – Washington County Our next destination was the Washington County Grasslands, where we stopped at numerous locations along Blackhouse Road, Carry Road, and Plumb Road. We saw an American Kestrel, a male Northern Harrier, and enormous flocks of thousands of American Crows. We hoped to see the Short-eared Owls, but decided to head west to our home base at the Adirondacks Hotel on Long Lake before we lost the sun.
Day 2: Saturday, February 17 Adirondacks: Searching for the Boreal Trio and Winter Migrants
Excited to meet up with Joan, the participants started the day bright and early. Although it was relatively warm (in the mid-twenties), the weather was cold enough to activate birds anxious to replenish their energy stores. As the day grew longer, the sun came out, and the temperature reached an unseasonably warm high thirties. We had to work hard to find the twenty species we saw throughout the long day and were reminded that birding can be as much about luck as it is about knowledge.
Newcomb – Essex County Our first stop was at the neighborhood feeders in Newcomb, where we saw Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, American Goldfinches, and Blue Jays. A bit more exciting were three American Tree Sparrows and a surprise sighting of a White-throated Sparrow, unusual in this area at this time of year.
Route 28N: Hyslop Marsh, Minerva Railbed, Boreas River – Essex County Route 28N is an important stretch of road with great hiding spots for the Boreal trio (the Boreal Chickadee, the Black-backed Woodpecker, and the Canada Jay) and many other wintering birds. At Hyslop Marsh in Newcomb, we heard the unmistakable drumming of two Black-backed Woodpeckers and a Pileated Woodpecker. We were also delighted by two Red-breasted Nuthatches, a Purple Finch, and several Pine Siskins. However, no Boreal Chickadees were to be found. The Minerva Railbed provided our first call of the Red Crossbill. However, after much searching, we could not visually locate the bird. The next stop was the Boreas River Loop Trailhead in Minerva, where we enjoyed bright sunshine, sparkling snow, and a gorgeous ice-covered river. We heard another Pileated Woodpecker drilling and more Pine Siskins. After much searching, we heard a Red Crossbill singing while perched high in a pine tree. With the entire group looking and listening, we eventually located three Red Crossbills flying high overhead. What a thrill to finally see one of our primary target birds, a life bird for several participants.
Tahawus Road, in Newcomb – Essex County The Tahawus Road parallels the Hudson River, eventually leading to an abandoned mining town. It is primarily used by large logging trucks but is otherwise fairly quiet. Along this crystalline snow-covered stretch of road, we searched again for Boreal Chickadees and were rewarded with over sixteen birds singing in the trees. We also found Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Siskins, and several Black-capped Chickadees high up in the evergreens.
Blue Ridge Road in North Hudson – Essex County Our first species at this location was the Black-backed Woodpecker. We heard two calling and rattling, and the female eventually appeared in our sightline, deep in the trees. Finally, we heard the call of the elusive White-winged Crossbill along Blue Ridge Road, near the Sand Pond Marsh in North Hudson. Not everyone could hear the song, and a bit of frustration began creeping in, as this was a life bird for quite a few participants. The chase for a visual sighting of a White-winged Crossbill was on!
Sabattis Bog – Hamilton County The loop along Circle Road to the Round Lake Trailhead provides the opportunity to interact with small groups of Canada Jays that Joan feeds throughout the winter. Due to warmer winters, the more aggressive Blue Jays have encroached on their winter territory, raiding their food stashes and leaving them hungry. The participants were thrilled to feed the birds berries while Joan restocked their food supplies. With this sighting, we had completed our goal of seeing the Boreal trio and were happy to start winding our way to the hotel.
Route 30 and Tupper Lake – Franklin County The drive along Route 30 offered us several Common Ravens and the sole Snow Bunting we saw in the Adirondacks.
Day 3: Sunday, February 18 Adirondacks: Searching for Bohemian Waxwings
Determined to find Bohemian Waxwings, Joan led the participants on an extensive search for untouched berry trees that might attract the hungry birds. Knowing there were flocks of over five hundred birds as recently as a few weeks ago, our expectations were high. Along the way, we also looked for crossbills and Boreal Chickadees and listed 26 species in the course of the day.
Blue Ridge Road in North Hudson – Essex County As dawn broke, we stopped along Blue Ridge Road to search for Boreal Chickadees and were finally rewarded with singing and good views in the tall pines of six of these birds. We were also delighted to see more Black-backed Woodpeckers, Pine Siskins, Black-capped Chickadees, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. We were on high alert for berry trees with Cedar Waxwings as we drove.
Keene Valley and Cemetery Road Wetlands – Essex County As we drove through the main thoroughfare of Keene Valley, we were thrilled when Joan quickly pulled over because she heard the song of the Red Crossbills. We collectively jumped out of our cars, causing quite a stir, to be graced with an incredibly close and lengthy viewing of the birds perched in the main trunk of a large tree. Joan noted that they were likely cleaning their bills on the tree bark, which was why they were so docile and easy to see. We next stopped by the roadside at the Cemetery Road Wetlands to look for a Northern Shrike that was recently reported in the area. Joan set up her scope at a stop off Cemetery Road at the Route 73 and Route 9N intersection and quickly found the bird on a distant tree. Luckily for us, the bird flew closer when we drove across the street, allowing us even better looks at this bird—a lifer for several participants.
