RBA
* New York
* Syracuse
* May 8, 2006
* NYSY 0605.08
hotline: Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert
date(s): May 1-May 8, 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: May 8 AT 7:00 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Matt Victoria
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
#16 - Monday, May 8, 2006
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of
May 8, 2006.
Highlights:
RED-NECKED GREBE
LITTLE BLUE HERON
GREAT EGRET
LEAST BITTERN
SANDHILL CRANE
PEREGRINE FALCON
UPLAND SANDPIPER
CAPE MAY WARBLER
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
VESPER SPARROW
RED CROSSBILL
PINE SISKIN
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex
(MWC)
- - - - - - - - - -
The last affirmative sighting of the SANDHILL CRANES occurred on
May 5th 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. Refer to page 74, Grid D1
in the NYS DeLorme.
An adult LITTLE BLUE HERON was discovered at the Carncross Road bridge
to Howland's Island on May 4th and was refound on the 5th feeding in the
Seneca River shallows. Digiscoped photos of the Bird may be found here:
www.friendsofmontezuma.org
The Little Blue Heron was not seen after May 5th, despite the efforts of
many Birders. Very close to the Carncross area is the Marten's Tract,
if traveling north on Savannah Spring Lake Rd. the parking area is on
the right immediately after you pass Carncross Rd. This area held a
LEAST BITTERN on the 3rd. The LEAST BITTERN was heard calling several
times at the end of the path that leads straight out along the right
side of the pond. Recall a Least Bittern was reported vocalizing in the
Carncross area on April 12th. This may represent an individual looking
for a new nesting area, or could be a migrant.
Other highlights from the Wildlife Drive portion of MNWR include a
RED-NECKED GREBE photographed on the on the 1st and 4 GREAT EGRETS on
the 3rd.
Cayuga County
- - - - - - - - - -
A single RED CROSSBILL flew over the portion of Lick St. where
state forest ends and christmas plantation starts in the Summerhill area
on the 2nd. Refer to page 60 in the
Delorme NY State Atlas and Gazetteer.
CAPE MAY WARBLERS are beginning to migrate through the area.
Birders found a male singing almost continuously among a fairly large
migrant flock while searching Howland Island State Wildlife Area on the
7th. Along the entrance Rd. to Howland Island, a VESPER SPARROW was
heard singing on the 7th. See pg. 74, Grid D-1 for Howland Island.
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 were laid. We can expect the young
Falcons to hatch out any day now! 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
A LEAST BITTERN was heard vocalizing in the sedge thicket on the
north end of the big pond along Gully Rd. in Skaneateles on the 4th.
Refer to page 60, grid A3 in the DeLorme.
2 PINE SISKINS visited a private feeding station in Baldwinsville on
the 2nd.
Louisiana Waterthrushes are back on territory throughout Onondaga
County. If you would like to see one, try Pratts Falls County Park in
the Town of Pompey and along Gulf Rd. near Pompey Center and the Madison
County line. Refer to page 61 in the DeLorme Grid A7. On the west
side, try the 13 curves of Cedarvale Rd. in the Town of Onondaga,
DeLorme pg. 61 Grid A5.
Oswego County
- - - - - - - - - - -
Raptor migration is moving right along, 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
Highlights from the past week include 2 SANDHILL CRANES and singing PINE
SISKINS on the 5th. 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. 3 UPLAND SANDPIPERS were reported the morning of the
4th. A Birder found a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW singing there on the 7th.
Refer to page 74 in the Delorme NY State Atlas and Gazetteer.
A CAPE MAY WARBLER was found among the migrants at Sunset Bay Park
in Scriba on the 7th. Sunset Bay Park is accessed from Oswego County
Route 1A and is located on Delorme pg. 82.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Migrants reported from this past week include:
Green Heron, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher,
Black Tern, Purple Martin, and Cliff Swallows, Black-billed and
Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern
Kingbird, Great Crested and Least Flycatcher,Warbling and
Yellow-throated Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Veery, Wood Thrush, Yellow Warbler,
Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Magnolia, Northern Parula, Nashville,
Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Palm, Black&White, American Redstart,
Blackburnian, Cerulean, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green
Warblers, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager,
White-crowned&Lincoln's Sparrows, Baltimore Oriole, Bobolink, and
Purple Finch.
--end transcript
-- --
--
Matt Victoria
Zone 5
Camillus, NY 13031 USA
MattV-scapes, specializing in Bird and Butterfly Garden design and installation.
webpage: http://www.fickity.net
"If it walks like a Duck, and quacks like a Duck; it may yet be construed a hybrid."
