THE KINGBIRD, published four times a year (January, May, July and October), is a publication of The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc., which has been organized to further the study of bird life and to disseminate knowledge thereof, to educate the public in the need of conserving natural resources and to encourage the establishment and main¬ tenance of sanctuaries and protected areas. Individual member’s dues are $5.00 annually, of which $4.00 is for a subscription to The Kingbird. A member wishing to make an addi¬ tional contribution may become a Sustaining Member ($7.50), a Supporting Member ($10), or a Life Member ($100 — "payable over a four-year period in equal installments,” if member so desires). Single copies: $1.50. Student membership $3.00. KINGBIRD subscription for non-members $5.00 per year on calendar year basis only. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP should be sent to the chairman of the membership committee, Mrs. Ruth Williams, P.O. Box 382, Owego, N.Y. 13827. Send CHANGES OF ADDRESS to the Treasure, Edward M. Somers, Box 7273, Capitol Station, Albany, N.Y. 12224. Order SINGLE COPIES, BACK NUMBERS, and REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED COPIES from Dr. Frederick C. Dittrich, c/o Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. Publication office is 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. Second class postage paid at Ithaca, N.Y. 6 /KINGBIRD PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS. INC. Vol. XX No. 1 January, 1970 Pages 1-54 CONTENTS President s Page.Edgar M. Reilly, Jr. 2 The Breeding Status of the Glossy Ibis in New York .William Post, Frank Enders and Thomas H. Davis, Jr. 3 Howard S. Miller. A Tribute.. 9 Some of Our Common Birds Seen in Distant Lands.Lillian C. Stoner 10 Field Notes A White Pelican Sighted at Tupper Lake, New’ York . 12 Group Fishing Behavior in the Greater Yellowlegs . 12 In Camilles Wake a Wide-a-wake . 13 Western Kingbird in Oswego County . 14 A Raven Specimen from St. Lawrence County . 14 Highlights of the Fall Season August 16-November 30 .. 15 Regional Reports. 16 Editor — Joseph W. Taylor Associate Editors Field Notes — Sally Hoyt Spofford Regional Reports — Allen E. Kemnitzer Editorial Board Allen H. Benton Eugene Eisenmann Stephen W. Eaton David B. Peakall Dorothy W. McIlroy Fritz Scheider Cover Design — Douglas L. Howland PRESIDENTS PAGE We hope to make the President’s Page a regular feature of The Kingbird. The annual meeting is far too short for completing all our business, let alone getting to know the members and their viewpoints. In this, our first letter, we should like to urge each one of you to write us your ideas or complaints so we might serve the Federation better and widely. Two or three years ago most member clubs sent us reports con¬ cerning sanctuaries or refuges supported or used by the organization. In this day and age when conservation and preservation of our natural resources and areas looms more and more in importance, we feel that the clubs in the Federation are doing a very good job indeed. When we travel to some part of our State we are sure that, nearby, there is a sanctuary which we can visit and enjoy the birds and other wildlife. Often all we know of the sanctuary is its name, location, and manage¬ ment. We would like to know more than impersonal statistics. Both the editor of The Kingbird and I think the pages of this journal would be an excellent place for an account—historical, natural, and physical—of these refuges. Surely each club has some member of members who could write such an “invitation” to their sanctuary for the members of the Federation—which club will be first? Edgar M. Reilly , Jr. 2 THE BREEDING STATUS OF THE GLOSSY IBIS IN NEW YORK William Post, Frank Enders and Thomas H. Davis, Jr. For the period through 1959, Hailman (1959) reviewed the northward expansion of the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) breeding range. The first New York State breeding record was in 1961 at Jamaica Bay, where 3 nests were found (Peter Post, 1962). This represented a jump of 135 km from the nearest known breeding area, Brigantine Refuge, N.J. In 1964, 3 pairs of Glossy Ibis nested at the Lawrence, L.I. heronry (Davis, 1966). This colony is about 13 km east of the easternmost Jamaica Bay site. The population on Long Island has been increasing (Table 1). Seven pairs nested in New York in 1964; by 1967, an estimated 115 pairs bred. Heavy rains at the end of June, 1968, destroyed Ibis nests in the Lawrence colony, accounting for the few nests recorded. NEW NESTING LOCALITIES - In July 1967, we found a large, un¬ fledged Glossy Ibis in a pine plantation at Oak Beach, L.I. Its nest was £.5 m above the ground, on the leaning trunk of a Japanese Black Pine (Firms thunbergi). Snowy Egrets (Leucuphoyx thula) were nesting in adjacent trees. This site is about 32 km ENE of Lawrence, and thus it is the farthest north the Glossy Ibis has nested along the Atlantic. In 1968, the Ibis did not nest at the Oak Beach heronry. However, in the salt marsh north of Oak Beach, up to 95 Ibis were feeding daily in May and June. We noticed that many of these birds were flying west at night, and we found that they were flying the 13 km to Jones Beach to roost in another heronry, nest to Parking Field 9. On 5 July 1968, we found 2 active nests in the Jones Beach heronry. Like the Oak Beach site, the colony is in a small plantation of P. thunbergi (see Figure 1). The Ibis were nesting in the branches of the pines from 2.5 m to 4.0 m above the ground. The nests were made from the stems and branches of pines. They were lined with pine needles and a few Phragmites stems, and were 7 to 10 cm thick, and considerably more substantial than heron nests. On 23 July, we examined 6 nests: 1) 2 m high; containing 2 eggs and 1 young about 3 days old 2) 2 m; 4 eggs (2 pipping) 3) 4 m; 3 eggs 4) 2 m; 3 eggs 5) 4 m; 3 young, ranging from 2 to 7 days old 6) 3 m; 3 young, ranging from 5 to 14 days old. In 1969, a third new nesting site was found on the Jones Beach strip. We found a group of Ibis nesting in a heron colony north of Parking Field 1. This is 6 km west of the Parking Field 9 colony. All known nest¬ ing localities are shown in Figure 2. 3 NEST SITE SELECTION — The Glossy Ibis is adaptable in choosing nest sites. The Ibis nesting at Lawrence joined an established heronry located in a grove of deciduous shrubs and small trees. On the other hand, all three colony sites on the Jones Beach strip are in coniferous trees near a highway. The Lawrence colony was on an island separated from the mainland by salt marshes and channels and the colony at Ca- narsie Pol is on an isolated island. However, the colony near the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Refuge is accessible by land and the nesting sites on Jones Beach also are not isolated by water or by marsh. Nest heights vary according to the height of the vegetation being used. At Lawrence, the average height of 20 nests was 1.5 m. In the pines at Jones Beach, the average height of 6 nests was 2.8 m. The adaptability of the Glossy Ibis in nest site selection may be a fac¬ tor in its increase. RELATIONS WITH HERONS - The Ibis have relied on established heronries for nesting sites. The Ibis roost in the heronries in the spring, when the herons have already started to lay eggs. They consistently nest later than the herons. For example, at Jones Beach on 20 June 1969, most heron nests had well grown young, while most Ibis nests still had eggs. On 10 September 1969, Henry Kemp (personal communication) found a nearly fledged Glossy Ibis in a nest at the Parking Field 1 colony. There may be several advantages in the late nestings: 1) less competi¬ tion for nest sites. The Ibis occupy some of the used heron nests or nest¬ ing places. Davis et al. (1967) found Glossy Ibis using Snowy Egret nests of the previous year; 2) less intracolony predation. Beckett (1964) found young Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax ) eat¬ ing young White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) in the same colony. On Long Island, Black-crowned Night Herons are the first Ardeidae to finish nest¬ ing; 3) after most of the herons have left the colony, there may be less attraction to predators from outside the colony. FUTURE OF THE GLOSSY IBIS IN NEW YORK - Since its first nesting in 1961, the Glossy Ibis is consolidating its range along the New York coast. In 8 years its breeding range has expanded only 45 km to the east. The critical requirements for its continued range expansion are pro¬ tected nesting sites close to good feeding areas. The Jones Beach strip is attractive because of the pine groves, which are generally protected from humans, and because of good feeding areas such as the Oak Beach marshes and Tobay Pond. However, most sections of L.I. marsh have been ditched for mosquito control, and such marshes are less suitable to feeding Ibis. In addition, most nesting sites outside parks or not on isolated islands are soon disturbed. In the unprotected groves at Oak 4 Ol Table 1. Number of Pairs of Glossy Ibis Nesting in New York YEAR 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 LOCATION Canarsie Pol 2 (PP, PB) (FH, JH) 2 (PP) 7 (PP, GR) 4 (PP, GR) (GR, DP) 18 (HH, JB) 60 70 (HH) 50 (HH) 70 (HJ) East Pond. JBWR 1 (HJ) 40 30 (HJ) Lawrence 3 (PP, RP) (LM) 13 (PP) 25 44 6 40 Oak Beach 1 Jones Beach Parking Field 9 12 15 Jones Beach Parking Field 1 11 TOTAL 3 2 7 - 7 31 85 115 108 166 Uninitialed observations by authors; other observers: JB—Jacqueline Backstrom; PB— Paul Buckley; MG—M. Gochfeld; HH—Helen Hays; FH—Fred Heath; JH— Jospeh Horowitz; HJ—Herbert Johnson; RP—Richard Plunkett; DP—Dennis Puleston; PP—Peter Post; GR—Gilbert Raynor Beach, there was shooting during the summers of 1968 and 1969. In 1968, about 55 pairs of herons nested in the groves. There were none in 1969. The Glossy Ibis may have reached an end point on Long Island. The next heronry farther east was at East Moriches, and it was recently abandoned (Davis and Heath, 1965). The heronries on Gardiner’s Island, Fisher’s Island, and in Rhode Island should be watched closely. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to thank Peter Post and John Bull for their very helpful com¬ ments. Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.; Address of Davis: 8613-85th St., Woodhaven, N.Y. LITERATURE CITED Beckett, T. A. III. 1964. Black-crowned Night Heron Feeding Behavior. The Chat, 28: 93-94. Davis, T. H. and F. Heath. 1965. Region 10—Marine. Kingbird, 15: 254. Davis, T. H., et al. 1966. Breeding Bird Census #73—Heron Colony. Audubon Field Notes, 20: 662-664. Davis, T. H., et al. 1967. Breeding Bird Census #84—Heron Colony. Audubon Field Notes, 21: 666^667. Hailman, J. P. 1959. Consolidation of the Northward Expansion of the Glossy Ibis Breeding Range. Bird-Banding, 30: 231-232. Post, P. W. 1962. Glossy Ibis Breeding in New York. Auk, 79: 120-121. 6 Figure 1. Pine grove near Jones Beach Parking Field 9. Glossy Ibis first nested there in 1968. 00 196! * JAMAICA 1969 ^ JONES BEACH 19671 OAK BEACH BAY REFUSE PARKINS FIELD NO. I ATLANTIC OCEAN =±=» KILOMETERS Figure 2. Locations where Glossy Ibis have been known to nest in New York State, HOWARD S. MILLER 1905-1969 Howard Miller died in his sleep on December 14, 1969. He had been one of Rochester’s most able and most ardent ornithologists. He had been Regional Editor of The Kingbird for Region 2 since 1957. Federation members who had been on field trips with him will remember him well and with respect and affection. The following tribute to Howard by his friend Richard T. O’Hara appeared in the Janu¬ ary issue of The Goshawk and is reprinted here with his permission. Ed. Rochester birders were deeply saddened by the sudden death of How¬ ard S. Miller on December 14, 1969. One of this area's veteran and most expert observers, Howard had been somewhat slowed down recently but seemed as interested and ready to go as always until about a week before his death. Howard was a native Rochester resident who attended East High School and lived in the Culver Road vicinity all his life. He had been birding regularly in the nearby Tryon Park and Irondequoit Bay area since about 1930 and knew personally almost all of the Rochester orni¬ thological community since that time. Many of his records were included in a summary published in the late 1930’s by Richard Horsey who, along with the late William G. Edson, kept track of records from 1913 to that time. Except for two years of military service in World War II, from which came his meteorological knowledge, he seldom left Rochester. He was one of ten charter members of the Genesee Ornithological So¬ ciety, and he acted as its statistics chairman for years. Members greatly enjoyed his knowledgeable articles and also his humorous comments and sidelights when he gave oral reports at the monthly meetings. He was regional editor for the Kingbird, publication of Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, and his bird reports for “Region 2 — Genesee" appeared regularly for many years in that journal. In May, 1967, Howard was elected a Fellow of the Rochester Academy of Science. He subscribed to many journals and was widely read in the whole field of nature study. His fund of knowledge extended to many fields as well, not the least of which was sports, in which he took a keen interest. Howard was a bachelor and worked for many years for J. Hungerford Smith Company before diabetes and the loss of a leg forced his retirement a few years ago. It was always a pleasure to go out with Howie. He had a very keen ear which was teamed with a remarkable memory, and he often knew from a single note which finch or warbler was overhead or hidden in the foliage. His observations were very carefully made, and other observers were not infrequently forced to recant a hasty call by his careful second look. All who knew Howard Miller will miss him long. He was a good friend and frequently our teacher. A trip with Howie nearly always left one a little richer in knowledge and in appreciation of the world about us. 9 SOME OF OUR COMMON BIRDS SEEN IN DISTANT LANDS Lillian C. Stoner We know that many of the birds that are here only in the spring and summer go to other lands in the fall and winter. They migrate — but where, we often ask. I have been quite interested in seeing in distant localities some of the birds that we commonly see here, as I have been fortunate to go on three trips conducted by staff members of the Florida Audubon Society — to Jamaica in January 1967, to Mexico in January 1968, and to British Honduras, Central America in February 1969. On each day on the all- day field trips, we were taken by car, bus, boat or airplane to different types of habitats. Then, at night after