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 Sandpiperwill 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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
Birds are on the move! A good soaking rain, some normal temperatures, and a few sunny days got things going in earnest. In our backyard in Colonie, we even had an American Woodcock calling on consecutive nights, but it didn't stick around. Many reports of waterfowl were received from throughout the region, the river ice has broken up for the most part, and shallow ponds and lakes are melting, too. The inch+ of rain that we received led to some flooding in low-lying areas, and dabbling ducks quickly took up temporary residence.
Flooded field at north end of Wright's Loop in Stillwater, Saratoga County.
Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, and Gadwall are all being seen now. Ring-necked Duck numbers are increasing rapidly, and Bufflehead more slowly. Pied-billed Grebe are still in short supply. I found three Northern Shovelers in a wetland pond across from the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail in Niskayuna on April 3rd. Both Great and Double-crested Cormorants have finally moved north up the Hudson River corridor, and Great Blue Herons have subtly moved back into our wetlands.
Osprey returned right on schedule; I observed one at Collins Lake in Scotia on April 2nd. That was also the return date of Hermit Thrush apparently, as I found one in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve- Madison Avenue Pinelands that day. At Five Rivers EEC, in Delmar, Tree Swallows, Eastern Phoebes, and Fox Sparrows are present. Colleen and I walked the M-H bikepath in Niskayuna on the evening of April 3rd, and as we returned to the parking lot at Lions Park, a Caspian Tern flew by heading downriver, patrolling the shoreline. A bit early for that one, and a nice surprise, seeing the river was covered by ice just last week.
At Restifo Preserve in South Westerlo, Albany County, the ice is partially melted right along the road that splits the wetland in two, allowing close up viewing of waterfowl.
Kiosk at Restifo Preserve in South Westerlo
Wood Ducks and Hooded Merganser drake at Restifo Preserve
At Five Rivers EEC in Delmar, I encountered the most cooperative Hermit Thrush that I have ever observed. It flew up to a low branch to check me out, as they are wont to do. But as I slowly moved past it and turned to put the sun at my back, instead of fleeing farther into the underbrush, it hopped up on a fallen limb and stood motionless. Thanks, dude.
Photogenic Hermit Thrush at Five Rivers
Tree Swallows, Five Rivers Apt. 19A, Delmar, NY, 12054
The morning of April 4th I ventured up to the area around the Crescent Power Plant in Cohoes, hoping to (re)-find a Caspian Tern, or some other gull goody. No tern, but after scanning an estimated thousand gulls, loafing on the remaining ice-shelf just upriver from the power station, I found an Iceland Gull, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. There was also a Northern Rough-winged Swallow perched on a wire by the parking lot at the power plant.
Iceland Gull (2nd cycle?) at Crescent Power Plant, Cohoes
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Crescent Power Plant, Cohoes
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Crescent Power Plant, Cohoes
Lesser Black-backed Gull (lower left), Great Black-backed Gull (upper right)
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Crescent Power Plant, Cohoes
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Crescent Power Plant, Cohoes
What's Next:
April 5- 11: Now it starts to get interesting, with new species expected every day. Barn Swallows will show up this week, and the aforementioned Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Red-throated Loon will join Common Loon on large rivers; still waiting for the first Common Loon report. Bonaparte's Gulls and Caspian Terns will use the river corridors to head back towards their breeding grounds. Greater Yellowlegs might be seen in shallow waterways or flodded areas.
Woodland, field, and shrubland arrivals may include Hermit Thrush (yep), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Towhee, Winter Wren, Brown Thrasher, and Chipping Sparrow. At the very end of the period Savannah Sparrows may arrive in numbers, supplementing the overwintering birds in the southern part of the region. Cattail marshes will see Virginia Rails on the return, their calls greeting early morning visitors.
Warbler additions this week should be Palm Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush.
