More new arrivals

Here are some highlights of the last four weeks of field birding:


Double-crested Cormorant- Mar. 31st (Collins Lake) FOS

Swamp Sparrow- Mar. 31st (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Ruby-crowned Kinglet- Apr. 3rd (RamsHorn Livingston Sanctuary) FOS

Eastern Meadowlark- Apr. 4th (Saratoga NHP- South Grasslands) FOS

Hermit Thrush- Apr. 5th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Palm Warbler- Apr. 5th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Osprey- Apr. 6th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Eastern Towhee- Apr. 7th (Albany Pine Bush- Karner Barrens East) FOS

Pine Warbler- Apr. 7th (Albany Pine Bush- Karner Barrens East) FOS

Chipping Sparrow- Apr. 7th (Albany Pine Bush- Karner Barrens East) FOS

Yellow-rumped Warbler- Apr. 8th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Winter Wren- Apr. 10th (Five Rivers EEC) FOS

Brown Thrasher- Apr. 10th (Five Rivers EEC) FOS

RED-NECKED GREBE - Apr. 11th (Papscanee Island) FOS

Northern Rough-winged Swallow- Apr. 14th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Louisiana Waterthrush- Apr. 18th (Five Rivers EEC) FOS

Virginia Rail- Apr. 20th (Black Creek Marsh) FOS

VESPER SPARROW- Apr. 20th (Albany Pine Bush- Karner Barrens East) LIFEBIRD

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON- Apr. 21st (Ferry Dr. East) FOS

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- Apr. 21st (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Greene County morning- 4/3

It was in the mid 50s as we arrived at RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary just south of Catskill early Saturday morning. Birds were fairly active on the way in, more so on the way out. The path is flooded about 100 yards past the observation tower, so we spent half an hour up top overlooking the marsh and surroundings.

A pair of Eastern Phoebes were flitting about near the tower, including one carrying nesting materials. There were a few Wood Ducks in the flooded creek. Pileated Woodpeckers were calling back and forth, and we saw three Red-bellied Woodpeckers in the same tree. A Wild Turkey called in the distance as well.

As the sun got a little higher, and it warmed up a bit more, the birds really started singing and moving around. Swamp Sparrows were flying around the marsh as we headed back in. Two male cardinals were dueling from adjacent treetops, one doing a call that sounded something like a car-alarm; I have never heard a cardinal make that sound before. The highlight of the morning was a Golden-crowned Kinglet in with some chickadees, followed a few minutes later by a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, who flew right next to us as if we weren't there.

At Vosburgh Marsh there were Green-winged Teal present with the Wood Ducks. A word of caution to all birders, ticks are out in numbers already. We scraped and flicked at least ten off of us after bushwacking a short distance next to the marsh.

It was fairly quiet at The Coxsackie IDA Grasslands around noon, except for quite a few Killdeer in the gravelly areas at the Serta cul-de-sac. Be careful where you step in that area. A Black Vulture was seen from the Exit 21A Travel Plaza, over the ridge to the west. Finally, a Great Blue Heron was fishing in a small marsh off the side of Rt. 9W northbound just past Rt. 144.

Eagles, kestrels and falcon

Colleen and I spent much of the day visiting sites in Schoharie, Montgomery and Albany Counties. At Franklinton Vlaie (Vly), there was still ice and snow covering much of the area. Just a small group of geese and ducks were present.

We hiked up to the top of Vroman's Nose next. The sun was out at the time we reached the top, and an adult Bald Eagle was soaring high up to the southwest. As we were about to descend, a smaller, sharp-winged bird was holding himself nearly in place facing the gusty, southerly wind. It was a Peregrine Falcon. We watched it soar and stoop for a while, very cool. Apparently there is at least one pair who use the craggy cliff face to nest.

At Mine Kill State Park, there was one adult and three immature Bald Eagles flying over the reservoir. The few ducks in a sheltered cove were mostly Common Mergansers, but with a twist- the water is running very high and fast throughout the area, and much of the water has a reddish-brown coloration to it (from iron oxide sediment?) The mergansers' normally white bellies had turned light orange from the discolored water.

Up in Sharon Springs, Ames, and Carlisle things were pretty quiet, with the exception of a fair abundance of American Kestrels, mostly seen on wires along the roadside. During a quick jaunt through Black Creek Marsh, there was a kestrel near the NE Industrial Park, and a kettle of eleven Turkey Vultures was viewed from the RR crossing at Hennessey Rd.

Early Spring birding

Here are some of the highlights from the past three weeks, including FOS (first-of-season) observations:

Red-winged Blackbird- March 2nd (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Great Blue Heron- March 4th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Wood Duck- March 7th (RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, Catskill) FOS

Marsh Wren- March 9th (Vischer Ferry NHP) overwintered !

Common Grackle- March 9th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Ruffed Grouse- March 10th (East of Ferry Dr., Rexford)

Northern Pintail- March 15th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Green-winged Teal- March 16th (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Killdeer- March 17th (The Crossing, Halfmoon) FOS

Northern Mockingbird- March 18th (Albany Pine Bush- Discovery Center parking lot)

Tree Swallow- March 19th (Hudson-Mohawk bike path, Niskayuna) FOS

Lesser Scaup- March 19th (Hudson-Mohawk bike path, Niskayuna) FOS

Field Sparrow- March 20th (Five Rivers EEC) FOS

Eastern Phoebe- March 20th (Five Rivers EEC) FOS

Rusty Blackbird- March 22nd (Vischer Ferry NHP) FOS

Fox Sparrow- March 23rd (Ann Lee Pond, Albany) FOS


The next influx of returning migrants should be just after April 1st, with a warm spell possible throughout the week. Get out there and get your eyes and ears sharp again; peak migration starts a month from now!