RBA
* New York
* Syracuse
* April 17, 2006
* NYSY 0604.17
hotline: Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert
date(s): April 10 - April 17, 2006
RBA BirdBox: (315)-637-0318
to report by e-mail: fickity AT netscape DOT net
covering upstate NY Counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife
Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga
County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis,
Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, & Madison.
compiled: April 17 AT 7:00 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Matt Victoria
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
#13 - Monday, April 17, 2006
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of
April 17, 2006.
Highlights:
BARNACLE GOOSE
SANDHILL CRANE
PEREGRINE FALCON
LITTLE GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
UPLAND SANDPIPER
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex
(MWC)
- - - - - - - - - -
The last affirmative sighting of the SANDHILL CRANES occurred on
the 12th again from Carncross Rd. in the Town
of Savannah. The Cranes are likely the same Sandhill Cranes that nest
in the MWC. Check the cut corn field along the south side of
Carncross Rd., or try to find the Cranes by scanning from the DEC
Parking Area at the end of Morgan Rd. Sandhill Cranes can be tricky to
locate, a few attempts may be necessary. Birders searching for the
Cranes reported hearing a vocalization matching that of a Least Bittern
on the 12th. This would be an early arrival. Refer to page 74, Grid D1
in the NYS DeLorme.
A Pluvialis Plover, later identified as likely an AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER was found on the 15th at the end of Van Duyn Spoor Rd., SE
of where it dead ends in a patch of flooded field. Van Duyn Spoor Rd.
is located north of and parallel to NY-31. Refer to page 74, D1 for Van
Duyn Spoor Rd.
Cayuga County
- - - - - - - - - -
An early morning Lake watch on the 13th found many Bonaparte's Gulls
making their way north from the point at Long Point SP south of Aurora.
Among the Bonies was a single LITTLE GULL. See page 60 in the DeLorme.
A LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL was spotted loafing on the beach south of
the Wells College boathouse on the 15th. Scope the lake from the
parking lot at the boathouse, or walk a short distance north or south
along the old railroad grade. Wells College is located on NY-90 (not
I-90, aka the Thruway) in
the Village of Aurora, Town of Ledyard, NY. Refer to page 60 in the
Delorme NY State Atlas and Gazetteer.
Onondaga County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The PEREGRINE FALCON that has been seen atop the 20th floor of State
Tower Building at 109 South Warren Street in the City of Syracuse is
currently in the nestbox platform at the time of writing this report.
On March 30th, the female drastically changed her behavior, and began
huddling inside the box constantly, instead of coming and going in and
out. This likely indicates eggs have been laid. A pair of Falcons have
nested here for the past two years, and utilize a nestbox/platform. A
webcam allows viewers to observe the Falcons while nesting. Refer to
the following URL:
http://www.usadatanet.com/falconcam.html
Oswego County
- - - - - - - - - - -
Raptor migration picked up considerably, and many Hawks were recorded
this past week for Derby Hill Bird Observatory's annual Hawk Watch.
Refer to the following URL for directions, daily observations, and
flight predictions:
http://www.derbyhill.org
Highlight from the past week include an odd Bird seen on the 10th
originally thought to be a melanistic Osprey. Later, it was learned that
melanistic forms are extremely rare in Osprey, and plumage details seen
on the10th did not match with melanistic Osprey described in the
literature. The bird is now believed to have been a probable dark morph
Swainson's Hawk. Distance of the bird and unfamiliarity with the species
made it difficult to clinch the identification. Other highlights were
the first Broad-winged Hawks for the season on the 11th, SANDHILL CRANE
on the 12th and 14th, a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was observed in flight
among the more expected Blackbirds on the 14th, and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWL was heard vocalizing on the night of the 13th . See the Derby Hill
website for a full tally of Hawks observed. Directions to Derby Hill
can be found at the website, the Hill is located on DeLorme page 83.
UPLAND SANDPIPERS have returned to the area surrounding the Oswego
County Airport. A pair of Birds was observed on the 11th from the Silk
Rd. side of the airfield. Refer to page 74 in the Delorme NY State
Atlas and Gazetteer.
Jefferson County
-----------------
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was discovered on the morning of April
7th, 2006. Location is Thousand Island Park on Wellesley Island near
Crystal Bay. The time was 7:30 a.m. It was on the ground along with
several Red-winged Blackbirds under a birdfeeder (of a private
residence) which contained Safflower Seed. This report was not received
until the 14th.
Madison County
----------------
The BARNACLE GOOSE found and photographed from the overlook of the
Great Swamp Conservancy was last reported on the 12th. To get to the
Great Swamp Conservancy overlook: take Interstate 90 to exit 34 in
Canastota, NY. Go left on route 13 south (100 yards), turn right on
Maple St. Go right on North Main St. (about 3 miles) and find the Office
/ Nature Center Complex on the corners of N. Main St. and Pine Ridge
Rd. The overlook is a bit further down Pine Ridge Rd on the north side
of the road. See DeLorme pg. 76.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Migrants reported from this past week include: Common Loon, American
Bittern, Solitary Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, both Yellowlegs,
Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Caspian Tern, Purple Martin, N. Rough-winged
Swallow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, Winter
Wren, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped
Warbler, Louisana Waterthrush, Eastern Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, and
Purple Finch.