dinner, the group met to report the birds seen or heard on that day for the compiled list of the different spe¬ cies. One of the first birds I saw in Jamaica in 1967 was the American Red¬ start. This beautiful male bird flew to the top of a tree on the hotel grounds on a bright sunny day. It was plainly seen without bird glasses as it gave its familiar song. This species islisted as a winter resident on this island. We observed it on six days in Britsh Honduras and on three days in Mexico. My late husband and I reported seeing this member of the warbler family ten years between May 11 and June 7 in our book entitled “The Birds of Washington Park, Albany, N.Y.”, and as we know, it is a summer resident here. Also in Jamaica and not far from the Redstart in the tree top and also immediately in front of the hotel, a Green Heron flew to the rim of a large iron goldfish container. It peered down intently in the water for small fish, and paid no attention to the observers and the clicking cam¬ eras which were not far away. In the five different years when we listed this Heron in Washington Park between April 26 and August 29 (sum¬ mer records here) it was easily frightened into flight, and also quickly took flight when seen along the Hudson River during its seasonable stops here. The Sparrow Hawk, which is in Albany during the entire year as it nests here, was seen daily in Mexico and on several days each in the other two tropical localities we visited. The greatest number both of species and of individual ducks was re¬ corded in Mexico, while most of the shore birds we listed were in Ja¬ maica. The Turkey Vulture, which is reported here occasionally and is usually seen flying at not too high an elevation, was fisted every day on all three trips. Sometimes it was flying fairly low but often it was high in the sky. One day in Jamaica we saw it above us, soaring gracefully around the mountain peaks when we were at 5000 feet. In Mexico we saw this species flying above us when we were at 9000 feet. 10 It seemed strange not to find gulls in Jamaica, but authorities say Herring, Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls occur as transients; not many gulls were about the harbor of Belize, the capital of British Honduras. The Belted Kingfisher’s loud chatter was heard daily in British Hon¬ duras and reported only twice in Jamaica and not at all in Mexico. We had only one record in Jamaica and Mexico and five in Central America of the Rough-winged Swallow. We see this bird here in our warm season but not in great numbers as compared to Bank, Barn and Cliff Swallows. One of our three Mexican records of our Robin was at 9000 feet. Other species of Robins were recorded in British Honduras. The red head patch, eye ring and wing bars were plaintly seen on the Ruby-crowned Kinglet as it fluttered about in the top of some bushes in southern British Honduras. The bird chirped occasionally, but did not sing its beautiful song which we hear when they come in fairly good numbers to Albany in April and early May. We heard and saw other members of the warbler family than the American Redstart but not always the same ones on the three trips. In Jamaica the Black-and-white was observed daily; here, too, the follow¬ ing three-Palm Parula and Prairie-were listed on five days. No Myrtle was recorded in Jamaica but it was seen daily in British Honduras and on three trips in Mexico, where we also had the Audubon’s Warbler on four days. This latter bird is not seen in our State but I mention it be¬ cause it was interesting to watch and compare with the similar plumaged Myrtle. The Myrtle is known as the warbler with four bright yellow spots in its plumage while the Audubon’s has five bright yellow spots as it also has a yellow throat; the songs of these two birds are similiar. Some of our regulars, such as the Meadowlark and Cardinal, were ob¬ served in all three localities and the Catbird was seen in Jamaica and Central America. But no Crows were listed by us (although reported by authorities) in Mexico or British Honduras. The two Jamaican Jabbering Crows, created quite a little excitement in our group when we saw them fly out of deep woods and heard them as they flew over us. They are found in only a few localities on this island. The grackles and cowbirds recorded in Mexico are quite different from ours. Both House Sparrows and Starlings are in Jamaica and the Sparrows were seen daily in Mexico, but no Starling was listed there by us. The colorful Indigo Bunting is reported in Mexico, but was not seen there by us. We had four records for it in British Honduras and one in Jamaica; however, it is more common here in March and April. Mrs. Audrey Downer, whom we met in Botego Bay, Jamaica, is a bird bander who specializes in banding Indigo Buntings. Her interesting experience in seeing a banded female Indigo Bunting at her feeding station which had a strange numbered band on its leg has been written up in two magazines under the title “Recovery — by Telescope.” Mrs. Downer as 11 an experiment set up her newly acquired telescope in the house and focused it on her bird feeding station in her garden. She found out that by means of the telescope she could read the small numbers on the bands of the birds feeding at the feeder without retrapping them. On April 17, 1966 she noticed different numbers on two of the birds that did not go into the traps. Finally after working on it for some time she made out on one of them 6?274, the second number either 6 or 8. She and other Jamaica banders knew that none of them had had used that numbered band on the island. After consulting authorities in U.S.A., they learned that this female Indigo Bunting had been banded in Pennsyl¬ vania by Mr. Ralph K. Bell on September 29, 1963. So this recovered bird was over two and onehalf years old when it was seen in Jamaica and it had travelled quite a distance in its migratory journey. Our three lists of birds compiled on these eight-day trips to these tropical localities are far from complete records of all the birds that might be recorded there. While we heard and saw many new species, it was gratifying to see some that we were familiar in our own State. It also gave us a glimpse of where some of our common birds spend their win¬ ter and where they can be seen during their migration. 399 State Street, Albany, N.Y. 12210 SUGGESTED READING An article by Federation member Herb Saltford of Poughkeepsie on the Christmas Bird Census in Roger Tory Petersons Old Lyme-Say- brook, Connecticut, area. It appeared in the December, 1969, issue of Yankee Magazine. FIELD NOTES A White Pelican Sighted at Tupper Lake, New York. A White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) was sighted one-half hour before sunrise (6:16 a.m. EDT) on October 19, 1969. Although Petersons Field Guide lists this bird as accidental in the northeast, the authors are aware of no previous sightings at the higher elevations of the Adirondack Mountains. The marsh between Raquette Pond and Tupper Lake is located at latitude 44° 12' north and longitude 74° 29' west. The marsh has an elevation of 1545 feet and is located approximately 29 miles west northwest of the highest peak in the Adirondacks. The bird was sighted on a clear, cool morning at the western extremity of the marsh close to Raquette Pond. The large distinctive bird was under observation from a boat and on foot with 7 X 35 and 10 X 50 binoculars for approximately three and one-half hours at a distance of 50 to 60 yards. The bird was swimming within 5 to 10 1 feet of the marsh emergents and at times appeared to be dipping bait fish. One observer waded to within 50 feet of the bird at which time it flushed and flew south down Tupper Lake. The other observer simultaneously observed the bird in flight and confirmed the black primaries. Rainer H. Brocke and George F. Mattfeld, The Archer and Anna Huntington Wildlife Forest Station Newcomb, New York 12852 12 Group fishing behavior in the Greater Yellowlegs: The active fishing of the Greater Yellowlegs ( Totanus melanoleucus) has been casually described through the popu¬ lar literature, and more recently treated in detail by Zusi (Wilson Bull., 80:491- 492). Essentially the bird runs through the water with the lower mandible projecting into (“skimming”) the water, and small fish are then caught, individually, and swallowed. Recently I made observations on this “ploughing” behavior, and tw'o in¬ teresting questions presented themselves: (1) Is this habit widespread, and gener¬ ally important to the ecology of the species?, and (2) Do individuals sometimes cooperate in group fishing? On 16 August 1969 I watched individual Greater Yellowlegs ploughing in several areas of the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey. Each was widely separate from the others, and all seemed to be having rather low success. At least four birds were involved. On 1 November 1969, at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, New York, a single bird was studied while it fished for 15 minutes in fairly deep water (almost up to its abdomen). Its foraging pattern was quite irregular, and sometimes, while running in zig-zags, its head was entirely submerged. It caught several small fish during the observations. Later in the day, a group of about 12 Greater Yellowlegs were noted ploughing together in a small pool; they moved back and forth in the Water as a group, although they were not strongly cohesive. Small fish were caught frequently, and after each capture a bird would pause briefly to swallow and then resume ploughing with the group. These observations, together with tire notes of Zusi (ibid.) from Kansas and Virginia, suggest that this method of foraging may be widespread, and possibly com¬ mon in some areas. This suggestion could be easily checked by observers in other parts of the country. It will be necessary to obtain stomach samples to evaluate the role of fishes in the overall diet, as invertebrates are also important, and might sometimes be taken during ploughing. Finally, it seems that even loose groups of birds might gain from a “mutual driving” of the fish, especially in pools or at shore¬ lines, much as is observed with certain larger species of fish-eating birds. Such “co¬ operative” foraging behavior seems to be rare in shorebirds, although it might also occue with the phalaropes when many individuals are “spinning” close together. Charles F. Leek, Section of Neurobiology & Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. In Camille’s Wake a Wide-a-wake: On August 23, 1969 I spotted a Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata ) on the dock at Great Gull Island, N.Y. Great Gull Island is located 7 miles ENE of Orient Point at the eastern end of Long Island, N.Y., and is the site of a large tern colony. Both Roseate Terns ( Sterna dougallii ) and Common Terns (Sterna hirundo ) breed here. I watched the Sooty Tern on the dock for about two hours. During this period it repeatedly cleared the area around it of Common and Roseate Terns which stood near by. The Sooty Tern would threaten the bird next to it and once it had flown would threaten the next and continue until it had cleared an area of about six feet on the dock. Occasionally the Sooty Tern flew but returned within a few seconds and would again clear the dock of other species. John Bull (Birds of the New York Area, 1964 p. 250) states that the Sooty Tern is a very rare visitant here, occasionally sighted after hurricanes. The above sighting of the Sooty Tern was made shortly after hurricane Camille swept along our coast. I would like to take this opportunity to thank John Bull for confirming identifica¬ tion of the Sooty Tern by checking the accompanying photograph, Grace Donaldson for contributing the picture and Helen Hays for helpful discussion of the note. Janann Jenner, Instructor, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York City, New York. 13 Ed . Note: According to Bull (op. cit.) there have been more than 50 occurrences in the New York City region, almost all following hurricanes. While there are spe¬ cimens of 23 of these, it is doubtful that any have been documented by a photograph prior to this. Western Kingbird in Oswego County: On October 4, 1969 at 1800 EDT, while checking the identification of a Red-tailed Hawk in a tree on the corner of Chapman Road and Route 3, approximately 2 miles north of Mexico, New York, we noticed another bird in a smaller tree next to the one in which the hawk was perched. The bird was perched in the topmost branch, in flycatcher fashion, and at first suggested an Olive-sided Flycatcher. From directly below 1 it, we could see yellow sides, like the markings of a Crested Flycatcher, but the tail was dark, and when the bird flew, white outer tail feathers were obvious. We were able to approach within 30 feet of it, when it re-perched on the top of a bush, and we had ample opportunity to check all characters: grey head and back, whitish throat, yellow belly and flanks, darker wings and black tail with white outer feathers. In true Kingbird fashion, it flew from bush to bush, and it w'as obvious to us that it was a Western Kingbird, (Tyrannus verticilis). Back at the car, we consulted our field guides and confirmed our identification. Altogether we had it under observation for about 15 minutes, with 7 X 35 and 8 X 30 binoculars. The bird was still present the following morning, when it was observed by Mrs. Jean Propst, under clear skies. West winds of the previous few days may have brought this rarity to Region 5. We are able to find one previous Region 5 record of this species ( Sherrill, Sep¬ tember 3, 1951) and a few other upstate records. It is rare but regular in the New York City—Long Island Area. Richard J. Sutliff and Ferdinand LaFrance, Estey Road, Manlius, New York A Raven Specimen from St. Lawrence County: On March 3, 1969 a Common Raven (Corvus corax) was caught in a beaver trap in southern St. Lawrence County. The location is on Jenny Creek, near the Pitcairn-Fine town line, about seven miles east of Harrisville. The bird was turned over to a Conservation Department em¬ ployee and was in turn given to the science department of Jefferson Community College, outer Coffeen St. Watertown. 14 The Common Raven is occasionally reported from the western Adirondack region, its status being that of a straggler. There has been speculation that a few pairs may have bred in the Adirondacks in recent times, and the discovery of an active nest in Essex County in 1968 was of particular interest. This is thoroughly documented in the October 1968 issue of the “Kingbird” (pages 198-9) together with pertinent data on the occurrence of the Raven in New York State. J. B. Belknap, 92 Clinton St. Gouverneur, N.Y. 13642. