The tip of the spear...

While we've been waiting for migrant passerines to show up in our area, loons, grebes , ducks, and other waterbirds have been using the local river corridors to move back towards their breeding grounds.

Caspian Tern, Mohawk River near Cohoes

Three Caspian Terns, with Ring-billed Gulls, Mohawk River near Cohoes

Belted Kingfishers "doing it", Normanskill

male, flying right, and female, left, Belted Kingfishers 

Osprey with goldfish snack, The Crossings of Colonie

Horned Grebe, The Crossings of Colonie

 Horned Grebe, The Crossings of Colonie

Five Bonaparte's Gulls, (two with black hoods), and larger Ring-billed Gulls

 Same birds as above, now with a guest- Caspian Tern (right)

Virginia Rail, RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, Catskill

Observation tower, RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, Catskill

Listening to Virginia Rails, RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, Catskill

What's Next:

April 26- May 3: The early neotropical migrants are piling up just to our south, and will be arriving shortly, perhaps as early as Tuesday morning (29th), and continuing sporadically into the weekend. The list of expected arrivals is a long one:

Vireos: Warbling and Yellow-throated.

Warblers: Blue-winged, Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Prairie, Black-and-white, American Redstart, Blackburnian, Nashville, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, and Magnolia.

Woodland songbirds: Gray Catbird, Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager.

Sparrows: White-crowned, Clay-colored (rare).

Shorebirds: Solitary and Least Sandpiper, Dunlin.

Miscellany: Chimney Swift, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Bobolink, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Cliff Swallow.

If the weather conditions are favorable, i.e. warm temperatures and south winds, all these species could show up by the end of the period; if not, they will trickle in at a much slower rate. Stay tuned

Capital Region Bird-finding Calendar is here


TW

Black Creek, Black-crowned...

Black Creek Marsh, Helderberg Escarpment in background

Black Creek Marsh, Helderberg Escarpment in background

Black-crowned Night-Heron, Indian Pond, University at Albany

 Black-crowned Night-Heron, Indian Pond, University at Albany

Black-crowned Night-Heron, Indian Pond, University at Albany 

Pardon my turkey...

We've seen a number of Wild Turkey flocks out and about over the last six weeks, it's good to see that their population is doing well locally.

At Saratoga Lake, on a very windy morning, we spotted two Common Loons, and a lone Bonaparte's Gull.

Bonaparte's Gull, Saratoga Lake

Purple Martins have returned to the colony that they inhabit at the Saratoga Raceway. The houses look to be in good shape for them.

Purple Martin pair, Saratoga Raceway

male Purple Martin, Saratoga Raceway

Pair of Northern Rough-winged Swallows east of Ferry Dr., Vischer Ferry

drake Northern Shoveler, Vischer Ferry NHP

drake Northern Shoveler, Vischer Ferry NHP

On April 19th we traveled out to Ames, in Montgomery County, to search for birds that prefer an agricultural habitat, such as managed grasslands or pastureland. We were fortunate to come across three Upland Sandpipers foraging in short grass along a creek.

Upland Sandpiper, Ames

Upland Sandpipers, Ames

What's Next:

April 19-25: Spotted Sandpiper and Upland Sandpiper will return to their local breeding grounds this week, and Lesser Yellowlegs can be seen in migration, in flooded areas and along shallow shorelines and banks. Green Heron will arrive, and a few Black-crowned Night-Herons may be detected as they pass through the area to breeding areas north and west of the region. Broad-winged Hawks will be seen and heard this week, look for them soaring in fairly tight circles overhead. They emit a high pitched "tee-deee" call, which to me sounds like a truck braking to a stop. 

House Wren numbers should rapidly increase this week, and the first Yellow Warblers will be reported from their favored haunts. At the end of the period, Eastern Kingbird and Common Yellowthroat should arrive.

Next week: Attack of the neotropical migrants!

Capital Region Bird-Finding Calendar is here 

TW

The bridge...