--end transcript
* New York
* Syracuse
* April 17, 2006
* NYSY 0604.17
hotline: Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert
date(s): April 10 - April 17, 2006
RBA BirdBox: (315)-637-0318
to report by e-mail: fickity AT netscape DOT net
covering upstate NY Counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife
Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga
County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis,
Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, & Madison.
compiled: April 17 AT 7:00 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Matt Victoria
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
#13 - Monday, April 17, 2006
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of
April 17, 2006.
Highlights:
BARNACLE GOOSE
SANDHILL CRANE
PEREGRINE FALCON
LITTLE GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
UPLAND SANDPIPER
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex
(MWC)
- - - - - - - - - -
The last affirmative sighting of the SANDHILL CRANES occurred on
the 12th again from Carncross Rd. in the Town
of Savannah. The Cranes are likely the same Sandhill Cranes that nest
in the MWC. Check the cut corn field along the south side of
Carncross Rd., or try to find the Cranes by scanning from the DEC
Parking Area at the end of Morgan Rd. Sandhill Cranes can be tricky to
locate, a few attempts may be necessary. Birders searching for the
Cranes reported hearing a vocalization matching that of a Least Bittern
on the 12th. This would be an early arrival. Refer to page 74, Grid D1
in the NYS DeLorme.
A Pluvialis Plover, later identified as likely an AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVER was found on the 15th at the end of Van Duyn Spoor Rd., SE
of where it dead ends in a patch of flooded field. Van Duyn Spoor Rd.
is located north of and parallel to NY-31. Refer to page 74, D1 for Van
Duyn Spoor Rd.
Cayuga County
- - - - - - - - - -
An early morning Lake watch on the 13th found many Bonaparte's Gulls
making their way north from the point at Long Point SP south of Aurora.
Among the Bonies was a single LITTLE GULL. See page 60 in the DeLorme.
A LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL was spotted loafing on the beach south of
the Wells College boathouse on the 15th. Scope the lake from the
parking lot at the boathouse, or walk a short distance north or south
along the old railroad grade. Wells College is located on NY-90 (not
I-90, aka the Thruway) in
the Village of Aurora, Town of Ledyard, NY. Refer to page 60 in the
Delorme NY State Atlas and Gazetteer.
Onondaga County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The PEREGRINE FALCON that has been seen atop the 20th floor of State
Tower Building at 109 South Warren Street in the City of Syracuse is
currently in the nestbox platform at the time of writing this report.
On March 30th, the female drastically changed her behavior, and began
huddling inside the box constantly, instead of coming and going in and
out. This likely indicates eggs have been laid. A pair of Falcons have
nested here for the past two years, and utilize a nestbox/platform. A
webcam allows viewers to observe the Falcons while nesting. Refer to
the following URL:
http://www.usadatanet.com/falconcam.html
Oswego County
- - - - - - - - - - -
Raptor migration picked up considerably, and many Hawks were recorded
this past week for Derby Hill Bird Observatory's annual Hawk Watch.
Refer to the following URL for directions, daily observations, and
flight predictions:
http://www.derbyhill.org
Highlight from the past week include an odd Bird seen on the 10th
originally thought to be a melanistic Osprey. Later, it was learned that
melanistic forms are extremely rare in Osprey, and plumage details seen
on the10th did not match with melanistic Osprey described in the
literature. The bird is now believed to have been a probable dark morph
Swainson's Hawk. Distance of the bird and unfamiliarity with the species
made it difficult to clinch the identification. Other highlights were
the first Broad-winged Hawks for the season on the 11th, SANDHILL CRANE
on the 12th and 14th, a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was observed in flight
among the more expected Blackbirds on the 14th, and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWL was heard vocalizing on the night of the 13th . See the Derby Hill
website for a full tally of Hawks observed. Directions to Derby Hill
can be found at the website, the Hill is located on DeLorme page 83.
UPLAND SANDPIPERS have returned to the area surrounding the Oswego
County Airport. A pair of Birds was observed on the 11th from the Silk
Rd. side of the airfield. Refer to page 74 in the Delorme NY State
Atlas and Gazetteer.
Jefferson County
-----------------
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was discovered on the morning of April
7th, 2006. Location is Thousand Island Park on Wellesley Island near
Crystal Bay. The time was 7:30 a.m. It was on the ground along with
several Red-winged Blackbirds under a birdfeeder (of a private
residence) which contained Safflower Seed. This report was not received
until the 14th.
Madison County
----------------
The BARNACLE GOOSE found and photographed from the overlook of the
Great Swamp Conservancy was last reported on the 12th. To get to the
Great Swamp Conservancy overlook: take Interstate 90 to exit 34 in
Canastota, NY. Go left on route 13 south (100 yards), turn right on
Maple St. Go right on North Main St. (about 3 miles) and find the Office
/ Nature Center Complex on the corners of N. Main St. and Pine Ridge
Rd. The overlook is a bit further down Pine Ridge Rd on the north side
of the road. See DeLorme pg. 76.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Migrants reported from this past week include: Common Loon, American
Bittern, Solitary Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, both Yellowlegs,
Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Caspian Tern, Purple Martin, N. Rough-winged
Swallow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, Winter
Wren, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped
Warbler, Louisana Waterthrush, Eastern Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, and
Purple Finch.
--end transcript