Keene – Essex County The Church Street feeders in Keene were a major destination in our search for Bohemian Waxwings. Sadly, we did not find them among the Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Cardinals, European Starlings, and Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Saranac Lake Roads – Essex County The search for Bohemian Waxwings continued along the roads surrounding Saranac Lake. In the lovely downtown area, we spied a large flock of Rock Pigeons, several Common Ravens, a Purple Finch, and our constant friends, the Pine Siskins. Ultimately, we found lots of berry trees but no waxwings.
Bloomingdale Village, Bloomingdale Bog, and Oregon Plains Road – Essex County As we approached Bloomingdale Bog with our windows down, we heard the songs of hundreds of Pine Siskins. At least five flocks were singing loudly and flying across the road. At this time of year, birds such as Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches, Snow Buntings, and Tree Sparrows eat roadside grit to help their system grind up the seeds they eat for food. Roadside gritting creates a life-threatening situation for these birds, as they are often run over by cars and trucks before they can fly away. We had to hit the brakes and swerve our vehicles several times to avoid hitting the gritting birds. While enjoying the glorious cacophony of Pine Siskins singing, we heard one White-wing Crossbill, saw two Hairy Woodpeckers, two Canada Jays, and several Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and American Goldfinches. Along the roadside were three American Tree Sparrows and a flock of Purple Finches.
Route 55 in Bloomingdale – Franklin County After leaving Bloomingdale, a few of us in the lead car briefly saw an American Goshawk flying low over Route 55. The large gray bird glided over the road, likely in pursuit of prey, and quickly disappeared into the forest. Joan was able to ID the bird based on the behavior, the size, and the overall color, but it was not a clear sighting.
Route 30 and Tupper Lake – Franklin County Returning to the hotel, we spotted a lone Barred Owl on a wire along Route 30 near Santa Clara. Joan explained that the subnivean zone between the snow and the ground is not currently sustaining enough of the small mammals necessary for the Barred Owls’ winter diet due to warmer winters. Unfortunately, this means many of these owls are starving, and seeing one so close to the road during the day is a sign that he is struggling to find food.
We ended the evening with a lovely dinner, reminiscing about the highlights and excitement of our two days with Joan. We were so thrilled with the birds we had seen we decided to retain Joan for another day rather than heading downstate early.
Day 4: Monday, February 19 Adirondacks: Searching for White-winged Crossbills
Monday started clear and cold, with temperatures hovering near zero for much of the morning. Our Adirondacks daily bird count was seventeen species, and we added two more at the Shawangunk Grasslands.
Bloomingdale Bog Trail Route 55 to Bigelow Road – Franklin County The morning’s first stop was a beautiful scenic overlook on Route 55. We saw Black-capped Chickadees, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Siskins, and two Purple Finches at the feeders. We also saw a Blue Jay and a Common Raven in flight along the road.
Oregon Plains Road and Bigelow Road – Franklin County As we approached, we again heard the glorious chorus of several hundred Pine Siskins in large flocks along the road. Two more Red Crossbills were singing in the trees. The distinct sound of two Black-backed Woodpeckers drumming back and forth almost made it so we could not hear the White-winged Crossbills foraging in the thick forest. After standing absolutely still for quite some time, most of us finally heard them. However, we still had not visually located these birds at any of the spots where we heard them. Thankfully, an undaunted Joan moved us to where she was sure we would see them.
Bloomingdale Bog Trail – Franklin County The Bloomingdale Bog Trail is one of the best locations on the Adirondack tour. The feeders there sustain many birds and allowed us close looks at Canada Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, a Hairy Woodpecker, and even a Brown Creeper. After much searching, we hit the White-winged Crossbill jackpot! Joan kept hearing the birds along the trail, so we walked through the snow with our ears open and our eyes peeled. Finally, we saw two likely candidates from a far distance. Several of us tracked the bird as it flew directly towards us, across the trail, and off in the distance on the other side of the bog. It was a triumph to see a male White-winged Crossbill in all its glory. After that exciting viewing, we packed up our cars and headed south.
Shawangunk Grasslands NWR
Shawangunk Grasslands – Ulster County After a long ride, we arrived at the Shawagunk Grasslands National Wildlife Reserve just after sunset. Most of the other viewers had already left, so we commandeered the viewing platform. There in the distance were at least five Short-eared Owls, playing and hunting for their dinner. We also heard a Great Horned Owl in the distance and saw the planets and stars shining in the clear night sky.
What a fantastic trip! We created 32 checklists and tallied an impressive 57 birds over four days. Most of us were happy to finally arrive home with stories to tell of life birds, below-zero temperatures, brilliant snow, and more Pine Siskin than one could count.
Species List:
Hudson River: Saratoga and Washington County Birds
Canada Goose Mallard American Black Duck Northern Pintail Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Flicker American Kestrel Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Horned Lark White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren European Starling Northern Mockingbird Eastern Bluebird American Robin House Sparrow House Finch Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Northern Cardinal
Adirondacks: Essex, Franklin, and Hamilton County Birds
Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Goshawk Barred Owl Black-backed Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Canada Jay Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper European Starling American Robin Purple Finch Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill Pine Siskin American Goldfinch Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Northern Cardinal
Other Species Gray Fox Eastern Coyote White-tailed Deer Red Squirrel