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FALL SEASON August 16 — November 30 Allen E. Kemnitzer The weather for the first half of the period was generally mild with precipitation less than normal for most parts of the state. Region 7 pro¬ vided the notable exception, reporting a very damp late August and all of September. Toward the end of October, much cooler weather became the rule for the state, continuing throughout November with a great in¬ crease in rainfall, and some snow toward the end of the period. There were few extraordinary weather developments during the period but despite this, summaries of the nine regions reporting indicate that the fall season of 1969 was a most interesting one. Although the Canada Goose flight was only fair to good in most parts of the state, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge reported a new fall record high of 10,000 geese using the refuge. Region 8 had Snow Geese in unprecedented numbers including a spectacular flock of 1500 over Watervliet Reservoir. During the last half of October, huge flocks of Brant were recorded at Derby Hill in Region 5. At Montezuma, num¬ bers of dabbling ducks were down. The irruption of Boreal Chickadees reached most sections of the state and to some observers appeared to be one of the heaviest within memory. By contrast, unusual numbers of Black-capped Chickadees were not re¬ ported, and there was no apparent repetition of the 1968 fall invasion of this species. Good numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches were present throughout the fall period. As the flight of winter finches developed with the season, it be- increasingly clear that this was indeed a good winter finch year. Every winter finch species was reported, some in large numbers. Especially numerous were Pine Sickins and Red Crossbills, both reported in un¬ precedented numbers from Fire Island. In most regions, the fall warbler flight was unimpressive, but Region 8 considered the warbler count higher than usual, and Region 10 re¬ ported the best warbler flight in five years with an estimated 1600 warblers at Jones Beach on September 10. 15 A few observations of Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons highlighted the fall migration of birds of prey. A fair number of Goshawks were reported, but numbers of Rough-legged Hawks were down in most sections indicating a poor flight for these winter visitors. Snowy Owls were unreported. High water levels in lakes and ponds had its negative effect on shore- birding during the summer, but receding shorelines and newly exposed mudflats later in the season resulted in more favorable conditions. Region 5 reported an outstanding flight of Red Phalaropes in late October and early November. An American Oystercatcher on November 15 at Moriches Inlet, Region 10, established a new late regional record for this species. The fall season did not lack for gull records. Noteworthy were the rather widespread observations of Black-legged Kittiwakes. Although a small number of this species are sighted with some regularity by patient observers in the fall along Lake Ontario shore, this years scattering of records in several regions was most unusual for this oceanic species. The Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported at Ithaca for the seventh con¬ secutive year. Other gull records of interest were: Sabine’s Gull, Frank¬ lins Gull, Laughing Gull, and more than usual number of Little Gulls. Following is a partial list of other noteworthy occurrences and rarities, some recorded in several regions: Harris’ Sparrow, Western Kingbird, Dickcissel, Common Raven, Eared Grebe, Great Cormorant, White Peli¬ can, White Ibis, Sooty Tern, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and Bullock’s Oriole. A careful reading of the regional summaries will add many more to this list of highlights of an exceptionally productive fall season. It is regretted that the Region 1 report was not available for inclusion in this issue. 969 Five Mile Line Road, Webster, New York 14580 REGION 1—NIAGARA FRONTIER No report. This report period will be included in the May issue. REGION 2 —GENESEE Richard T. O’Hara Due to the sudden, untimely death of Howard Miller on December 14, 1968, this summary may be somewhat less complete than usual. Water levels in the ponds and bays of the Lake Ontario shoreline remained quite high through the late summer but began dropping quite rapidly in the early fall. By late October, good mud flats were exposed on the West Spit at Braddocks Bay, but by this time, of course, most species of shorebirds were present only in dwindling numbers. 16 Locally, breeding ducks appeared to do quite well, although they did not con¬ centrate as they sometimes do when low water levels dry up many small marshes and streams. Few significant waves of small migrants were noted locally. Warblers and like species never seemed present in large numbers as they sometimes appear. Neverthe¬ less, a good variety or species was reported and these local observations are prob¬ ably not particularly significant as an indication of breeding success or failure. Rarities noted include: Gannet, Peregrine Falcon, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Sa¬ bine’s Gull, Kittiwake, Boreal Chickadee and Bohemian Waxwing. Abbreviations: MP Mendon Ponds; SB—Sodus Bay; MB—Manitou Beach; BB— Braddocks Bay; HB—Hamlin Beach; IB—Irondequoit Bay; OB—Oklahoma Beach; LO—Lake Ontario; HL—Hemlock Lake; CB—Charlotte Beach; HBP—Hamlin Beach Parkway; DEP—Durand Eastman Park; WP—Webster Park. Observers Cited: GOS—Genesee Ornithological Society (field-trip); AEK—Allen E. Kemnitzer; WCL—Walter C. Listman; HSM—Howard S. Miller; JF—John Foster; ROH—Richard T. O’Hara; JD—James Doherty; MAS—Mary Ann Sunderlin; CP, BP— C. and B. Perrigo; TET Thomas E. Tetlow; WL—Warren Lloyd; NM—Neil Moon. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loons appeared slightly early—Sept 20, and reached a peak (50) on Nov 6 (GOS). Red-throated Loon only reported once, Oct 26 (AEK). Horned Grebe seemed less common than usual this fall, while the Red¬ necked Grebe was unreported. A Gannet, immature plumage as usual, was seen flying off shore on Oct 5 at Manitou (W'L,MA'S). Double-crested Cormorant: Two reports. Sept 27 and Oct 5. A Green Heron on Oct 19 at Sodus was quite late (JF). Other Herons departed normally after what seemed a somewhat better season than most recent years. Common Egrets, however, are rarely seen any more as summer visitors in this region. The Whistling Swan present since mid-summer at Braddocks Bay remained into October. The Canada Goose flight was again heavy, although the birds seem to pass through more rapidly than usual. Brant were not noted in the thousands as in some years, but 200—300 birds were reported in late October on at least two dates. A Blue Goose remained on Mendon Ponds for some time in Nov (CP,BP). The heaviest concentration of Mallards and Black Duck was also at this same inland location, 600 and 500 respectively on Nov 18-19 same observers. Several other species of ducks seemed present in improved numbers also. Among the better counts reported are the following: Pintail 150 SB AEK 10/1 8 American Widgeon 100 BB WCL 9/25 Wood Duck 125 BB WCL 8/19 Canvasback 30 HB GOS 10/25 Greater Scaup 1,800 IB outlet AEK 11/15 Lesser Scaup 4,000 IB outlet GOS 11/16 Oldsquaw 1,200 MB WCL 11/16 White-winged Scoter 1,000 OB GOS 11/16 Common Scoter 10 OB GOS 11/16 Surf Scoter 12 OB GOS 11/16 Ruddy Duck 4 SB JF 10/19 So far this season, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers have seemed somewhat less common than usual offshore of Lake Ontario, although Hooded Mergansers have been normal in numbers and distribution. HAWK'S—OWLS: A Turkey Vulture at LeRoy on Nov 23 was late (JD). Among the hawks, the Goshawk was first reported on Nov 5 at Hamlin Beach (WCL). 17 Cooper’s Hawk was up a bit from recent poor years with several reports this fall. Sharp-shins, on the other hand, were scarce. To date, Roughlegs are unreported this fall, while Red-tails have been present in at least normal numbers. This bird contin- uses to do well as far as we can tell in contrast to the recent decline in such breeding species as Red-shoulders, Cooper’s and Marsh Hawks and to some degree even the Sparrow Hawk. Hopefully, all may be up somewhat from the low point, but only the Red-tail seems to be in fairly good numbers as yet. Among the other raptors. Raid Eagle was still present at the breeding site near Hemlock Lake on Sept 21 (JF); another w'as noted in August, on the 16th, ScottsvilJe (JD). 'Osprey: Two reports on Sept 14 at Hamlin (GOS), and 28th at Iron Bay outlet (AEK). The Peregine Falcon was reported only once this fall, Oct. 13 at Braddocks Bay (WCL). Gallinules did well, maximum 50 at Braddocks Bay, but Rails were little reported probably due to relatively high water conditions. Shorebirds were not particularly easy to find, but a good variety passed through as usual. Some of the more interest¬ ing records are listed below: Golden Plover 136 HB WCL 9/13 Ruddy Turnstone 4 CB GOS 9/14 Knot 1 CB HM, ROH 8/20 Baird’s Sandpiper 1 CB ROH 10/13 Baird’s Sandpiper 1 HB A, BK 8/31 Baird’s Sandpiper 1 HL JF 9/21 Purple Sandpiper 5 BB JD, HSM 10/17 Dunlin 225 BB WCL 10/18 Dunlin 200 SB TET 10/18 Stilt Sandpiper 6 BB WCL 10/3 Buff-Breasted Sandpiper 1 HB GOS 9/14 Sanderling 25 OB ROH 9/11 Northern Phalarope 1 IB WCL 9/17 Red Phalarope 1-2 BB JD, MAS 10/22-25 Gulls made an excellent showing this fall both for numbers and variety. In fact, they provided several of our most noteworthy finds. A peak count on Dec 7 indicated that tens of thousands of birds were present in the IB area alone. Most of these were Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, but there were also thousands of Bonaparte’s Gulls and with them were several Little Gulls and at least 2 Black-legged Kittiwakes. Two Glaucous Gulls were seen near IB on Dec 6 (AEK). In addition, Sept produced Franklin’s Gulls, 3 at CB on the 14th (GOS), and a single bird at the same place on the 20th (AEK and Dr. Weld). Sabine’s Gull, alw’ays rare here, was reported in both Sept and Oct, on the 14th and 23rd respectively, at CB, while additional reports of Little Gulls and Kittwakes were noted on 6 and 2 other occasions respectively. A late Caspian Tern was at OB on Oct 7 after a rather low fall peak count of 9 on Sept 14 BB (GOS). Black Terns were virtually gone by Labor Day as usual, while Common Tern remained low in numbers as it has been for the past two or three years, locally at least. No fall records were received for Forster’s Tern this year. Owls were not especially well reported, although the Great Horned Owl seems to be holding its own very well among the pressures of our expanding urban develop¬ ment. Screech Owls still seem low in numbers, but perhaps a little less so than a year or two ago. October brought the first reports for the fall season of Short-eared Owl, 1 on the 25th at BB (WCL)and Saw-whet Owl, 1 on the 12th, same place and observer. No Snowy Owls have been seen yet. 18 GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Nighthawk was last seen on Sept 30, while a Chimney Swift appeared on the late date of Oct 11 (AEK). Flickers again seemed to pass through in good numbers, peak 45 on Sept 28 (WP-WL). A Sapsucker was still present in Irondequoit on Nov 22 (NM). One Olive-sided Flycatcher was at WP on Sept 13 (WL). Swallows seemed to leave early this fall and Cliff Swallow was scarce as in the spring flight, only one re¬ port, Sept 21 at MB (AEK). There was again some chickadee flight, although not as extensive as occurrs occasionally, with a maximum of 300 at Ellison Park on Sept 9 (JD). Boreal Chickadee appeared on November 2 and has been reported several times since in the DEP vicinity and at MB. Red-breasted Nuthatches were above average in numbers this season with a peak report of 12 at Hamlin on Nov 25 (GOS). At least one Carolina Wren has appeared regularly at the Dutchers feeder near DEP, but they are not yet as common as in peak years. Mockingbirds are on the upbeat in the Webster area again and have also been re¬ ported elsewhere in scattered locations including 2 at Avon on Oct 10 (Orwen). A Catbird remained in DEP where food supply looks good until the end of the pe¬ riod along with several Robins. At least 2 Hermit Thrushes were in the same large park at the end of November also. Migrant Swainsons Thrushes did not seem very common this year, while other species appeared about normal. A good count of 7 Bluebirds on Sept 29 at Avon probably indicates successful breeding (Orwen). Kinglets seemed normal, but Pipits were scarce this fall. A single Bohemian Wax¬ wing appeared with the usual flock of Cedar Waxwings in DEP on Nov 22 (HSM, JD). Northern Shrike not seen as yet this fall. While Starlings are too numerous, it appears that they have reached or passed a peak of abundance. Hopefully, they may decline as the House Sparrow has done in the past 30 or 40 years. One may as well be optimistic! VIREOS—WARBLERS: As noted above, it was not a spectacular season for these species. Most were reported only in small numbers and within expected date ranges. On some days during Sept, it was not possible to tell that any migration of the small insect-eating birds was occurring. A few notable records are included below, however. Worm-eating Warbler: 1 Sept 21 W. Rush (Haller). Orange-crowned Warbler: 3 records on separate dates, each time 1 bird, Oct 12, 18 and 25; this is an unusually good showing for a rather rare or inconspicuous species. Cape May War¬ bler: 1 Sept 15 at MB (JD,WCL); Pine Warbler: 1 Aug 31 at MB (WCL). Wilson’s Warbler: 1 Oct 4, a bit late, (WCL). It has been difficult to escape the impression in both spring and fall in most recent years that the number of migrant warblers is much lower than it was 15 or 20 years ago. In particular, the Nashville, Parula, Cape May and, to some extent, the Black- and-white, Black-throated Green. Ovenbird and possibly others seem scarcer. One hopes that reduction in pesticide use will bring a reverse trend soon. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: While the blackbirds are still super abundant as a group, these too no longer appear to be increasing as before. Rusty Blackbirds seemed to make a better showing this fall than last spring. Finches have been well-represented except for the Pine Grosbeak which had not appeared at all by Nov 30. A very early flock of White-winged Crossbills was reported on Sept 1 from DEP —20 birds (HSM,ROH); other reports continued to come in during Oct and Nov. Red Crossbills first appeared in Oct with 68 at HB on the 25th (GOS). Evening Grosbeaks were also quite widespread; a spectacular count of 300 was made by Listman on Nov 5 at Carlton. Both Redpolls and Siskins were also rather numerous this fall with the latter especially noteworthy. Kemnitzers reported 800' Siskins on Oct 12 at SB and L. Moon had some 275 near her home on Oct 23. A good flight of Field Sparrow's was noted at Leroy on Oct 12 (Cornell, JF) and Tetlow had the best early flock of Snow Buntings—120 on Oct 31 in Webster. 