We paid a visit to Black Creek Marsh on Saturday, from 7:30 until almost noon. Cool and breezy at first, but it warmed up nicely as the morning progressed. We went east from Hennessy Rd. first, then went west almost all the way to Meadowdale Rd. and back. The water levels are quite high after all the recent rain. Highlights were:
East of Hennessy Rd.-
Two different quick looks at Least Bittern flying low over the cattails. Orange body, with orange wings outlined with black. Several "songs" were heard as well, something like a low "koo-koo-koo-koo."
Two, and possibly three, Virginia Rails walking in amongst the base of cattail clumps. One very good, long look at one. Orange bill, grayish head, dark brown and black streaked body, with almost no tail. Seemed to respond to my pathetic attempts to call it, as we were only fifteen feet away. One of the coolest birds I have seen this year!
West of Hennessy Rd.-
We saw more Green Herons (at least seven) here today, than I had seen all year combined. A couple flew up to nearby trees and stayed put until we were relatively close. Best views ever of this species; I did not realize they have yellow eyes, and a very thin, creamy white "necktie" down the breast.
Blue-gray gnatcatchers flitting about, some with food in their bills.
Mammal of the day: tri-colored house cat strolling down Hennessy Rd. and into the marsh, off to do his version of "birding."
East of Hennessy Rd.-
Two different quick looks at Least Bittern flying low over the cattails. Orange body, with orange wings outlined with black. Several "songs" were heard as well, something like a low "koo-koo-koo-koo."
Two, and possibly three, Virginia Rails walking in amongst the base of cattail clumps. One very good, long look at one. Orange bill, grayish head, dark brown and black streaked body, with almost no tail. Seemed to respond to my pathetic attempts to call it, as we were only fifteen feet away. One of the coolest birds I have seen this year!
West of Hennessy Rd.-
We saw more Green Herons (at least seven) here today, than I had seen all year combined. A couple flew up to nearby trees and stayed put until we were relatively close. Best views ever of this species; I did not realize they have yellow eyes, and a very thin, creamy white "necktie" down the breast.
Blue-gray gnatcatchers flitting about, some with food in their bills.
Mammal of the day: tri-colored house cat strolling down Hennessy Rd. and into the marsh, off to do his version of "birding."
Reptile of the day: three Northern Water Snakes slithering alongside, and on, the railroad tracks.
Location: Black Creek Marsh
Observation date: 7/4/09
Number of species: 39
Wood Duck 3
Least Bittern 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 7
Turkey Vulture 1
Virginia Rail 2
Mourning Dove 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Willow Flycatcher 3
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 4
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren 5
Marsh Wren 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Veery 1
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 6
Cedar Waxwing 5
Yellow Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 6
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/ny)
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