Birds are finally on the move! Many species are two weeks later than normal, but the ground is starting to thaw out, and ice is going out on the rivers. Ponds and creeks are opening gradually, and dabbling ducks are starting to move back in. Wood Ducks and a few Green-winged Teal are being reported. Hooded Merganser numbers are increasing, and a couple more of Pied-billed Grebe sightings as well. Common Goldeneye, on the other hand, seem to be taking leave of the area. Snow Goose have been reported in some decent numbers in the region, and moreso to the west, but the majority are still just south of us. I predict the big flight day may be Tuesday or Wednesday as we flip the calendar page.
Tree Swallow, Eastern Phoebe and especially American Woodcock are slowly increasing their presence.
Colleen and I had an exciting experience at Stanton Pond on Saturday the 29th. We were scanning geese and ducks at Stanton Pond late this morning, and we
found four Greater White-fronted Geese in with a large group of Canada
Geese. They were grazing together in a stubble field. We made sure that
they weren't domestic Greylag Geese, as some exotics hang around the
farm pond there. As we were putting the finishing touches on that ID,
every single duck and goose rose aloft in unison, honking and quacking
in fear of something. "Something" was a very large, dark bird being
escorted over the pond by a relentless crow. The back of its head had a
paler sheen to it, and there was just a hint of white at the base of the
primaries. The head was small compared to the tail, and as it soared
higher, the wings were held in a dihedral, with the primaries spread and
noticeably curved upwards. It was a Golden Eagle! The eagle headed away in a NE direction.
About two thirds of the geese left the area, and the Greater
White-fronteds were not among those that stayed.
One day last week I looked up to see two Black Vultures slowly circling their way north directly over our house. New yardbird whoop...
Black Vulture, Colonie
Black Vultures, Colonie
Possible sign of spring? Pussywillow blooming at Five Rivers
We made a second trip down to the boat launch in Germantown, Columbia County, and were successful in seeing two distant Great Cormorants. They were perched on top of a channel marker with three other cormorants whose identity could not be determined at that great distance (4500 ft. away), i.e. they didn't show the distinctive white flank patch often exhibited by Great Cormorant (see photos below.)
Cormorants on channel marker near Inbocht Bay, between Catskill and Germantown
Great Cormorant showing white flank patches, just above IB sign
The ponds at the Coxsackie Grasslands Preserve are open water now, and Killdeer and ducks have returned to the area.
Killdeer at Coxsackie Grasslands Preserve
What's Next:
March 29- April 4: Common Loon, American Coot, and Red-necked Grebe begin to arrive now. There has been a much higher presence of Red-necked Grebes south and east of the Great Lakes this winter, the birds apparently driven from normal wintering spots by ice. It will be interesting to see if we observe greater than normal numbers in our region as the grebes return north. Osprey have been tracking steadily up the East Coast and should appear on time this week. Wilson's Snipe can be found probing in the grass and mud along shallow ponds, streams, ditches, and flooded fields. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers will be back in earnest, drumming on any hard surface they can find, and making their cat-like "mew" calls. Swamp Sparrows will breathe some life back into the area marshes and wetlands, their song is very welcome after a long winter. And finally, we may find our first migrant warbler of the year, if we get a couple of warm days in early April. Pine Warblers get here first, look for them in the appropriate habitat, namely, uh, pines! I have found a reliable spot for them is from the Albany Pine Bush- Madison Pinelands trailhead, about a quarter mile in.
Next week: A plethora of new species...
TW
No comments:
Post a Comment