On Friday the 11th, I stopped by the bridge. Along the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail in Latham, a small bridge crosses Shaker Creek. The view of the Mohawk River from there is outstanding, one can see a good ways downriver, and all the way back to the "Niskayuna Wide Waters" section. There were many groups of waterfowl evident just from a glance, which is not always the case, and definitely a good omen. Among several different rafts of Buffleheads were a bunch of birds steaming slowly back upriver. I was puzzled as to their identity because they all looked a bit different from each other, not the expected male/female groupings. After a moment I could see that some of them had dark heads with golden patches along each side of the head, and rufous sides. The rest ranged from black crown/white cheek to overall mottled. It gradually dawned on me that I was looking at the biggest collection of Horned Grebes that I had ever seen, in a variety of plumages. I carefully counted 42 of them.

Distant group of Horned Grebes, Mohawk River, Latham

Poor quality image of Horned Grebes, identifiable breeding-plumaged bird top right

More Horned Grebes

Nonbreeding-plumaged Horned Grebes

At Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve in Clifton Park, there were five Northern Shovelers present, two Redheads, which are unusual for that shallow water location, and calling Virginia Rail and Pied-billed Grebe.

Northern Shoveler, Vischer Ferry NHP

Collins Lake in Scotia was relatively quiet, four Pied-billed Grebes notwithstanding.

Pied-billed Grebes, Collins Lake, Scotia

On Saturday at Vischer Ferry NHP, I finally crossed paths with a pair of Blue-winged Teal. The drake is one of most handsome ducks we see.

Blue-winged Teal male, Vischer Ferry NHP

Colleen noticed that the male has a striking "Y-shaped" white marking on the back of the head.

Blue-winged Teal, note marking on the back of the head

What do you think is worse, the need for this sign, or the fact that it can only be seen from the water, where most hunters are unlikely to have set up a blind...

What's Next:

April 12- 18: Marsh Wren, Sora, and American Bittern should arrive this week in the large cattail marshes where they breed. Great Egrets usually make a few random appearances in the area also as they return northward. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers will begin to move in, along with Blue-headed Vireo and Bank Swallow at the end of the period. 

Next week: Herons, sandpipers, and more warblers.

TW

Lakes, marshes, and woodlands...

I've been to a wide variety of habitats this week. So many different species are on the move that one can no longer make repeated trips to the same locations, as is done with winter birding. It is very rewarding to visit spots that sit idle through the cold months, and come back to life with the longer days and warmth of spring.

At Collins Lake in Scotia on Monday, two Horned Grebes, including a handsome breeding-plumaged bird, were moving quickly around the lake and diving frequently. It was difficult to get extended views of the birds, and even harder to get photos. They spent a lot of time underwater. 

Horned Grebe disappearing, Collins Lake, Scotia

Horned Grebe, transitional plumage, Collins Lake

 Horned Grebe, breeding plumage, Collins Lake

 Horned Grebe, breeding plumage, Collins Lake

On Tuesday, I found Eastern Meadowlarks singing in two different locations. At Black Creek Marsh near Voorheesville, Swamp Sparrows have returned, and Virginia Rails were calling from multiple areas of the cattails. Soon it will be time for Sora and American Bittern, hopefully, to arrive there. I was also happy to see a small group of Rusty Blackbirds, they prefer flooded woodlands like the kind adjacent to Black Creek.

At Five Rivers EEC in Delmar, I watched a Winter Wren scramble up and down the banks of the Vlomankill, exploring all the nooks and openings amongst the tree roots. Then a familiar song rang out downstream, and I started following it until I caught up to a Louisiana Waterthrush. It was hopping along the stream bank, going to low perches, and even venturing out to rocks jutting out of the water.

 Louisiana Waterthrush, at water's edge, Five Rivers

 Louisiana Waterthrush at Five Rivers

   Louisiana Waterthrush, mid-stream, at Five Rivers

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have suddenly arrived in good numbers, I saw one at home in Colonie, and one at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. I was unable to detect any Pine Warblers there, but I came across two very confiding Golden-crowned Kinglets that allowed me to get within five feet of them. They are such a small bird, it is amazing that they can overwinter at our latitudes with no problem. 