265 Carling Road, Rochester, New York 14610 19 REGION 3 —FINGER LAKES Sally Hoyt Spofford Weather the first six weeks of the reporting period was normal. The first half of October was unusually balmy, with no rain, and fall colors peaked a week or ten days later than usual, followed by a rainy cool spell in late October. November had heavy rains, bringing streams and ponds back up to normal. The first snow was Octo¬ ber 22-23, and a heavier one occurred November 6. Again Myrtle Warblers were abundant until early November, and a small migration of thrushes was noted on OctoberlS. While goose usage of Montezuma was the heaviest on record for the fall, num¬ bers of dabbling ducks were down. The fairly mild fall has delayed arrival of most diving ducks. Again there was a tower kill at Elmira, and more complete figures will be given later, summarizing the reports of recent years. There are few' Rough-legged Hawks as yet, and no Snowy Owls. The north-east¬ ern “invasion” of Boreal Chickadees has reached the Finger Lakes, and Red-breasted Nuthatches are at feeders everywhere. It has started out to be a good winter finch year: noted so far are Evening Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, Red Crossbills, Pine Siskins, and Snow Buntings, with a few reports of White-winged Crossbills and Pine Grosbeaks. Rarities include: Golden Eagle, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Boreal Chickadee and House Finch. Observers; DA—Douglas Auer; JB—Jamesine Bardeen; WEB—Walter E. Benning; JBr—Jack Brubaker; WMG—William M. Groesbeck; EG—Frank Guthrie; CH—Clay¬ ton Hardy; WH—Wilifred Howard; PMK—Paul M. Kelsey; CL—Charles Leek; ML— Malcolm Lerch; DBF—David B. Peakall; MS—Margaret Shepherd; SHS—Sally H. Spofford; WRS—Walter R. Spofford; BBS—Betty and Barrie Strath; JJT—Jean and James Tate; RW—Ruth Williams. Area compilers: Walter E. Bennning, Jack Brubaker, William M. Groesbeck, Frank Guthrie, Clayton Hardy, Wilifred Howard, Jayson Walker. Localities: Cay L—Cayuga Lake; Conn Hill—Connecticut Hill; MNWR—Monte¬ zuma National Wildlife Refuge; Sen L—Seneca Lake; SWS—Sapsucker Woods Sanc¬ tuary. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: more common in migration than in recent years, 275 Nov 9 Cay L (RW). A Red-throated Loon on Chemung R at Elmira Nov 13-14 was only second record for Elmira area; no Cay L reports. Red-necked Grebe: 1 Nov 20 near Dresden (BS). Horned Grebe: first reports last week Oct. Pied-billed Grebe: last date for Hornell area Oct 21 (4) (WMG); November reports in Cay Basin. Double-crested Cormorant: 1 Oct 11 Cay L (Mrs. Darlington); 1 Nov 28-30 south end Sen L (BS). Great Blue Heron: still present end Nov MNWR (CH). Green Heron: 1 Oct 1 Watkins Glen (last) (JBr). Common Egret: last seen Oct 13 (CH). Black-crowned Night Heron: high counts, 27 Aug 17 MNWR (WEB), 40 Sep 27 (CH). Yellow-crowned Night Heron: a bird answering description of this species was watched for 30 minutes Oct 13 (MNWR) with telescope by N. Dates, O. Swanson and L. Buck of Jamestown, reported to Refuge Personnel, who could not find it subsequently. Mute Swan: no reports. Whistling Swan: 13 Nov 11 MNWR, 1 still present Nov 28 (CH); 16 with 2 imm Nov 13 near Yacht Club on C'ay L (mob). Canada Goose: first flights noted mid-September; 10,000 at MNWR, new record high; good flight dates Oct 4-7 MNWR, Keuka L area Oct 12-15 (FG), Hornell area Oct 12 (WMG). Brant: 1 noted Oct 20-Nov 7 MNWR (CH,MS). Snow Goose; max 4 Oct 8 MNWR (CH), last Nov 9 (WEB). Blue Goose: max 19 Oct 8-Nov 15 MNWR, 1 still pres¬ ent Nov 30 (CH). 20 Mgr. Clayton Hardy reports following peak counts and dates for MNWR: Mal¬ lard: 5000 Nov 5; Black Duck: 4600 Nov 5; Gadwall: 1450 Oct 20; Pintail: 8000 Oct 7; Green-winged Teal: 615 Oct 20; Blue-winged Teal: 500 Sep 9; American Widgeon: 8000 Oct 7; Shoveler: 530 Oct 28; Wood Duck: 800 Oct 7; Redhead: 500 Nov 28; Ring-necked Duck: 170 Nov 10; Canvasback: 930 Nov 28; Lesser Scaup: 210 Nov 10; Bufflehead: 30 Oct 28; Ruddy Duck: 15 Oct 28; Hooded Merganser: 200 Oct 28; Common Mei'ganser: 230 Oct 28. It will be noted that Mallards, Black Ducks, Gadwall and Widgeon had decreased from last fall. Pintail had increased, Shoveler and Green-winged Teal had decreased. Comparisons of numbers of diving ducks with last year’s figures do not seem significant as the divers seem slow in coming in this fall, everywhere. Other reports of diving ducks: Redheads and Scaup were noted on Cay L on Oct 12, Goldeneyes on Oct 5, Bufflehead and Ruddy on Oct 24, Bufflehead on Sen L on Oct 25 (WEB). 200 Canvasback on Keuka L by end November was a high count for this early in season (FG). Oldsquaw': seen in Nov Sen L (BBS), 1 reported shot Nov 8 on Cay L. White-winged Scoter: Oct 12 Cay L (DA); Nov 6 MNWR (CH); Chemung R at Elmira Nov 2, 6 (WH), Surf Scoter: 3 Oct 24 Cay L (DA); 1 Oct 25 MNWR (WEB). Common Merganser: 1 male (first) Cay L Oct 12 (DA); Ben- ning’s count of 400 at MNWR Nov 8 is higher than the max given by CH for Oct 28. Prof. Guthrie received a report of 2 Common Merganser hens with broods on Keuka L end of summer, but was unable to verify this. It would be a first for the area. HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: 20 max Aug 28 MNWR (WEB), last date Oct 8. Goshawk: 1 Nov 23-24 SWS (SBP,SHS), Sharp-shinned Hawk: scattered reports end of September; 1 Oct 27 MNWR (CH). Cooper’s Hawk: 1 seen from Sep 5 to end of period nr Rte 13 w. of Dryden; 1 Oct 22 Watkins Glen (JBr). Red-tailed Hawk: While Keuka area seems to have fewer wintering (since migration), Hardy reports 12 at MNWR Nov 30. Red-shouldered Hawk: continues scarce, few migra¬ tion sigh tin gs, except 1 over Etna Sep 14 (RTPeterson), 1 Sep 19, Oct 7 and Oct 30 MNWR (MS). Broad-winged Hawk: scattered migrants over Etna Sep 10-20. Rough-legged Hawk: Oct 23 (rather early) Freeville (WRS); 1 Oct 27 MNWR (CH); 1 Nov 15 w. of Watkins Glen (JBr); other scattered sightings, none at Keuka by end of period. Golden Eagle: ad Nov 7 Etna (SHS) with scattering of Redtails. Bald Eagle: 1 imm Sep 27 MNWR (CH and others). Marsh Hawk: 1 or 2 sightings only through fall MNWR. Osprey: none at Hornell, 1 on Cayuta Lake in Nov (BBS); sev sightings Etna & MNWR, max Sep 27. Peregrine Falcon; 1 Oct 6 MNWR (J. Czech); 1 MNWR Oct 16-23 (CH and others). Pigeon Hawk (Merlin): 1 Oct 16-23 MNWR (WEB, Ref, personnel). Sparrow Hawk (Kestrel): many sight¬ ings—general impression of increase in last few years, Ruffed Grouse: hunters reported scarce again, especially early in season (PMK). Turkey: few reports of broods; 1 hen seen repeatedly 1st week Nov around Varna and Hanshaw Road extension area. Virginia Rail; max 5 Sep 14 MNWR (WEB). Sora: max 5 Sep 3 MNWR (WEB); at least 3 regularly late Aug early Sep Watkins Marsh (JBr). Common Gallinule: 4 Sep 8 Watkins Glen (JBr); max at MNWR 49 on Sep 3; last date Oct 30 (MS). American Coot: max 3910 MNWR Oct 28, some still present Nov 30. The following shorebird reports are from Montezuma, by Walter Benning unless otherwise noted: Semipalmated Plover: max 60 Oct 5; last date Nov 1. Killdeer: max 42 Aug 31; one still present Nov 30 (CH), Golden Plover: 7 Sept 20-Oct 4 (CH); last Oct 12. Black-bellied Plover: Sep 13-Oct 4 (CH); max 23 Oct 29 Wa¬ terloo dump (WEB); 1 at Watkins Glen Sep 8 and 9, still in breeding plumage (JBr). Ruddy Turnstone: 2 Sep 2G-Oct 4. Common Snipe: max 15 Sep l;2,last, Oct 29 Waterloo dump. Spotted Sandpiper: numbers seemed low; 1 probably sick still present early Nov (CH); otherwise last date Oct 1 (JBr). Willet. a bird that seemed to be this species was seen by Ruth Williams at MNWR Oct 5, but could not be found later for verification. Greater Yellowlegs: max 52 Oct 25, last Nov 15. 21 Lesser Yellowlegs: 46 max Sep 14, last Nov 15. Knot: unreported. Pectoral Sand¬ piper: max 118 (high) Sep 14. White-ramped Sandpiper: max 7 Sep 27 (often un¬ reported). Baird’s Sandpiper: max 7 Sep 7; 1 present Watkins Glen Sep 23, 24, Oct 13-21 (rare) (JBr). Least Sandpiper: max 38 Aug 16. Dunlin: max 647 Oct 18, 54 Nov 15, 3 still present, on ice, Nov 25 (CH). Short-billed Dowitcher: max 32 (high) Sep 21, last 7 Nov 1. Long-billed Dowitcher: max 25 (high) Sep 27. Stilt Sandpiper: max 21 Aug 16 Waterloo dump; last Oct 14. Western Sandpiper: only record, 1 at Waterloo dump. Semipalmated Sandpiper: max 320, much higher than in ’68, Sep 27. Hudsonian Godwit: 1 Oct 4-8. Sanderling: 1 Oct 4. Wilson’s Phalarope: max 2 Sep 14. Northern Phalarope: 6 Sep 7; 1 Oct 4. Iceland Gull: 1 reported Stewart Park Ithaca Nov 28, unconfirmed. Great Black- backed Gull: 8 on Nov 9 MNWR (WEB), up to 10 late Nov south end Cay L. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULI: returned to south end Cay L for 7th year; seen first Nov 16 (T. Howe), again Nov 28 (G. Smith), confirmed Dec 8 (RT Peterson). Bonaparte’s Gull: very few reports this year. Common Tern: last reported Aug 31. Caspian Tern: 5 Sep 8 Watkins Glen (JBr). Black Tern: left last w’eek August. Almost no reports either species Cuckoo. Screech Owls rarely heard. Great Horned Owls: abundant by end of Nov. No Snowy Owls or Short-eared Owls re¬ reported. Barred Owl: heard at intervals nr Peakall home e. of Dryden —new loca¬ tion. GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Common Nighthawk: small flight noted by WMG at Hornell Aug 21-Sep 1, as follows: 2 Aug 21, 1 Aug 25, 2 Aug 28, 1 Aug 30, 10 Aug 31, 1 Sep 1. Chimney Swift: 104 counted entering chimney of Waterloo fire¬ house Aug 23 (JW). Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 2 October reports Ithaca area- very late; last in Etna Sep 16. Flocks of Yellow-shafted Flickers, in migration, were noted by Groesbeck at Hornell and by Margaret Shepherd at Montezuma, the latter date Oct 30. Red-headed Woodpecker: 3 Aug 31 MNWR (WEB); an imm. was seen Nov 11 nr Morehead (JBr), rather late. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: no evidence of breeding this year at SWS; a late bird (Nov 11) seen Ithaca (S. Barnett). Yellow- bellied Flycatcher: (fairy rare) 1 banded Sep 6 Penn Yan (M. Lerch). Olive¬ sided Flycatcher: 3 Aug 29 Conn Hill (CL), only report. Tree Swallows: individ¬ uals noticed till last week October throughout Region. Last dates other swallows: Bank: Sep 21; Rough-winged: Oct 5; Barn: Sep 27. Black-capped Chickadee: seem particularly abundant at feeding stations. BOREAL CHICKADEE: very few pre¬ vious records in Region, three reports this fall: Nov 9 nr Watkins Glen (JBr); Nov 12 Elmira at Klinko feeder; Nov 30 Monkey Run nr. Ithaca (DBP). Red-breasted Nut¬ hatch: reports at feeders too numerous to mention. Brown Creeper: many reports in November. Winter Wren: scattered reports; 1 Aug 26 Excelsior Glen nr Watkins Glen probably an early migrant, not a breeder. Long-billed Marsh Wren: last date Oct 1 Watkins Marsh, where several have been found regularly recently. Robin: very good numbers in migration noted generally. Eastern Bluebird: Bar¬ deen farm at Burdett had five successful nestings, with birds seen around into fall; 12 Oct 24 nr Dryden (Mrs. R. Baker); Groesbeck’s report is encouraging: “Numerous successful nestings in hill areas. Flock of more than 30 on Oct 21 in old orchard at 1900’ elevation, in Town of Howard.” I noted no increase in Ithaca area. Both King¬ lets abundant late Sep and early Oct. Northern Shrike: first Oct 30 MNWR (MS); no evidence that this will be a flight year. VIREOS—WARBLERS: Solitary Vireo: rarely reported in fall, 1 Sep 28, Oct 3 Ithaca (DBP). Red-eyed Vireo: max 8 Sep 15 (DBP); last Oct 25 Waterloo (WEB). Philadelphia Vireo: 1 Oct 7 MNWR (MS). Warbling Vireo: last Oct 7 MNWR (MS). Warblers: no reports of heavy migration in area. Orange-crowned: 1 banded Oct 1 Penn Yan (ML); last Oct 8 Dryden Lake (DBP). Parula: rarely reported in recent years, 1 Sep 24 Cayuta L (JBr), 2 very late, Nov 10-11 Elmira (WH). Yellow: 1 Oct 2 Keuka (FG), rather late. Magnolia: 75 banded by Lerch at Penn Yan. Black-throated Blue: 1 Oct 4 (last) Ithaca (DA). Myrtle: abundant 22 second half Oct to first week Nov; for example. WMG had more than 50 in his yard in Hornell Oct 15-20. Black-throated Green: last Oct 8 (DBP). Chestnut¬ sided: scarce, 2 Sep 3 (DBP). Connecticut and Mourning: 1 each banded Sep 25 Penn Yan (ML); only reports. Few reports of Palm Warblers this fall. Yellowthroat: last Oct 8 (DBP). Redstart: last Sep 3 (DBP). BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: last Sep 15 Ithaca (DBP). Eastern Meadowlark: a few lingering to end of period; 14 Nov 21 nr Logan (JB). Red¬ winged Blackbirds: high water at Keuka may have been reason for smaller flock of this species. Orchard Oriole: Sep 2 last date for the pair that has bred at Hannan residence, Ithaca. Rusty Blackbird: noted from Oct 14 to end of period. Scarlet Tanager: none in fall migration at Hornell (WMG); numbers normal at Ithaca; sev. still present Sep 30 Etna. Cardinal: while reported on increase most areas, have de¬ creased at Hornell, though this may be seasonal. Evening Grosbeak: first Oct 5 Ithaca (F. Marcham); by late Oct fairly numerous reports; by end of Nov coming to feeders. Purple Finch: almost no reports. HOUSE FINCH: first for area, 1 Sep 8- Oct 26 Walsh feeder Elmira (WH and mob). Pine Grosbeak: two reports only, 12 Nov 4 on Newtown Rd nr Watkins (fide JBr); 4 Nov 11 Waterloo (JW). Common Redpoll: scattered reports Watkins Glen, flocks of 100 or more Nov 23 at Keuka and at Geneva. Pine Siskin: hundreds, first week Oct along Cay L (RW); abundant MNWR (CH) and Tompkins County (PMK); a few at Keuka (FG); “unbelievably early (mid-August) and in large numbers later” around Watkins Glen (JBr), feed¬ ing mainly on arbor vitae; numbers smaller by end of Nov. Red Crossbill: a number of reports, earliest being 2 on Sep 2 (JBr). White-winged Crossbill: only definite report 2 Nov 2 Keuka (FG); probably others. Rufous-sided Towhee: more late Nov reports than usual. Savannah Sparrow: last Oct 5 MNWR (WEB). Vesper Spar¬ row: last Nov 5 Watkins (JBr). Tree Sparrow: first arrivals late Oct. Chipping Sparrow: scattered reports into Nov; 1 imm Nov 21 at feeder Etna. White-crowned Sparrow: present Oct '2-Nov 1, max 30 Oct 14 (DBP), 5 banded Oct 25 (JJT). White-throated Sparrow: normal numbers in migration; a few still present late Nov. Fox Sparrow: only scattered reports, 1 to end of period Hornell (WG). Lincoln’s Sparrow: 1 Sep 15 Warren Rd ponds (DBP); 1 Oct 13 Game Farm Road Ithaca (MS). Swamp Sparrow: last Oct 29 MNWR (WEB). Lapland Longspun 1 Nov 7 Elmira (WH). Snow Buntings: first Oct 23 MNWR (C'H) and Oct 31 Elmira (WH), several Nov reports of flocks. Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 REGION 4 —SUSQUEHANNA Leslie E. Bemont Temperatures were generally mild until October 22 when the first widespread sub-freezing temperatures were recorded and the first snowfall occurred. There was thunderstorm activity September 5 and 6, October 3 and October 20. November was on the cold side and brought several significant snowfalls. There was a nice influx of Rough-legged Hawks and a few Northern Shrikes but no reports of northern owls so far. Every “winter finch” species was reported, some in appreciable, if not large, numbers. Pine Siskins and possibly the main body of some of the other species seemed to pass right on through. Some observers suggest that a poor cone and seed crop was simply too scanty to hold them. Rarities include a Harris’ Sparrow, a Peregrine Falcon, a Caspian Tern, a Northern Phalarope, a Dickcissel and four Boreal Chickadees. 23 Place name abbreviations: Bing—Binghamton; CF—Chenango Forks; EB—East Branch, in Delaware County; NV—Newark Valley; Skan L—Skaneateles Lake; WP— Whitney Point. Observers initials: DB-Don Bemont; LB—Les Bemont; MB—Margaret Bowman; LC—Mrs. Lynn Clark; A,MD—Anna and Marilyn Davis; CJD—Carleton and Jeanne Davis; W,LD—Warren and Louise Dean; CG—Clinton Gerould; JAG—John A. Gus¬ tafson; MH—Mark Harris; VH—Virginia Hudson; RK—Richard Kaskan; DL—Dwight Lynch; HM—Harriet Marsi; MS—Mary Sheffield; GS—Gerald Smith; AS—Anne Strat¬ ton; DW—Don Weber; CW—Cora Wellman; MW—Mildred White; R,SW—Ruth and Sally White; KW—Kathryn Wilson; SW—Stuart Wilson. LOONS-DUCKS: Common Loon: Nov 20 WP (ML,DL) and 6 earlier reports around Region. Horned Grebe: Oct 3 and Nov 30 Owego (MW), no others. Pied¬ billed Grebe: 8 Oct 2 Milford, north of Oneonta, (CW), max; 4 other reports. Great Blue Heron: 1 Nov 25 Cortland (A. Morey), the only one after Oct 23. Green Heron: 1 Oct 3 Milford CW). Canada Goose: bulk of migration between Oct 4 and Oct 21; 60 still at Nichols Nov 30 (VH). Brant: “Sep 25 flying over Richford” (ML); Oct 21 Norwich (MH); 2 Nov 9 Owego (ML,MW). Blue-winged Teal: 26 Sep 22 Owego (CG,MW). Ring-necked Duck: 1 Nov 23 WP (MS). Canvasback: Oct 21 and 22 Owego (ML,DL). Bufflehead: 1 Oct 18 Pepacton Reservoir (MB); Nov 20 Owego (ML,DL); 2 other reports. Oldsquaw: Oct 24 Owego (ML,DL); 12 Nov 23 Skan L (GS); 3 other reports. White-winged Scoter: Nov 15 Owego (MW, CG); Nov 21 WP (ML,DL). Ruddy Duck: Sep 22 Owego (MW,VH). Hooded Merganser: several reports from Nov 16 on. Common Merganser: 8 Sep 1 WP (MS); 16 Sep 19 at EB (MB); wintering birds from Nov 16. HAWKS-OWLS: Turkey Vulture: 9 Sep 21 EB (MB); Oct 20 South Owego (CG). Goshawk: 1 Nov 17 Milford (CW). Sharp-shinned Hawk: 5 reports, at least 6 birds. Coopers Hawk: 3 reports, at least 5 birds. Red-tailed Hawk: 26 reports, 41 individuals. Red-shouldered Hawks: 3 Sep 26 Milford (CW), the only reports. Broad-winged Hawk: 900 Sep 13 Owego (Ruth Williams) and 297 Sep 18 Milford (CW) the best counts; last date Sep 30 Nichols (VH). Rough-legged Hawk: 1 Oct 22 Oxford (AS); 11 more reports by the end of the period. Bald Eagle: 1 Aug 19 Deposit (SW). Marsh Hawk: 2 Sep 18 and 2 Oct 13 Milford (CW); 3 Nov reports, to the 13th, from Tioga County. Osprey: Sep 5 NV (W,LD) to Oct 13 Vestal Cen¬ ter (Elizabeth and Newell Washburn) with 7 additional reports between those dates. Peregrine Falcon: 1 Sep 7 Ingraham Hill south of Bing (Claude Howard). Pigeon Hawk: 1 Nov 28 Oneonta (Mrs, Gerald Wright), no details. Sparrow Hawk: quite numerous to end of period. Ruffed Grouse: “very scarce” at Candor (DW). Turkey: Sep 2 Berkshire (Edgar Leonard); during Sep Nichols (James Blyler). Virginia Rail’: 1 Sep 15 a few miles west of Endicott (Michael Moore). Killdeer: Nov 13 NV (ML,DL). Woodcock: “lingered until at least Nov 9” Candor (DW). Common Snipe: 2 Sep 7 Sherburne (R,SW); Oct 21 Nichols (ML). Upland Plover: Sep 25 Berkshire: (ML,DL). Spotted Sandpiper: 25 Sep 8 EB (MB), Solitary Sandpiper: Sep 30 Greene (C,JD). Greater Yellowlegs: 4 Nov 4 Vestal (RK); fre¬ quent reports, particularly during the last week of Oct. Least Sandpiper: 2 Sep 7 Sherburne (R,SW). Northern Phalarope: 2 Aug 26 Ow'ego (MW,CG), no details. Herring Gull: Oct 13 CF (A,MD), the first fall report; regular after Oct 26; best counts 150 Nov 23 WP (MS) and 40 Homer Nov 15 (JAG). Ring-billed Gull: 9 Nov 23 Skan L (GS). Common Tern: 2 Aug 24 Skan L (GS); 1 Sep 7 Endwell (LB,DB). Caspian Tern: 1 Aug 24 Skan L (GS), “large size, bill and cap noted — compared with common tern —flight and sitting.” Mourning Dove: 10 still at Sher¬ burne Nov 23 (R,SW). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: Sep 1 Berkshire (ML,DL). Screech Owl: reported at Candor, Owego, Milford, Oxford and in the Triple Cities area. Barred Owl: 1 Sep 7 and another Oct 20 Milford (CW); Sep 21 Berkshire (ML, DL); Oct 15 Gilbert State Park (KW). Saw-whet Owl: 1 Sep 15 Candor (DW). 24 GOATSUCKERS—SHRIKES: Chimney Swift: last reported Sep 16 (LB,DB). Ruby-thrcated Hummingbird: 1 Sep 30 Oxford (AS). Pileated Woodpecker: 11 re¬ ports. Red-headed Woodpecker: 2 Sep 17 Richford (ML,DL). Yellow-bellied Sap- sucker: 3 Sep 5 to 25 Oxford (AS), “they really bother our hybrid elm.” Eastern Kingbird: Sep 13 NV (ML,DL), the last. Great Crested Flycatcher: Sep 14 Delhi (LC). Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 Sep 8 Milford (CW), the last of 3 reports. Tree Swallow: Sep 12 CF (A, MD). Barn Swallow: Sep 23 Berkshire (ML,DL). Cliff Swallow: Aug 26 Greene (C,JD). Blue Jay: numbers apparently back to normal after being so low last winter. Common Crow: 78 Nov 23 Skan L (GS); 90 Nov 24 Homer (JAG). Boreal Chickadee: 3 Nov 28 State Forest at Cortland (MH); one banded at Bing earlier in Nov (HM), Tufted Titmouse: regular at least 3 feeders in the Triple Cities area; 1 Sep 19, 20 and 21 EB (MB). Red-breasted Nuthatch: 2 Sep 15 EB (MB); present in moderate numbers thru Oct and in lesser numbers in Nov. Winter Wren: Sep 29 CF (A,MD); fairly frequent reports thru Oct 25, none after Nov 11. Carolina Wren: “all period” Owego (MW). Mockingbird: regularly seen in 2 Triple Cities locations; Nov 25 Blodgett Mills (Mrs. Langdon), during Nov in Cortland (L. Buttino) and McGraw (Horak), all in Cortland County. Catbird: 1 Oct 13 EB (MB), the last of normal migrants; Nov 1 Owego (MW). Brown Thrash¬ er: Nov 16 WP (ML,DL). Robin: for the most part gone after Nov 10. Wood Thrush: Oct 4 CF (A,MD). Hermit Thrush: Nov 15 Vestal (RK), the only report after Oct 24. Swain son’s Thrush: heard migrating at night Oct 3 (MS). Veery; Sep 17 Berkshire (ML,DL), Eastern Bluebird: Nov 24 McGraw (M.Card), the second of only 2 reports after Oct 26. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: Sep 30 NV (W,LD), the only fall record. Golden-crowned Kinglet: Sep 30 NV (W,LD), the first. Ruby- crowned Kinglet: Sep 20 Choconut Center, a couple of miles north of Johnson City, (MS); numerous all during Oct. Water Pipit: Oct 23 Berkshire (ML,DL). Northern Shrike: Nov 4 Candor (DW), the first of three records. VIREOS-WARBLERS: Yellow-throated Vireo: Sep 21 CF (A,MD) and Owego (MW). Solitary Vireo: 1 Oct 19 EB (MB). Red-eyed Vireo: 1 Oct 9 EB (MB); about 50 banded at Bing in Sep, all immatures (HM). Philadelphia Vireo: 1 banded Sep 12 Bing (HM); 2 Sep 30 EB (MB). Warbling Vireo: 1 singing Sep 26 Milford (CW), the last. Blue-winged Warbler: 1 Sep 17 EB (MB). Orange-crowned War¬ bler: 1 Sep 29 banded at Bing (HM). Yellow' Warbler: Sep 30 NV (W,LD). Magnolia Warbler: Oct 20 Oneonta (KW). Cape May Warbler: 1 Sep 26 Milford (CW). Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1 Oct 3 Oxford (AS). Myrtle Warbler: Sep 19 NV (W,LD) to Nov 26 Friendsville in nearby Pennsylvania (Claire Gottschall); seemed to be everywhere in mid Oct. Black-throated Green Warbler: 3 Oct 13 EB (MB). Blackburnian Warbler: 1 singing Oct 2 EB (MB). Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1 Sep 28 EB (MB)MB). Bay-breasted Warbler: Sep 16 CF (A,MD). Blackpoll Warbler: 1 Oct 9 EB (MB). Pine Warbler: 1 'Sep 16 EB (MB), the only one. Palm Warbler: Sep 14 Owego (MW), the first: 1 Oct 20 EB (MB), the last; 6 other re¬ ports. Ovenbird: 4 Oct 23 CF (A,MD). Northern Waterthrush: 1 Sep 24 Milford (CW). Yellowthroat: 1 Oct 13 EB (MB). Wilson’s Warbler: Sep 30 CF (A,MD), the last of 7 reports. Canada Warbler: 1 banded Sep 5 Bing (HM). American Red¬ start: 1 Oct 12 EB (MB), late. BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: Bobolink: Sep 23 Berkshire (ML,DL), late. Eastern Meadowlark: 3 still at Cortland Nov 30 (Connie Wilkins). Baltimore Oriole: Sep 28 Berkshire (ML,DL). Rusty Blackbird: 30-40’ Oct 10 Berkshire (ML, DL) to Oct 30. Scarlet Tanager: Oct 31 Owego (MW). Cardinal: male feeding 2 young Oct 2 and 3 Oxford (AS), Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1 Oct 3 EB (MB); numerous migrants. Indigo Bunting: Oct 13 NV (W,LD). Dickcissel: 1 Nov 28 Cortland (A. Morey), at feeder. Evening Grosbeak: Oct 20 Homer (Mrs. Forrest Wills); fairly frequent reports throughout the Region after Nov 6, but not really abundant. Purple Finch: Sep 19 banded at Bing (HM); “daily transients with max of 7 on Oct 6” EB (MB), written Oct 29; none at Deposit to Nov 30 (SW). Pine Grosbeak: Oct 20 Cortland 25 (JAG); 3 Nov reports. Common Redpoll: 40-50 Nov 15 Oxford (AS); frequent re¬ ports to the end of the period. Pine Siskin: 5 Oct 8 EB (MB); 75 Oct 15 Milford (GW), max; no more after Oct 21 but reported from most parts of the Region by then. Red Crossbill: 1 banded Nov 6 near Bing (Paul Kalka); 2 other reports before Nov 30. White-winged Crossbill: Nov 6 Deposit (SW), heard flocks; 2 other Nov reports. Rufous-sided Towhee: 1 still at Oneonta (KW) and another at Cortland (C. R. Shultes) Nov 25. Slate-colored Junco: Sep 15 Greene (CJD); 30 Sep 28 EB (MB); by the hundreds during the latter half of Oct and during Nov. Tree Sparrow: Oct 20 Endwell (Florence Linaberry); regular from Oct 30. Chipping Sparrow: Nov 12 Oneonta (Mrs. Gerald Wright), the only report after Oct 30 Harris’ Sparrow: 1 Oct 4 Candor (DW), “light colored bill conspicuous against the blackish face. The bib was black as was the top of the head. Just nicely separate from the bib and back a little along the sides were patches of blackish streaks on the light breast and flanks, — The black face so obscured the eyes they appeared absent.” White-crowned Sparrow: 4 Oct 5 Vestal (RK) to Oct 29 Oxford (AS) de¬ limit the main body of migrants; 2 Sep and 3 Nov reports. White-throated Sparrow: an immature and sickly looking sparrow' that had been present at the feeders near CF since Jun was finally recognized when it developed a white throat and the yellow spots ahead of each eye in Sep (A,MD); migrants Sep 17 at EB (MB). Fox Spar¬ row: 1 Oct 19 EB (MB); quite numerous but mostly gone by Nov 20. Lincoln’s Sparrow: Sep 20 Berkshire (ML,DL), first and Oct 12 Endicott (Michael Moore) the last; 8 reports altogether, an unusually high number, and twice they were heard singing. Snow Bunting: Oct 28, NV (ML,DL); 3 Nov reports from Cortland and the Triple Cities area. 710 University Ave., Endwell, N.Y., 13760 REGION 5 —ONEIDA LAKE BASIN M. S. Rusk and F. G. Scheider Dry in August, dry in September, dry in October —the driest August on record, and one of the driest autumns in years. Grass browned to pale, withered blades, marshes dried to the rusty tone of late October, mudflats became progressively bigger each day, and autumn leaves were generally poor in color and fast in falling. Insect life was scarcely detectable and never bothersome, as it often can be, to late August thru mid-September birding. Warm dry days with south and southwest winds made for a leisurely, Waveless migration, and concentrations of landbirds were con¬ spicuously absent; even in late September and early October waves of sparrows and kinglets were unimpressive, and small but steady daily movements of icterids, finches, and sparrows seemed to be the rule. A burst of fierce northwest winds, cold weather, and snow on October 21-23 triggered a tremendous push of Brant and other waterfowl with lesser numbers of late shorebirds and gulls. After this bout, November seemed mild, open, dry, and affable. Heavy ground snow, the best No¬ vember trigger to force out the icterids, did not occur until November 20-22. Weather thereafter was more typically wet, cold, and nasty. Moderate cone crops locally may hold some of the many winter finches reported, and the heavy berry crop, particularly Mountain Ash, Highbush Cranberry, and Black HaW, may induce half-hardies to linger in greater numbers. Positives for the season include: 1) increased sightings of Double-crested Cor¬ morant; 2) excellent Green Heron counts; 3) a spectacular Brant flight (q.v.); 4) an increase in numbers of both Oldsquaw and Ruddy Duck; 5; a minor irrup¬ tion of Goshawk; 6) an excellent variety of shorebirds with above average numbers for most species; 7) an outstanding flight of Red Phalarope; 8 )numerous sightings of jaegers and a variety of rare gulls (q.v.); 9) irruptions of Boreal Chickadee and 26 Red-breasted Nuthatch; 10) increase in Mockingbird reports; 11) a heavy fall flight of Robins and, to a lesser extent, of Cedar Waxwings; 12) a good flight of Red-eyed Vireos; 13) various irruptions of winter finches, primarily Evening Grosbeak, Redpoll, Pine Sisk in, and Red Crossbill; and 14) heavy migration of White-crowned, Fox, and Lincoln’s Sparrows. Negatives, of which there seem to be more each fall, are: 1) poor loon and grebe flight; 2) no white herons; 3) marked decrease in nearly all dabblers and Aythya diving ducks; 4) continued low numbers of Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, and Red¬ shouldered Hawks; 5) very poor flight of Rough-legged Hawk, Marsh Hawk, and Short-eared Owl; 6) an incredibly poor Horned Lark movement; 7) poor numbers of migrant swallows; 8) low tallies of both Winter and Long-billed Marsh Wrens and all Hylocichla thrushes; 9) a mediocre kinglet and vireo flight; 10) an exceptionally poor fall warbler migration, marked by early departure from both Adirondack and central New York (i.e. para-Syracuse) areas; and 11) continuing low tallies of meadow and grassland sparrows. Rarities for the period include: King Eider, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Whim- brel, all three phalaropes, two species of jaeger, Laughing Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Little Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Forster’s Tern, Western Kingbird, Boreal Chicka¬ dee, Bohemian Waxwing, Prothonotary Warbler, and Dickcissel. Abbreviations: DH—Derby Hill near Texas; FHBSP—Fair Haven Beach State Park; FR—Fox Ridge sugar beet waste impoundments near Port Byron; HIGMA— Howland Island Game Management Area near Port Byron; Onon—Onondaga; SB- Sylvan Beach; SP—Sandy Pond; SPI—Sandy Pond Ilet; SSSP—Selkirk Shores State Park near Pulaski; Syr—Syracuse; THP—Tug Hill Plateau; VB—Verona Beach. Observers: DWA-D. W. Ackley; VB—V. Billings; DC—D. Crumb; DD—D. Daw- ley; FLF-F. LaFrance; GM-G. Maxwell; B&SP-B. & S. Peebles; GP-G. Perrigo III; JWP-J. w. Propst; MSR-M. S. Rusk; FGS-F. G. Scheider; KS-K. Slotnick; GS-G. Smith; RJS-R. J. Sutliff; J&EVD-J. & E. VanDresar; CW-C. Wernick; mob—multiple observers. The editors’ abundant thanks to compilers F. LaFrance, J. W. Propst, and R. J. Sutliff. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: arr Sep 11 SP; max only 10 (very low) Nov 23 L Ontario (RJS). Red-throated Loon: date range Oct 18-22 1-2 per day L On¬ tario; no reports in Nov, usually the best month for them. Red-necked Grebe: noted Oct 30-Dec 6 on L Ontario and Onon L, 1-3 per day (DC, E. & E. Famham). Horned Grebe: arr 2 Oct 4 DH (MSB); max 95 (low) Nov 23 L Ontario. Double- crested Cormorant: max 4 Oct 22 DH (DC); all other sightings also L Ontario and none in Nov. Great Blue Heron: max 50 Aug 17 HIGMA (W. Benning, GS) attracted by fish concentrated in drained pool there. Green Heron: max roost tally 241 Aug 19 Horse¬ shoe Island in Clay Twp (S. Morgan, MSR,GS); also 40 Aug 24 HIGMA (RJS), 30 Aug 21 Black Creek Swamp near Lakeport (MS-R), and 25 Aug 17 near Trenton (J&EVD); dep Oct 12, 1 SP (FGS). No white herons. Black-crowned Night Heron: total of 7 individuals for fall — very, very low! — with max 2 Oct 4 Scott Swamp near Phoenix (MSR). American Bittern: dep Nov 9, 1 SP (GP). Canada Goose: arr Sep 25 N Syr and Syr; heavy flight —2000 N Syr, 800 Syr, 4000 Jamesville, and 1090 DH all Oct 14; also 800 Oct 4 Holland Patent (J&EVD;) max at HIGMA 2100 Oct 26. Brant: a truly spectacular flight — arr Oct 14, 185 DH (GS); huge flight of 8945 Oct 21 (JWP) and 4737 Oct 22 (DC) both DH; lesser numbers, 130-500 per day, to Nov 6; wounded birds about to Nov 23. Snow Goose: singles Oct 5 Oneida L (KS) and Oct 4 and 12 HIGMA (F. Dittrich, GS), and 2 Oct 20 Onon L (JWP). No Blue Goose reported. Mallard: 300 Old Fly in Pompey Twp in late Sep to Oct 8 (FLF); 300 Sep 24 VB (JWP). Black Duck: dropping rapidly locally—highest fall count only 290 Oct 14 DH (GS); high from HIGMA a mere 60 Oct 26 (MSR). Gadwall: max 45 Oct 26 27 HIGMA (MSR). Pintail: scarce this fall—max 190 Oct 18 DH (MSR); most counts below 50 per day even on L Ontario flight days. Green-winged Teal: 10-30 per day Sep 4 thru Oct- lesser numbers in Nov and scarce in latter half of that month. American Widgeon: 200-445 per day Oct 18-Nov 17, all L Ontario; all “inland,” i.e., away from L Ontario, counts below' 100 per day. Shoveler: fall max only 2 Oct 19 DH (FGS); a few 2-5 per day counts at Oneida L and Onon L where the spe¬ cies is unusual. Wood Duck: max evening flight 227 (low) Oct 4 Scott Swamp (MSR); concentrations at Clay and Black Greek Swamps did not develop this year as formerly. Redhead: max only 12 Oct 30 Oswego (GW); Beaver L counts never over 8 per day; Oneida L max 2 Nov 27 (GS). Ring-necked Duck: arr Oct 8, 1 Old Fly (F. Dittrich, FLF); max 240 (low) Oct 30 Beaver L (FGS). Canvasback: very scarce this fall—arr Oct 12, 1 female SP (FGS); max at Oneida L 280 Nov 26 (JWP) where 12 years ago they were recorded in the 10,000s. Greater and Lesser Scaup: no Oneida L count in excess of 600 per day; L Ontario max 300 Oct 14 DH (DC, GS); arr dates are Lesser Aug 24 Onon L (RJS) (summering bird?) and Greater Sep 11, 2 SP (FGS). Bufflehead: arr Oct 18 (late) 2 DH (MSR); max only 35 Nov 8 Onon L (FGS). Oldsquaw: L Ontario counts 50-120 per day thru Nov (mob), which is definitely up, probably the only fall diving duck that has shown an increase. KING EIDER : imm male Nov 26 Oneida L (FGS) is only report. White-winged Scoter: L Ontario counts 50-395 per day in Oct and early Nov (mob); no 1000 per days, even on the great Brant flight days. Surf Scoter: arr Oct 12, 3 SP (FGS); max 221 Oct 21 DH (JWP); singles and small groups on Oneida L and Onon L where usually scarce. Ruddy Duck: fall max 51 Nov 13 Onon L with lesser numbers (10-16 per day) at Beaver L; 1 Nov 23 at Sage Creek mouth on L Ontario and 2 Nov 6 at Tully L (both JWP) attest to the best fall flight of this species in years. Hooded Merganser: max 125 Oct 30 Beaver L (FGS) but other areas below 80 per day with best counts 78 Nov 9 at HIGMA (RJS) and 30 Nov 4 Old Fly (FLF). Red-breasted Merganser: numbers way down—only one day with 1000 per- 1300 SP-to-Oswego Nov 9 (MSR, FGS); most L Ontario counts less than 100 per day, and no inland count over that. HAWKS—OWLS: Goshawk: light fall flight with 5 in Oct and 8 in Nov, most along L Ontario (DCJWP). Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 in Aug, 5 in Sep, 3 in Oct, from 20 observers—obviously very scarce as fall migrant. Cooper’s Hawk: fall totals of 4 in Oct and 5 in Nov, again from 20 observers. Red-tailed Hawk: max migra¬ tion tally 7 Oct 12 Jamesville (DC); 1-5 per day throughout fall. Red-shouldered Hawk: total of 11 from 21 observers Aug 23-Nov 29. Rough-legged Hawk: arr Oct 25 (very late) 1 Mexico (JWP); max 8 Nov 22 DH-Pulaski (GP); very scarce in flatlands N of Syr; like Red-tailed, probably headed for a very poor winter locally, as there are no mice hereabout. BALD EAGLE: 4 reported—an ad Sep 3 Maple View (JWP), an imm Sep 29 Brewerton (DC,KS), 2 ad Oct 22 DH (DC). Marsh Hawk: no fall push noted—max 3 Sep 18 and Oct 5, both tallies Pompey Twp (FLF, DC). Osprey: best tally 4 Sep 21 West Canada Creek (MSR). PEREGRINE FAL¬ CON: singles only—Oct 4 SP (FLF,MSR,GS,RJS) and Nov 26 Nine Mile Point on L Ontario (JWP). Pigeon Hawk: 3 only—1 Aug 31 Boonville (J&EV'D), female or imm male Sep 20 Old Fly (FLF), and ad male Oct 5 near Texas (JWP). Sparrow Hawk: 9 in an hour Oct 5 SP (FGS); numerous Oct days with 5-7. Coot: max 89 Oct 26 Oneida L (GS); scarce at SP, FHBSP, and Beaver L. Shorebird variety was excellent throughout the fall, and numbers in Sep and early Oct were quite good. Outstanding was the fine flight of Red Phalarope in late Oct and into Nov, certainly the best ever reported here. Good numbers of Black- bellied Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, and Pectoral Sandpiper en¬ livened late Oct, and many singles remained into early Nov to provide records of 14 species in that month. Almost all lake areas other than the Finger Lakes had size¬ able shallows and mudflats, particularly Delta L and Oneida L; concentrations and 28 Arrival Date, No., Place Species Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Golden Plover Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone Common Snipe Upland Plover Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Knot Pectoral Sandpiper White-rumped Sand- piper Baird’s Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Dunlin Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher Stilt Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Sanderling Red Phalarope Jul 10, 1, SP (FGS) Aug 10, 1, Fernwood (MSR) Aug 11, 1, Fernwood (JWP) Jul 28, 2, Onon L (FGS) Jul 15, 1, Bolivar (MSR) Jul 3, 1, Onon L (JWP) Jul 2, 2, Onon L (GS) Sep 4, 1, SPI (FGS) Jul 17: 3, Onon L (GS) Aug 6, 1, Onon L (GS) Aug 23, 1 imm, Onon L (FGS) Jul 2, 1, Onon L (JWP) Sep 19, 1, Onon L (FGS) Jul 9, 6, 9 MiPt (JWP) Sep 26, 2, 9 MiPt (JWP) Jul 17, 1, Onon L (RJS) Jul 17, 1, Onon L (RJS) Aug 21, 1, Onon L (FGS) Jul 19, 1, SP (FLF, RJS) Oct 21, 1, DH (JWP) Northern Phalarope Sep 11, 1, 9 MiPt (FGS et al) Peak Count No., Date, Place 60, Sep 28, Delta L (DWA, FGS) 300, Sep 28, Delta L, (DWA, FGS) 50, Sep 28, Delta L (DWA, FGS) 22, Oct 23, Delta L (VB) 6, Sep 11, SP (FGS) 28, Oct 29, SSSP (JWP) 25, Aug 16, Syr Airport (FGS) 33, Jul 21, Onon L (RJS) 6, Sep 23, Delta L (DWA) 3‘5, Sep 14, Onon L (JWP) 280, Jul 18, Onon L (JWP) 6, Sep 7, SB & 9 MiPt (FGS) 76, Sep 28, Delta L & Black Creek Swamp (FGS) 3, Aug 7 (JWP) & Sep 27 (FGS) Onon L 4, Oct 4, Onon L (FGS) 174, Jul 21, Onon L (RJS) 236, Oct 19, SP (MSR) 6, Jul 19, FR (RJS) 6, Sep 28, FR (RJS) 19, Aug 9 (S. Hosier, GS) & 12, Sep 18 (MSR) Onon 310, Aug 7, Onon L (JWP) 3, Sep 1, SB (DWA) 50, Sep 21, SB-VB (DWA) 13, Oct 22, DH (DC), Date, No., Place Departure Nov 23, 1, Lakeview (FGS, RJS) & 1 FHBSP (MSR) Nov 16, 2, VB (B&SP) & 6 Skaneateles L (T. M. Riley) Nov 1, 1, N Syr (FGS) Nov 23, 1, SSSP (FGS) Sep 30, 1, SB (DWA) Nov 16, 4, Clay Swamp (FGS) Sep 1, 19, Oneida Airport (MSR) Oct 19, 1, Oswego (GM) Sep 28, 1, Delta L (FGS) Nov 12, 1, SB (B&SP) Nov 3, 1, Oswego (GM) Sep 21, 1, SP (FGS) Nov 9, 1, SP (GP) Nov 1, 3, N Syr (FGS) & 1, SSSP (RJS) Oct 29, 1, SSSP (JWP) Oct 15, 1, SB (DWA) Nov 26, 1, 9 MiPt (JWP) Oct 18, 1, Sage Creek (MSR) Sep 29, 1, FR (JWP) Oct 15, 1, SB (DWA) Nov 1, 1 each, SP (RJS), Onon L (MSR), SB (R&S. White) Oct 8, 1, 9 MiPt (JWP) Nov 23, 1, SPI (FGS) Nov 23, 1 each, Onon L(RJS) & FHBSP (MSR) Oct 22, 26, DH (DC) 26, Oct 22, DH (DC) variety from these last two water areas were particulary impressive. In the chart be¬ low, note the excellent numbers of both Yellowlegs, Least and Semipalmated Sand¬ pipers, Stilt Sandpiper, and Red and Northern Phalaropes; also the very early dep dates of Ruddy Turnstone, Upland Plover, Knot, and Baird’s Sandpiper; and finally that no Oct Long-billed Dowitchers were recorded. Amongst rare shorebirds must be included a WHIMBREL Sep 27 (late) at SPI (GP); also Purple Sandpiper: 1 Nov 9 SP (GP); 2 Nov 11 SB (R. & S. White); 1 Nov 23-25 Nine Mile Point (RJS, mob); at least 13 individual Western Sandpipers were noted, about double the number for a normal good fall flight; single WILSON’S PHALAROPES were recorded Aug 6-7 Onon L (FGS, mob) and Sep 26-29 Nine Mile Point (JWP, mob), the last a record dep date. Pomarine Jaeger: imm at 10 feet Sep 21 SPI (FGS) and ad dark-phase Oct 21 DH (JWP,GS). Parasitic Jaeger: max 4-1 ad light-phase and 3 imm Oct 21 DH (JWP); also 4 other singles Sep 11-29 all along L Ontario (FGS,DC); no Nov record of either species. Glaucous Gull: arr Oct 29 (very early) 1 ad DH (JWP); very scarce throughout Nov. No Iceland Gull in period. Great Black-backed Gull: arr Sep 11, 1 ad SPI; fall max 300 Nov 16 SPI (MSR) on 20mph SW wind. Herring and Ring-billed Gulls: great numbers gathered at SPI but Oneida L numbers quite low—fall maxima 3000 Herring Nov 16 SPI (MSR) and 1200' Ring-billed Nov 21 Syr dump (FGS). LAUGHING GULL : an ad in winter plumage Oct 6 at Onon L (FGS) following a severe SE gale is first record since 1967. FRANKLIN’S GULL: 2 ad Sep 27 and 1 Sep 28 SPI (GP) are the only fall records. Bonaparte’s Gull: fall max 100 Sep 7 SB plus SP (FGS); also 80 SPI Sep 13 (OS); very scarce, how¬ ever. thru Oct and Nov, with max of only 9 Nov 16 Oneida L. LITTLE GULL: an ad in winter plumage Aug 2:8 SPI (DC,FGS, R. Sundell) is first record since 1967. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: single imms Oct 19 DH (MSR,FGS) and Oct 31 Muskrat Bay, Oneida L(FGS), the latter the first record for Oneida L since a specimen was collected at Constantia in 1890. FORSTER’S TERN: an imm in winter plumage Aug 23-24 SPI (FLF,RJS) and 2 there Aug 30 (MSR). Common Tern: fall max 540 Sep 1 SB-VB (MSR); last noted Nov 3 (rather late) 4 Oneida L (FGS). Caspian Tern: fall max 43 Sep 7 SPI (GS); small numbers at other areas with most unusual record 1 Sep 15 at Red- field, Salmon R Reservoir in the THP (JWP); last noted Oct 22, 2 DH (DC) and Oct 25, 1 DH (GS). Mourning Dove: max 80 Sep 27 FR (JWP); very scarce in Nov with max only 8 Tully Valley (JWP). Screecn Owl: may be increasing slightly—tallies by month are 2 Aug, 11 Sep, 6 Oct, 11 Nov from 23 observers. Great Horned Owl: some high counts are 5 Oct 5 near Texas, 5 Nov 8 in SP area (GP), and 3 Black Creek Swamp (MSR); species seems down in swamps of Oneida L plain nearer to Syr. Barred Owl: present again (after 7 years) in swampy woods at Plainville (M. Bitz). Long¬ eared Owl: only fall report 1 Aug 23-30 Holland Patent (J&EVD). Short-eared Owl; only fall report is a single Nov 15 and 30 at Bridgeport (Mrs. B. Ellis); like Rough-legged Hawk, will be scarce locally as mice are down. Saw-whet Owl: imm 1st week of Nov at Syr (Mrs. I. Williams fide DC) is the only report. GOATSUCKERS—STARLINGS; Common Nighthawk: max 42 Sep 14 S Syr (JWP). Chimney Swift: dep date Sep 25, 6 Onon L (FGS). Ruby-throated Hum¬ mingbird: quite scarce—max 7 Aug 27 Redfield (JWP); dep date Sep 26 Syr (DD). Yellow-shafted Flicker: max only 60 Sep 19 SSSP (JWP); also 55 Sep 12 Pompey (DC); many scattered singles thru Nov. Red-bellied Woodpecker; new locations Three Rivers Game Mgt Area Sep 27 (GS) and Oswego Oct 28 (GM,CW). Yellow- bellied Sapsucker: protracted fall flight but no concentrations—3—4 per day as Sep and early Oct max; last is 1 Nov 1 Big Moose (B. Barnum)—very late for that loca¬ tion. Downy Woodpecker: max 15 Sep 11 Jamesville (DC), the only indication of movement thru the area. 30 WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 Oct 4 near Texas (FLF,RJS) and Oct 5 (JWP) is first record for Region since 1951. Eastern Phoebe: like Sapsucker, a protracted flight with no heavy days but 1-3 per day regularly reported to dep date Oct 27 (early), N Syr and Pratts Falls in Pompey Twp. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: scarce thru fall; last Sep 24 Syr (DD). Eastern Wood Pewee: 4-10 per day in Sep; dep Oct 15, 2 Jamesville (DC). Olive-sided Flycatcher: max 3 Aug 27 Redfield (JWP); dep Oct 15 (record late) 1 Pompey (FLF). Horned Lark: extraordinarily scarce thru fall-max only 45 Oct 13 DH (JWP); most observers had only 3-4 per day and some missed them this fall. Tree Swallow: max 8000 Sep 21 SP (FGS); most counts below 800 per day; dep Nov 1, 2 DH (FGS). Bank Swallow: max only 400 Aug 16 SP (RJ'S); dep dates Sep 27, 150 DH—late for so many—and last 8 Sep 28 FR (RJS). Bam Swallow: max only 800 SP Aug 24 (ridiculously low!—FGS); last 2 Oct 21 (very late) at DH (DCJWP, KS). Blue Jay: perhaps an irruption locally as increased numbers were observed by vir¬ tually every observer, with best counts 20—40 per day Sep 13-Oct 15 and some areas S of Syr maintaining good numbers thru Nov (D'CJWP). Black-capped Chickadee: flight in Oct with 450 Oct 13 (JWP,GS) and 598 Oct 29 (JWP) both DH; definitely more common in late Oct and thru Nov this fall. BOREAL CHICKADEE: first noted Oct 21, 1 DH (JWP); reports of up to 7 per day Pratts Falls Nov 5 (Ray Benson), and the total number reported is at least 20; still present in regular Adi¬ rondack locations at Big Moose (MSR). Tufted Titmouse: newly reported at SSSP in Sep (FGS) and at Fulton (4 birds—'Mrs. L. Palmer, Mrs. E. E. Erhardt). Red¬ breasted Nuthatch: good L Ontario flight with 11-12 per day in Sep; max 35 Sep 21 Pompey (DC); widely reported thru Nov. House Wren: dep date Oct 21, 1 DH (JWP). Winter Wren: poor fall flight with most reports 1-2 per day; however, max 12 Oct 3 Pompey Twp (DC); very scarce in Nov. Carolina Wren: still present at Oneida (J. Hodges fide DWA); N.B.