***************************************************************
* New York
* Syracuse
* May 8, 2006
* NYSY 0605.08
hotline: Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert
date(s): May 1-May 8, 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: May 8 AT 7:00 p.m. (EST)
compiler: Matt Victoria
Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org
#16 - Monday, May 8, 2006
Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of
May 8, 2006.
Highlights:
RED-NECKED GREBE
LITTLE BLUE HERON
GREAT EGRET
LEAST BITTERN
SANDHILL CRANE
PEREGRINE FALCON
UPLAND SANDPIPER
CAPE MAY WARBLER
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
VESPER SPARROW
RED CROSSBILL
PINE SISKIN
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex
(MWC)
- - - - - - - - - -
The last affirmative sighting of the SANDHILL CRANES occurred on
May 5th 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. Refer to page 74, Grid D1
in the NYS DeLorme.
An adult LITTLE BLUE HERON was discovered at the Carncross Road bridge
to Howland's Island on May 4th and was refound on the 5th feeding in the
Seneca River shallows. Digiscoped photos of the Bird may be found here:
www.friendsofmontezuma.org
The Little Blue Heron was not seen after May 5th, despite the efforts of
many Birders. Very close to the Carncross area is the Marten's Tract,
if traveling north on Savannah Spring Lake Rd. the parking area is on
the right immediately after you pass Carncross Rd. This area held a
LEAST BITTERN on the 3rd. The LEAST BITTERN was heard calling several
times at the end of the path that leads straight out along the right
side of the pond. Recall a Least Bittern was reported vocalizing in the
Carncross area on April 12th. This may represent an individual looking
for a new nesting area, or could be a migrant.
Other highlights from the Wildlife Drive portion of MNWR include a
RED-NECKED GREBE photographed on the on the 1st and 4 GREAT EGRETS on
the 3rd.
Cayuga County
- - - - - - - - - -
A single RED CROSSBILL flew over the portion of Lick St. where
state forest ends and christmas plantation starts in the Summerhill area
on the 2nd. Refer to page 60 in the
Delorme NY State Atlas and Gazetteer.
CAPE MAY WARBLERS are beginning to migrate through the area.
Birders found a male singing almost continuously among a fairly large
migrant flock while searching Howland Island State Wildlife Area on the
7th. Along the entrance Rd. to Howland Island, a VESPER SPARROW was
heard singing on the 7th. See pg. 74, Grid D-1 for Howland Island.
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 were laid. We can expect the young
Falcons to hatch out any day now! 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
A LEAST BITTERN was heard vocalizing in the sedge thicket on the
north end of the big pond along Gully Rd. in Skaneateles on the 4th.
Refer to page 60, grid A3 in the DeLorme.
2 PINE SISKINS visited a private feeding station in Baldwinsville on
the 2nd.
Louisiana Waterthrushes are back on territory throughout Onondaga
County. If you would like to see one, try Pratts Falls County Park in
the Town of Pompey and along Gulf Rd. near Pompey Center and the Madison
County line. Refer to page 61 in the DeLorme Grid A7. On the west
side, try the 13 curves of Cedarvale Rd. in the Town of Onondaga,
DeLorme pg. 61 Grid A5.
Oswego County
- - - - - - - - - - -
Raptor migration is moving right along, 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
Highlights from the past week include 2 SANDHILL CRANES and singing PINE
SISKINS on the 5th. 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. 3 UPLAND SANDPIPERS were reported the morning of the
4th. A Birder found a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW singing there on the 7th.
Refer to page 74 in the Delorme NY State Atlas and Gazetteer.
A CAPE MAY WARBLER was found among the migrants at Sunset Bay Park
in Scriba on the 7th. Sunset Bay Park is accessed from Oswego County
Route 1A and is located on Delorme pg. 82.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Migrants reported from this past week include:
Green Heron, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher,
Black Tern, Purple Martin, and Cliff Swallows, Black-billed and
Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern
Kingbird, Great Crested and Least Flycatcher,Warbling and
Yellow-throated Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Veery, Wood Thrush, Yellow Warbler,
Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Magnolia, Northern Parula, Nashville,
Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Palm, Black&White, American Redstart,
Blackburnian, Cerulean, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green
Warblers, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager,
White-crowned&Lincoln's Sparrows, Baltimore Oriole, Bobolink, and
Purple Finch.
--end transcript
-- --
--
Matt Victoria
Zone 5
Camillus, NY 13031 USA
MattV-scapes, specializing in Bird and Butterfly Garden design and installation.
webpage: http://www.fickity.net
"If it walks like a Duck, and quacks like a Duck; it may yet be construed a hybrid."
***************************************************************