This was our first visit to this higher elevation wet woodlands. Located at about 1600 ft. elevation in central Rennselaer county, this Audubon IBA (Important Bird Area) offers a wide array of short and long trails through varied terrain and cover, including several boardwalks over open swamp areas. Maps are available at the kiosk in the main parking area.
The parking area was alive with birdsong when we arrived at 8:30. Blackburnian Warbler ("teetsa-teetsa-teetsa-teetsa", sounds like a dogs' squeaky toy) was seen singing in the spruce trees right next to us. Also, Black-throated Green Warbler ("zoooo-zee-zu-zu-zee") was seen just into the woods. Heard a third warbler that was familiar, but could not identify right off. The most abundant species, along with the omnipresent robin, was Ovenbird. I have been told, and have read, that you rarely see ovenbirds; you generally just hear the explosive song from the dense woodland floor. Come to Dyken Pond and you can watch them walking the ground fifteen feet from you, and flying around at eye-level, landing on limbs to check you out. Not secretive here.
The pond itself was quiet, other than Red-eyed Vireo and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (and more Ovenbirds.) We explored five of the short, interconnecting trails, including the well-maintained boardwalk across Dustin Swamp. Interesting mix there, sapsuckers, flycatchers, swallows, waxwings, grackles, and two winter birds gone MIA, white-throated sparrow and dark-eyed junco (many.) The deep, thick woods had a Winter Wren sitting on a rock thirty feet away(what an amzingly long, complicated song), Veery and more juncos. Walking the main road back to the parking area, we had Ovenbird (again), and, right in succession, Canada Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo. At the lot we saw Turkey Vultures circling.
This is a location I will bird again soon, and I recommend it to others who have not visited yet. Forty-five minute drive from Northway exit 7.
Mammal of the day: Porcupine
Amphibian of the day: Red eft (salamander)
Location: Dyken Pond Environmental Ed Center
Observation date: 6/14/09
Number of species: 33
Turkey Vulture 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Willow Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1
Tree Swallow 8
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Winter Wren 1
Veery 1
American Robin 10
Cedar Waxwing 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 3
Cerulean Warbler 1
Ovenbird 10
Common Yellowthroat 2
Canada Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Common Grackle 4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/ny)
The parking area was alive with birdsong when we arrived at 8:30. Blackburnian Warbler ("teetsa-teetsa-teetsa-teetsa", sounds like a dogs' squeaky toy) was seen singing in the spruce trees right next to us. Also, Black-throated Green Warbler ("zoooo-zee-zu-zu-zee") was seen just into the woods. Heard a third warbler that was familiar, but could not identify right off. The most abundant species, along with the omnipresent robin, was Ovenbird. I have been told, and have read, that you rarely see ovenbirds; you generally just hear the explosive song from the dense woodland floor. Come to Dyken Pond and you can watch them walking the ground fifteen feet from you, and flying around at eye-level, landing on limbs to check you out. Not secretive here.
The pond itself was quiet, other than Red-eyed Vireo and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (and more Ovenbirds.) We explored five of the short, interconnecting trails, including the well-maintained boardwalk across Dustin Swamp. Interesting mix there, sapsuckers, flycatchers, swallows, waxwings, grackles, and two winter birds gone MIA, white-throated sparrow and dark-eyed junco (many.) The deep, thick woods had a Winter Wren sitting on a rock thirty feet away(what an amzingly long, complicated song), Veery and more juncos. Walking the main road back to the parking area, we had Ovenbird (again), and, right in succession, Canada Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo. At the lot we saw Turkey Vultures circling.
This is a location I will bird again soon, and I recommend it to others who have not visited yet. Forty-five minute drive from Northway exit 7.
Mammal of the day: Porcupine
Amphibian of the day: Red eft (salamander)
Location: Dyken Pond Environmental Ed Center
Observation date: 6/14/09
Number of species: 33
Turkey Vulture 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Willow Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1
Tree Swallow 8
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Winter Wren 1
Veery 1
American Robin 10
Cedar Waxwing 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 3
Cerulean Warbler 1
Ovenbird 10
Common Yellowthroat 2
Canada Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Common Grackle 4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/ny)
No comments:
Post a Comment