—bred and raised 3 young there; most remarkable is one thru Nov at Big Moose (fide B. Bamum). Long-billed Marsh Wren: very scarce—max 6 Sep 4 SP; dep date Nov 1, 1 SP marshes (RJS). Mockingbird: definitely expanding locally with reports of 2 Aug 31 Boonville (J&EVD), 1 Oct 14 New Hartford (VB), and 2 Nov 4 Pompey (DC); appears to be prospering in the DeWitt-Fayetteville area, its local stronghold. Robin: very heavy fall flight—1000 Sep 27 FR (JWP); numerous Oct tallies of 100-750 per day everywhere (mob) with 60 still moving thru Nov 14 Pratts Falls (JWP). Hermit Thrush: arr Oct 1 (very late) 4 SSSP (JWP); 1-9 per day thru Oct with max 15 Oct 24 Pompey Twp (DC); 1 at Jamesville to Nov 26 (DC). Swain- son’s Thrush: arr Sep 10, 1 SS'SP (JWP); very poor fall flight with only 1-4 per day. Gray-cheeked Thrush: flight as poor as Swainson’s, if not worse—max only 2 per day Sep 12-Oct 5; dep for both Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Oct 21 Skaneateles (C. & E. Farnham), Eastern Bluebird: most reports 1-2 per day Sep 18-Nov 13 with max 19 Oct 15 North Bay (B&SP)—perhaps increasing slightly. Golden-crowned Kinglet: arr Sep 21, 3 Delta L (B&SP); max 150' Sep 28 SSSP, 150 Oct 12 FHBSP, and 120 Oct 18 SSSP (all MSR); counts away from L Ontario definitely much lower, 4-30 per day, with none above 65. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: arr Sep 10, 1 SSSP (JWP); Sep counts very low, 2-20 per day; max 250 Oct 13 SP dunes (GP) but most Oct counts much lower, 5—35 per day, with 60 per day only twice—Oct 12 and 15 FHBSP and Syr respectively (MSR). Water Pipit: arr Sep 21 (very late) 2 SP (FGS); max only 200 Oct 5 migrating down SP dunes; last Nov 13, 2 Oneida L (FGS). BOHEMIAN WAXWING: 1 Nov 23 with flock of 45 Cedar Waxwings at Nine Mile Point (RJS, FGS). Cedar Waxwing: summer flocks enlarged by young of the year—counts of 20-200 per day thru Oct, but numbers did decline thru Nov; Nov max 118 Nov 23 Oswego (GM,C. Leek). Knot: 1 Sep 9 ED-netted (C. Leek). Last dates for shorebirds, mostly from ED as follows: Black-bellied Plover: Nov 9 (GP). Killdeer: Nov 24 (JB). Woodcock: Nov 9 (GP). Spotted Sandpiper: Sep 20 (DG). Lesser Yellowlegs: Oct 12 (GP), Knot: Sep 13 (DG). Pectoral Sandpiper: Nov 8 (DG). White-rumped Sandpiper: Nov 8 (DG). Common Snipe: Nov 12 (JB). Dunlin: Nov 8 (DG). Purple Sandpiper: single birds as follows, Nov 8 ED and Stony Point, Nov 28 ED (DG). Great Black-backed Gull: sev Sep 9 ED- early (C. Leek); next noted Oct 25; present in small numbers along L Ont there¬ after. Black-legged Kittiwake: 1 Sep 2 ED-unconfirmed (G. A. Smith), very early even in this “Kittiwake year’Ed. Caspian Tern: last report Oct 12 (GP). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Ruby-throated Hummingbird: last date Sep 27 (JB). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: last date Oct 5 (DG). Eastern Kingbird: last date Sep 16 (JB), Eastern Phoebe: last date Oct 13 (DG). Tree Swallow’: last date Oct 25 (DG), House Wren: last date Sep 20 (DG). Hermit Thrush: last date Oct 18 (DG). Northern Shrike: 2 reports-November 22 near Henderson (LC), Nov 28 Stony Point (DG). BOREAL CHICKADEE: 3 seen Nov 9 Town of Mantague, Lewis County (LC). 35 VIREOS-WARBLERS: Last dates as follows: Red-eyed Vireo: Oct 1 (JB). Solitary Vireo: Sep 20 (DG). Black-and-white Warbler: Sep 7 (JB). Nashville Warhler: Sep 20 (DG). Myrtle Warbler: Oct 26 (JB). Magnolia Warbler: Sep 20 (DG). Black-throated Blue Warbler: Oct 12 (DG). Black-throated Green Warbler: Sep 28 (JB). Canada Warbler: Sep 12 (FC). Chestnut-sided Warbler: Sep 20 (DG). Palm Warbler: Sep 20 (DG). Redstart: Sep 20 (DG). BLACKBIRDS “SPARROWS: Scarlet Tanager: last date Oct 11 (DG). Rose¬ breasted Grosbeak: last date Sep 4 (JB), Evening Grosbeak: appeared in several localities about Nov 1. Common Redpoll: flocks noted early in Nov close to L Ont; many seen during remainder of month; heaviest fall flight in several years. Red Crossbill: 3 males on Nov 29 Town of Rodman (DG). Rufous-sided Towhee: last date Oct 18 (DG). Savannah Sparrow: last date Oct 25 (DG). Vesper Sparrow: last date Oct 25 (DG). OREGON JUNCO (pink-sided race): one appeared Nov 22 at Clinch feeder in the City of Watertown, carefully studied (FC,DG). Tree Sparrow: first noted Oct 25 (DG). Last dates for Chipping and White-crowned Sparrows: Oct 25 (DG). Fox Sparrow, not a common migrant; seen Oct 13 and 25 (DG) and Oct 23 (FC). Snow Bunting: first noted Oct 25; several flocks during November. DICKCISSEL: 1 present at feeder in Village of Canton for about one month (early Oct-early Nov) (fide Huddleston). 92 Clinton St. Gouvemeur, N.Y. 13642 REGION 7 — ADIRONDACK-CHAMPLAIN Harriet L. Delafield The late summer and early fall cone crop may have accounted for the winter finch (particularly crossbill) invasion of this season, though we all know that the movements of these species are unpredictable to say the least. No spectacular war¬ bler waves were reported. Late August and all of September were very damp; October brought 5 to 6 inches of snow to the higher elevations on the twenty-second and twenty-third. It was during the snowy period and a day or two thereafter that the largest number and variety of sparrows were seen at feeders in the Saranac Lake area. November also was extremely damp, ‘with only three days without measurable precipitation,” according to Bob Kampf of the Ray Brook “Hilltop Meteorological Observatory.” We think the paucity of records we have for that month rather notable —everyone was “sodden.” The details of the New York State Conservation Department Goose Observation seems worthy of inclusion here: “Migrating geese were observed and voluntarily re¬ ported as was done the previous year. Newcomb Area, Saranac Lake Area, Loon Lake Area, Brushton and Saranac Inn were the points of observation. The flights were over a longer period of time and less dramatic than in 1968 due to more favor¬ able weather this fall. October 4, 1969, with 27 flocks, was the day on which most geese moved with the days count at 1276.” Favorable weather for goose migration, we suppose, must have been the only favorable weather we had for humans which was during the first two weeks of October. 36 Our rarities were a White Pelican, a Ruddy Duck, a Peregine Falcon and a Cape May Warbler. Numbers of nuthatches have also been of interest. We welcome one of our finest and most faithful observers, Joseph Keji, to Sa¬ ranac Lake but we will be sorry to lose his Ray Brook observations. Observers: EA—Elizabeth Anderson; GC —Geoffrey Carleton; GTC—Greenleaf T, Chase; HD—Harriet Delafield; FLaF—Ferdinand LaFrance; JK—Joseph Keji; R. McK—Robert McKinney; GM—Gordon Meade; JM—Jim Meade; HMR—Howard and Margaret Read; MAS—Mary Ann Sunderlin; HT—Helen Taylor; JT—Joseph Taylor; JHT—Joseph and Helen Taylor. Abbreviations: Amp B—Ampersand Bay; Aus—Ausable; B—Bay; B—Brook; B’dale— Bloomingdale; E’town—Elizabethtown; L—Lake; LP—Lake Placid; Mad—Madawas- ka; MOB—Many Observers; P—Pond; Pk—Park; P’ville—Peasleeville; R—River; RB— Ray Brook; S'L—Saranac Lake; TL—Tupper Lake. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 migrating L Colby Oct 12 (JK); Oct 15 (GTC). Pied-billed Grebe: 3 Sept 27, 2 Nov 2 L. Champlain near Peru (HMR). WHITE PELICAN: 1 Oct 19 near Tupper Lake (See Field Note this issue). Great Blue Heron: 1 Oct 2 Aus Point Pk (HMR). American Bittern: 1 Sept 4 Coreys comer between SL & TL (JK). Canada Goose: no numbers given, flocks E’town 8 am to 11 pm weather clear, no moon Oct 4 (GC); 13 Oct 27 Brown Tract P's, Town of Inlet (FLaF); 35 Sept 29, 50 Oct 7, 26 Oct 26 Peru (HMR); 7 Sept 27, 29 Sept 30, 100+ Oct 8 SL (EA,HD); 8 Oct 18 Grass P near Loon L (HT); 40 Grass P, 35 Duck P Oct 20 (GTC); observations conducted by Conservation Dpt, Franklin and western Essex Cos Sept 23 thru Nov 12: no of flocks 69, est total 4500 (see introduc¬ tion). Snow Goose: 4 Nov 1 L Alice, 15 Nov 10 Drowns L near Ellenburg (GTC). Blue Goose: 5 Oct 14 SL airport (GTC). Mallard: 40 L Alice, 35 Kings B, L Champlain near Plattsburgh Oct 6 (GTC). Black Duck: 100 L Alice, 150 Oct 6 Kings B (GTC); few other areas; last 6 L Colby Oct 7 (EA,HD). Green-winged Teal: 1 Oct 6 L Alice (GTC). Blue-winged Teal: 45 Oct 6 L Alice (GTC). Wood Duck: 4 Oct 1 Fish Creek at Forest Home Rd (EA); 20 Oct 6 L Alice (GTC). Ring-necked Duck: L Kiwassa with young Aug 23 (GM); 300 Oct 6 L Alice (GTC). Scaup: 4 Oct 31 Moose R recreation area, Town of Inlet (FLaF); 300 Oct 6 Kings B (GTC). Common Goldeneye: 1 female Sept 1 Peru (HMR); 6 Oct 31 Moose R (FLaF). White-winged Scoter: Nov 6 Westport (GC). Common Scoter: 2 Nov 6 Westport (GC). RUDDY DUCK : 1 Oct 14 small pond on way from RB to SL, first spotted by EA later studied through 20X scope by EA & HD. Hooded Mer¬ ganser: 3 Uncas Trail, Town of Inlet (FLaF); 7 Nov 16 Lewis (GC). Common Merganser, few Aug 26 Waw'beek, rd to Floodwood (mob); 20 Oct 31 Moose R (FLaF). HAWKS-OWLS: Goshawk: 1 Aug 30 rd to Mad (JT,MAS); 1 Oct 25 Uncas Trail; 3 Oct 31 Moose R (FLaF); 1 Oct 17, Nov 17, E’town (GC). Red-tailed Hawk; 1 Oct 26 Uncas Trail (FLaF). Red-shouldered Hawk: 2 Sept 21 Peru (HMR). Broad-winged Hawk: 1 Sept 21 Peru (HMR); 1 O'ct 12 Wilmington (RMcK), Marsh Hawk: 1 Aug 27 Normans Ridge near Vermontville (HT); 1 Oct 10 Peru (HMR). Osprey: 1 Aug 30 RB (JK); 1 Sept 21 Aus R at Jay (HMR); 1 Oct 7 L Colby (HD). PEREGRINE FALCON : 1 Oct 6 L Alice carefully identified by hawk expert GTC. Sparrow Hawk: 2 Aug 30 rd to Mad, a pair has bred there for at least three years; 5 Sept 21 Peru (HMR). Spruce Grouse: 4 Aug 30 Mad (MAS, JT). Ruffed Grouse: probably more than the few reported; EA,HD,HT,&JT were lucky enough to see five immature at close range on a very back rd near the Salmon R Oct 18. Ring-necked Pheasant: 1 Sept 29 Peru (HMR). Semipalmated Plover: 5 Oct 6 L Alice (GTC). Killdeer: 4 Sept 1 Normans Ridge (JK); 1 Oct 7 Peru 37 (HMR). American Golden Plover: 4 Aug 19 Willsboro (HD,GM). American Wood¬ cock: 1 Oct 4 P’ville (HMR); 1 Oct 13 Sabbatis (RMcK). Common Snipe: 2 Sept 1, 3 Sept 5 Peru (HMR). Upland Plover: 1 Sept 26 near Peru (GTC). Yellowlegs: 10 Oct 6 L Alice (GTC). Least Sandpiper: 12 Aug 19 Willsboro (HD,GM). Herring Gull: 1 or 2 Upper and Lower Saranac Ls and Saranac R (mob); 100 Oct 15 Peru (HMR). Ring-billed Gull: '100 Sept 20 Plattsburgh golf course (HMR); 10 Aug 19 Willsboro (HD,GM). Bonaparte’s Gull: 1 Sept 26 over shopping center Plattsburgh (HMR). Mourning Dove: 2 Sept 21 Franklin Falls Rd near B’dale (JK). Black-billed Cuckoo: 1 Aug 30 rd to Mad (MASJT). Barred Owl: 1 Oct 13 Wilmington (RMcK). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING; Common Nighthawk: 1 Aug 15 & 18 RB; 1 Sept 5 & 23 SL (JK); 1 Aug 30 rd to Mad (MSJT). Chimney Swift: largest no 7 on Aug 23 RB (JK); 2 Aug 24 Warbeek (MAS). Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1 or 2 SL and RB; last feeding at sugar water SL Sept 26 (GTC). Belted Kingfisher: 1 Aug 30 rd to Mad (MASJT); 1 Oct 28 Saranac R near SL (JK); 1 Sept 21 Peru (HMR). Yellow-shafted Flicker: not as large migrating nos as usual (HD); last late, Nov 14 North Elba (GC). Pileated Woodpecker: these eye-catching birds do not seem to be declining though the larger nos are in the more southern part of Region 7; 3 Oct 29, Brown Tract Ps, 2 Nov 1 Moose R (FLaF). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: last Sept 26 SL (JK). Hairy Woodpecker: 1 or few all areas. Downy Woodpecker: especially good year in woods; 8 Oct 27 Brown Tract Ps (FLaF). Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: 1 Oct 28 Uncas Trail “approached to within 20 ft” (FLaF). Eastern Kingbird: 1 Aug 19 near Ausable Forks (HD,GM); 1 Sept 14 SL (JK). Eastern Phoebe: last after snowstorm Oct 24 SL (EA). Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 1 Aug 16 E’toWn (GC). Least Flycatcher: last Aug 30 rd to Mad (MASJT). Eastern Wood Pewee: 1 Aug 22 Giant Mt near St Huberts (JM); 4 Aug 20 thru Sept 1 RB (JK); 2 Aug 31 Wawbeek (MAS); 2 Aug 30 rd to Mad (MASJT). Olive-sided Fly¬ catcher:! Aug 18 RB (JK); 1 Aug ’22 Giant Mt (JM); 1 Aug 30 “late date for continuous call” E’town (GC). Horned Lark: early 2 Oct 18 Normans Ridge (HD et al); 25 Oct 28 Peru (HMR); 12 Nov 9 Ross Pk near Keesesmills (GTC). Tree Swallow: 3 Aug 24 Wawbeek (MAS); uommon in Sept Peru (HMR). Barn Swal¬ low: common thru Aug; last 2 Sept 11 SL (HD). Cliff Swallow: 1 Aug 18 RB (JK). Gray Jay: 6 Aug 30 (MASJHT); 2 Oct 21 Uncas Trail, 3 Oct 29 Brown Tract Ps; 1 Nov 1 Moose R (FLaF). Blue Jay: resident nos same as other years; 40 Oct 27 Brown Tract Ps (FLaF). Common Raven: 1 Nov 9 Ross Pk (GTC). Common Crow: few thru period, 50+ Aug 27 Normans Ridge (HT); 100-200 Oct 15 thru 30 Peru (HMR); 150 Oct 27, 8 Oct 28 SL (EA,HD). Black-capped Chickadee: same as other years. Boreal Chickadee: at Mad, if at first you don’t succeed, etc. HD,JH, MAS); no numbers given Giant Mt Aug 22 (JM); I Oct 30 Uncas Trail (FLaF). White-breasted Nuthatch: few all areas as usual; most unusual 22 Oct 27 Brown Tract Ps (FLaF) Red-breasted Nuthatch: as above except 61 Oct 27 Brown Tract Ps (FLaF). Brown Creeper: 1 Aug 26 rd to Floodwood (MS); 2 Oct 23 SL (JK); 1 Oct 25 Cedar R (RMcK); 6 Oct 27 Brown Tract Ps (FLaF). Winter Wren: still singing Sept 20, 21 L Kiw'assa (GM); 1 Oct 26 & 27 Uncas Trail and Brown Tract Ps (FLaF). Catbird: last Sept 28 SL (JK). Brown Thrasher: 1 Sept 14 SL (JK). Robin: largest migrating no SL 22 Oct 18 (Palmer); 7 after 6 inches snow Oct 22 & 23 SL (GTC). Wood Thrush: 2 Oct 22-23 SL (GTC). Hermit Thrush: 2 Oct 26 SL (JK); 1 Oct 25 & 28 Uncas Trail, 1 Oct 31 Moose R (FLaF). Swainson’s Thrush: 1 Nov 3 SL (JK). Veery: 1 Sept 2 SL (JK); 1 Oct 4 P’ville (HMR). East¬ ern Bluebird: seems to be on the comeback, nos from 4 to 5 reported all areas, using boxes put up for them in Ross Pk; HMR report a “wave of bluebirds”; 12 Sept 20 Vermontville (Tyler). Golden-crowned Kinglet: 2 Aug 26 rd to Floodwood (JT); 6 Oct 27 Brown Tract Ps (FLaF); 2 Oct 11 Peru (HMR). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: last 1 Out 31 SL (HD). Cedar Waxwing: young out of nest Aug 28 RB; 38 75 + Sept 16, last 10 Oct 2 SL (JK); 10 Oct 11 Peru (HMR). Stalling: few too many could be found around civilization most days. VIREOS-WARBLERS: Solitary Vireo: 1 Aug 18 & 25 RB, 1 Sept 16 SL (JK). Red-eyed Vireo: 1 still singing Sept 20-21 L Kiwassa (GM). Black-and-white War¬ bler: 1 Aug 18 and 20 RB (JK); 1 Aug 30 rd to Mad (MASJHT). Nashville War¬ bler: last Sept 26 SL (JK). Magnolia Warbler: Aug 22 Giant Mt (JM). CAPE MAY WARBLER ; 1 Aug 22 E’town (GC). Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1 Sept 9 SL (JK). Myrtle Warbler: common migrant, last Oct 26 SL (JK). Black-throated Green Warbler: common thru Aug, last Oct 24 SL (JK), Blackburnian Warbler: last 1 Aug 31 Wawbeek (MAS). C'hestnut-sided Warbler: 2 Aug 20 thru 22 RB (JK); 1 Aug 26 Floodwood (JT). 