 Golden-crowned Kinglet, Albany Pine Bush Preserve

Golden-crowned Kinglet, Albany Pine Bush Preserve

Golden-crowned Kinglet, Albany Pine Bush Preserve

TW 

"Say that again, slowly..."

We hooked up with John and visited Five Rivers EEC in Delmar this morning, with the goal of trying to detect the return of Louisiana Waterthrush along the Vlomankill (trail map). It was quite cold, and the temperature had dropped below freezing overnight, which solidified the mud (good!) but put a thin coating of ice in previously melted areas (bad!) like shallow ponds. We walked the Vlomankill Trail from Fordham's Crossing, without any sign of anything and lowering expectations the farther we walked. We got to Station 12, a marked location along the stream that has seemed to be a favorite for the species for many years, but no singing waterthrush, and not much else, either. As we started to plot our Plan B, all three of us caught a glimpse of a bird as it silently flew up from the rocky bank beneath us into the low branches of a hemlock. Could it be...KA-CHING...a tail-bobbin', stripey, white-eyebrowed Loosianer Waterthrush, by gosh! We had brief views before it shot downstream from us. Mission accomplished.

Plan B was to head up to Lock 7 on the Mohawk River to try to resight the Red-throated Loons from the previous day, other birders had found a group of five after we left on Saturday. As we headed north in separate vehicles, my cellphone rang. It was John in the car behind me (on his hands-free device, of course), and he spoke the following phrase, or something close to it: "There's a white Gyrfalcon being seen right now at Ft. Edward." You know how there are some things you're sure that you will never hear in your lifetime, such as "Yes Mr. Williams, that is THE lone winning Powerball Lottery ticket that you purchased", or "I think that outfit makes your ass look huge"? John's message was on the short list.

We hurtled through the space-time continuum at ludicrous (but safe) speed, John arriving at the falcon location a few minutes before us. As Colleen and I pulled up to a small group of assembled birders, we heard the three words dreaded by all who find themselves in that situation. "It just flew." F@#$%&.

All was not lost, however, as the bird has only gone to the ground temporarily. We got to see it moments later in flight, and watched it for about three minutes until it truly did fly out of sight. Photos were obtained, leaving no doubt as to the bird's identity, all that remains now is its provenance, i.e. wild bird or possible escaped falconry bird, etc. No sign of the leather straps, or jesses, that might be seen on an escaped bird, so I think we have a natural-born killer on our hands. This species is reportable as a rarity to the New York State Avian Records Committee (NYSARC), so we will all get our paperwork and photos underway.

Plan B again, on the way home we stopped for the Red-throated Loons. All five were there as we pulled up, but just after we put scopes on them, some hikers appeared out on the breakwater near the birds and put them up in the air and well out of sight.

Today was a series of very close calls, birding-on-the-edge. We like it like that. I would have been happy with the waterthrush and some pancakes afterwards...

 Light-gray Gyrfalcon, Ft. Edward, NY

(image courtesy of John Kent)

TW

Red-throated Loons...

We took a walk at Ann Lee Pond in Colonie this morning. The water there is about 40% open. There were a few ducks and geese, but the highlight was a group of at least six Rusty Blackbirds.

Rusty Blackbird foraging at Ann Lee pond, Colonie

Later, we stopped at Lock 7 State Canal Park in Niskayuna. We spotted a pair of Red-throated Loons close to the cement pier. They headed upriver for a while, then returned towards the lock.

 Red-throated Loons, non-breeding plumage, Mohawk River Lock 7, Niskayuna

 Red-throated Loons, non-breeding plumage, Mohawk River Lock 7, Niskayuna

  Red-throated Loons, non-breeding plumage, Mohawk River Lock 7, Niskayuna

 

 Red-throated Loons, non-breeding plumage, Mohawk River Lock 7, Niskayuna

Unfortunately, they don't usually acquire their gorgeous breeding plumage until after they have passed through our region, that is one species that I'd really like to see on the breeding grounds.

TW