'Ovenbird: Aug 22 Giant Mt (JM). Yellow- throat: 1 Aug 20 vicinity Keeseville (HD,GM); 4 Aug 31 Wawbeek (MAS). Wil¬ son’s Warbler: 1 Sept 29 SL (JK). Canada Warbler: 2 Aug 26 Floodwood (JT); 1 Sept 26 SL (HD). American Redstart: last 1 Aug 30 rd to Mad (MASJT). BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: House Sparrow: this species seems to be on the decline, largest no reported 30 Sept 16 SL (JK). Eastern Meadowlark: 1 Oct 3 SL (HD); 8 late migrants for higher elevations Normans Ridge Oct 18 (EA,HD,JHT); 20 Peru Oct 20 (HMR). Redwinged Blackbird; 35+ Oct 31 Moose R Plains (FLaF); 1 or 2 thru period SL (EA,HD). Baltimore Oriole: 1 Sept 8 SL (JK). Rusty Blackbird: 6 Aug 25 rd to Mad (MAS); 1 Nov 11 SL (JK). Common Grackle: many in “blackbird” flocks from Aug 31 thru Oct 10 northern Adirondacks; 1 thru Nov 26 SL (HD). Brown-headed Cowbird: same as above except 1 thru Nov 27 (HD). Scarlet Tanager: 3 Aug 26 rd to Floodwood (JT et al); last Oct 1 SL (JK); 1 late E’town Oct 7 (GC). Cardinal: 1 male Nov 21 Westport (GC); pair Nov 30 SL Rectory feeders (Hill & Alford). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 6 Aug 30 rd to Mad (MASJT); 1 calling Sept 20 & 21 L Kiwassa (GM). Evening Grosbeak: last feeding young Sept 23 SL (GTC); flocks of 25+ beginning Nov 23 SL (JK&HD); also re¬ ported from Hamilton Co, Oct. Purple Finch: thru period SL (JK&HD>C); no reports from other places. Pine Grosbeak: 4 Oct 18 Cedar R (RMcK); 3 Nov 16 E’town (GC); 1 Nov 20 SL (JK). Common Redpoll: 35 Oct 22 !SL, 10 Oct 25 (EA); 50 Oct 29 SL (GTC); 30 Oct 25, 40 Nov 18 Cedar R (RMcK); 20' Nov 17 Lewis; flocks Nov 21 E’town (GC). Pine Siskin: Aug 7 L Kiwassa (GM); 10 Aug 31 Wawbeek (MAS); 70+ Oct 23 SL (JK); 100+ Oct 25 Forest Home rd near Saranac Inn (HD); 60 Oct 29 SL (GTC). American Goldfinch: few thru period RB & SL (JK&HD); 3 Sept 21 Peru (HMR). This has been a great year for crossbills of both species, Red and White-winged, 10 20, 30, 60; our last report was that the woods were full of them, we cannot begin to sort them out as to individual dates and num¬ bers. Rufous-sided Towhee: 1 Sept 22 E’town (GC). Vesper Sparrow: no numbers or dates Peru (HMR). Slate-colored Junco: “junco day” Oct 18, many kept flying up from the side of the road from SL to Salmon R and back; last numbers 50 Oct 26 Peru (HMR); 9 Nov 23 SL (HD). Tree Sparrow: 3 Oct 28 Uncas Trail (FLaF); 2 Oct 27 Peru (HMR); 1 Nov 9 Ross Pk (GTC); first Oct 28 SL (HD). Chipping Sparrow: 5 to 20 all areas until mid-Oct, last Oct 26 SL (JK); 5 immature Oct 18 north of Vermontville (JT et al). Field Sparrow: two late records, 1 Oct 24 SL (HD); 2 Oct 28 Uncas Trail logging camp clearing (FLaF). White-crowned Spar¬ row: decidedly down in numbers; HD usually has a flock of 8, this year 2 was largest numbers; perhaps they stayed in the woods because of large cone crop. White-throated Sparrow: 1 to 5 all areas up until last week in Oct. Fox Sparrow: 5 Oct 22-23 SL (GTC); 2 Oct 25-26 SL (EA,HD); 1 Oct 31 Moose R (FLaF). Song Sparrow: 5 Oct 23 SL (EA,HD); last Nov 28 SL (JK). Snow Bunting: 50 + Oct 28 Normans Ridge (HD); 2 Nov 1 Moose R (FLaF). Trudeau Road, Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983 39 REGION 8 — HUDSON-MOHAWK Hazel F. Bundy The average temperature for the last half of August was close to normal, although the extreme temperatures varied considerably; there was virtually no rainfall. The first half of September was unseasonably w'arm, with a reverse trend of unseasonably cool weather from the 18th on; rainfall was only 2.06 inches—1.52 inches less than normal; three-fourths of the precipitation occurred on the 6th, 7th, and 8th. October was a little cooler than usual, and still dry, with 1.55 inches of rainfall—1.22 inches less than normal. November brought much rain and snow, with an excess precipita¬ tion of 3.01 inches, just about making up for the deficiency in September and Octo¬ ber. (Weather data taken at the Albany Airport) Major migration movements included September 5 and 6, when large numbers of warblers were reported, and several days beginning with September 19, when cold weather triggered considerable activity. Conditions were highly unfavorable for shorebirds—virtually no mud flats in the area, with the expected result of very few records of shorebirds, except for the unusual appearance of many Dunlin. There were many bright spots in the fall report. Several Red-necked Grebes were reported instead of one or none as in the last three years. Waterfowl were in good supply, with a considerable increase in the numbers of Oldsquaws and White¬ winged Scoters. Several Goshawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks were recorded. There appeared to be a minor invasion of Boreal Chickadees. The warbler count was much higher than usual, especially for Blackpolls, Purple Finches, Common Redpolls, Slate-colored Juncos, and Wnite-throated Sparrows were abundant, and a large flock of Red Crossbills was observed. Of unusual note were reports on the following: Snow Goose, Golden Eagle, and Yellow-breasted Chat. Observers cited more than once: DA—Douglass Allen; GB—Guy Bartlett; HFB— Hazel Bundy; L&VB—Lee and Virginia Burland; JB— James Bush; PC—Paul Connor; JC—Juanita Cook; RD—Roland Drowne; P&GE—Paul and Georgia Erlenbach; MWF —Mabel W. French; M&AG—Murray and Alice Giddings; WG—William Gorman; EH—Esly Hallenbeck; MK—Marcia Kent; CK—Clarissa Ketcham; RMcC—Robert Mc¬ Cullough; WDM—Will Merritt, Jr,; MM—Mary Mickle; PM—Philip Mickle; ER— Edgar M. Reilly, Jr.; WBS—Walton Sabin; BRS—Benton Seguin; NS—Natalie Snare; M&WU-M. and W. Uliner; RPY—Robert Yunick; bsh—Guy Bartlett, Benton Seguin, Barrington Havens; ADBC—Alan Devoe Bird Club; HMBC—Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club. Area compilers: Rena Dodd, Betty Laros, and Clarissa Ketcham. Abbreviations: AR—Alcove Reservoir; BC—Basic Reservoir; Cton—C'astleton; CL— Collins Lake; GL—Galway Lake; Gr—Greenville; KPB—Karner Pine Barrens; Mville —Mariaville; Nisk—Niskayuna; SL—Saratoga Lake; Sch Ctr—Schodack Center; SCR —Stony Creek Reservoir; TR—Tomhannock Reservior; VFG—Vischer Ferry Game Management Area; WPWS—Wilson M. Pow'ell Wildlife Sanctuary. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: from Sep 28 SL (BRS) thru period. Red- throated Loon: three reports, all at SL—1 Oct 26 (HMBC); 1 Nov 8 (bsh); 2 Nov 27 (BRS). Red-necked Grebe: reported from three different lakes—1 Oct 30 CL (EH); to end of period SL with max 3 Nov 8 (bsh); 2 Nov 1 GL (HMBC). Horned Grebe: 2 Oct 18 TR (HMBC) thru period; max 30 Nov 8 SL (bsh). Pied¬ billed Grebe: reports from several areas—from Sep 7 Cton (JC) to Nov 30 Columbia Co (ADBC). Double-crested Cormorant: 1 Sep 19 flying north over Mville (DA). Great Blue Heron: frequent reports; max 12 Sep 26 VFG (RPY); last 1 Nov 13 SCR (EH). Green Heron: a few reports from four different areas; last Oct 5 Cton 40 (JC). Black-crowned Night Heron: 1 seen and 2 heard at dusk Aug 20 Mohawk R at Nisk (RPY). American Bittern: Sep 16 Ghent (P&GE); Sep 30 WPWS (ER). Canada Goose: first flock—50 Oct 1 Gr (CK); most flocks between 150 and 250, in general smaller than those of the previous year. SNOW GOOSE in unprecedented numbers; three reports for Nov 3-250 Saratoga Co (bsh), 500 Saratoga Co (fide MK), and 450 Rensselaer Co (fide MK); a spectacular flock of 1500 Nov 4 over Watervliet Reservoir (bsh); singles reported from three other areas. Mallard: good numbers seen. Black Duck; large numbers reported, including 600 Nov 15 AR and BR (HMBC). Gadwall: 1 Oct 26 Gr (CK); 4 Nov 22 SCR (bsh); 4 Nov 27 SCR (BRS). Pintail; from 2 Sep 21 SCR (EH,RMcC) to 3 Nov 15 AR (HMBC). Green-winged Teal: 20 Sep 16 SCR (EH) thru period; max 40 Nov 15 (bsh). Blue-winged Teal: last report late—4 Nov 15 WPWS (ER). American Wid¬ geon: in small numbers—from Sep 28 SCR (BRS) to Nov 15 BR (HMBC). Wood Duck: reports include-max 50 Sep 24-30 CL (EH); 200 Oct 25 WPWS (ER); late date of Nov 18 WPWS (ER,RD). Redhead: 1 Oct 25 SL (bsh); 2 Nov 27 SL (BRS). Ring-necked Duck: several Nov reports; max 90 Nov 1 GL (HMBC). Can- vasback: 2 arr Oct 26 SL (HMBC); max 45 Nov 15 AR and BR (HMBC). Scaup: 5 Oct 18 TR (HMBC) thru period; max 175 Oct 26 SL (HMBC) and 150 Nov 15 AR and BR (HMBC). Common Goldeneye: Oct 26 SL (HMBC) thru period; max 250 Nov 23 SL (EH,RMcC). Bufflehead: 30 Oct 26 SL (HMBC) thru period. Old- squaw: more numerous than usual; 13 Oct 26 SL (HMBC) thru period; max 30 Oct 29 SL (bsh). White-winged Scoter: 5 Oct 27 SL (BRS) thru period; max 30 Nov 15 AR and BR (HMBC). Surf Scoter: 2 Oct 18 TR and 1 Oct 26 SL (HMBC). Common Scoter: rom Oct 17 Queechy L (MM) thru period; max 26 Oct 20 1 Feather- stonehaugh L (DA). Ruddy Duck: several scattered reports from Oct 5 SCR (BRS) thru period; Nov 1-30 Queechy L (RD). Hooded Merganser: Oct 4 WPWS (ER) to 6 Nov 28 GL (E'H); max 20 Oct 29 SL (bsh). Common Merganser: 6 arr Sep 26 Hudson R in Warren Co (EH); max 50 Nov 29 SL (bsh). Red-breasted Mer¬ ganser: 24 Oct 26 SL (HMBC) thru period. HAWKS-OWLS: Turkey Vulture: last report-3 Nov 15 WPWS (ER). Gos¬ hawk: 1 Oct 12 near Hadley (Barrington Havens); 1 Slingerlands and 1 KPB Nov 23 (WBS). Sharp-shinned Hawk: singles—Oct 7 Catskill (JB); Oct 19 (EH); Oct 25 and Nov 2 Sehodack (L&VB). Cooper’s Hawk: three scattered reports. Red-tailed Hawk: max —20 Nov 16 and 22 Nov 23 (bsh). Red-shouldered Hawk: 2 Aug 21 Saratoga Co (EH); five scattered reports from Sep 21 to Nov 15. Broad-winged Hawk: six reports; last Oct 5 Jewett (CK). Rough-legged Hawk: arr Oct 26 in two localities; max 4 Nov 30 Coxsackie (JB). GOLDEN EAGLE: 1 observed at Hills¬ dale for four hours Oct 24 (N ! S); 1 found dead in the same area Nov 6, and identi¬ fied at the Delmar Game Farm (ADBC). Bald Eagle: 1 observed soaring over the General Electric plant in Waterford Aug 25 (John Bradley, John Saville). Marsh Hawk: frequent reports from Sep 7 to Nov 16. Osprey: Aug 23 VFG (RPY) to Oct 9 W. Glenville (EH). Sparrow Hawk; seemed scarce. Bobwhite: reported only in Columbia Co (mob). Virginia Rail: 1 Aug 20 Mohawk R at Nisk (RPY); 1 imm Sep 3 Gr (CK), Common Gallinule: missed entirely! American Coot: arr Sep 20 Old Pond (H. Tank); small numbers thru period, with max 30 Nov 1 GL (HMBC). Semipalmated Plover: only one—Oct 19 Sacandaga Reservoir (DA), Killdeer: widely reported; max 50 Oct 15 TR (PC); last Nov 16 (bsh,EH). American Wood¬ cock: last—12 Oct 17 Catskill (JB). Common Snipe: max 9 Oct 30 CL (EH). Up¬ land Plover: last at Craig School Nisk Aug 21 (RPY); last report—Sep 12 Sch Ctr (PC). Spotted Sandpiper: only two reports, both singles—Aug 24 Warren Co (EH); Nov 1 Sacandaga Reservoir (DA). Solitary Sandpiper: only one—Sep 24 Ghent (P&GE). Greater Yellowiegs: Sep 6 (CK) to Nov 8 (bsh); max 28 Oct 19 SCR (EH). Lesser Yellowiegs: only three reports—last Oct 31 (bsh). Pectoral Sandpiper: 15 Oct 5 Medusa Swamp (CK); six additional reports of 1 to 4 individuals; last Nov 1 GL (HMBC). Least Sandpiper: only two reports—'2 Sep 14 Papscanee Creek 41 (PC) and 1 Oct 15 TR (PC). Dunlin: 4 Oct 15 TR (PC) to 4 Nov 16 GL (EH); large flocks-30 Oct 18 TR (HMBC), 30 Nov 1 GL (HMBC), and 40 Nov 8 GL (EH); four additional reports. Semipalmated Sandpiper: 2 Oct 9 GL (EH). Bonaparte’s Gull: singles—Oct 25 and Nov 3 SL (bsh). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: Sep 16 and 24 Ghent (P&GE). Black-billed Cuckoo: singles Sep 20 and 27 banded VFG ( WDMJRPY). Screech Owl: reported from 7 areas. Great Horned Owl: re¬ ported from 7 areas. Barred Owl: heard in Jenny Lake area (GB); 1 Oct 20 Chat¬ ham (M&AG). Saw'-whet Owl: only one—banded Oct 19 VFG (WDM,RPY). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Common Nighthawk: unusual migration reports of 200+ Aug 29 Gr (CK), and 100 Sep 28 over Old Chatham (ER), Chimney Swift: max 50+ Sep 20 VFG (RPY); last Sep 28 VFG (RPY). Ruby-throated Humming¬ bird: 54 netted VFG banding station from Aug 2 to Sep 28, a considerable increase over previous year (WDM,RPY). Belted Kingfisher: requent reports. Yellow-shafted Flicker: max 4 Nov 9 (bsh). Pileated Woodpecker: reported from at least 5 areas. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: reported from 4 areas; last Oct 18 WPWS (ER). Eastern Kingbird: last Oct 13 Chatham (M&AG). Great Crested Flycatcher: last report-1 banded Sep 27 VFG (WDM,RPY). Eastern Phoebe: to Nov 10 Gr (CK) Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: Sep 4 and 5 Loudonville (MWF); 29 banded from Aug 3 to Sep 13 VFG, a considerable increase (WDM,RPY). Traill’s Flycatcher: 16 banded from Aug 1 to Sep 6 VFG (WDM,RPY), an increase recouping the loss of the previous year; 2 Sep 11 Nisk (RPY). Least Flycatcher: declined significantly at VFG banding station (RPY). Eastern Wood Pewee: last Sep 30 (EH). Tree Swallow: last Sep 21 (EH,RMcC). Bank Swallow: last—4 Sep 28 (BRS). Rough-winged Swallow: to Sep 7 Hillsdale (NS). Barn Swallow: to Sep 21 (EH, RMcC). Black-capped Chickadee: max 50 Oct 18 TR (HMBC). Boreal Chickadee: 2 Nov 15 thru period at Mr. Poliak’s feeder Nisk (fide RPY); 6 Nov 30 Tygert (bsh). Red-breasted Nuthatch: max 30 Oct 15 TR (PC), Brown Creeper: early migrant Aug 9 VFG (WDM,RPY). House Wren: last Oct 10 (WG), with the excep¬ tion of a very late date of Nov 29 at Leeds (Jeoffrey Carlton). Winter Wren: re¬ ported from about 10 areas. Long-billed Marsh Wren: last—1 banded Oct 5 VFG (WDM,RPY). Catbird: last-Nov 15 WPWS (ER). Brown Thrasher: last Nov 3 Catskill (JB). Robin: max 100+ Oct 17 Mville (DA); most disappeared by Nov 7 (bsh). Wood Thrush: last Oct 5 Gr (CK). Hermit Thrush: from Oct 5 VFG (WDM,RPY) to Nov 29 Nisk (RPY). Swainson’s Thrush: Sep 20 Ghent (P&GE); Sep 5-Oct 12 VFG (WDM,RPY). Gray-cheeked Thrush: 1 banded Sep 27 VFG (WDM,RPY). Veery: last Oct 5 VFG (WDM,RPY). Eastern Bluebird: reported thru Nov Columbia Co (RD); max—15 Oct 15 Gr (CK), and 12 Oct 18 Catskill (JB). Golden-crowned Kinglet; arr Sch Ctr Oct 5 (PC). Ruby- crowned Kinglet: first Ghent Sep 11 (P&GE); throughout period. Water Pipit: re¬ ported widely; from Sep 24 Ghent (P&GE) to Nov 10 Cton (JC); max 100 Oct 24 Cton (JC). Cedar Waxwing: large flocks, including the following—147 banded in one day, Sep 27 VFG (WDM,RPY); 200 Nov 4 (bsh); 100 Nov Troy (E. and H. Long). Northern Shrike: Nov 1 GL (HMBC); 1 imm banded Nov 8 and another imm observed Nov 12 Rexford (WDM); Nov 27 Chatham (PM). Migrant Shrike: Oct 4 WPWS (ER); Nov 22 Saratoga Battlefield (bsh). In addition, a shirke (sp?) was seen on Nov 23, and one (sp?) in a different area Nov 24 (DA). VIREOS—WARBLERS: Yellow-throated Vireo: four reports; last Sep 29 WPWS (ER). Solitary Vireo: bandings—1 Sep 20, and 2 Oct 4 VFG (WDM,RPY); also, 1 Oct 12 Chatham (M&WU). Red-eyed Vireo: last—3 banded Oct 25 VFG (WDM, RPY). Philadelphia Vireo: a pair found nesting in second-growth near open field, and observed both on and off nest Aug Ghent (P&GE); 6 banded Sep 6-28 VFG (WDM,RPY); 1 Sep 27 WPWS (ER). Warbling Vireo: last Oct 8 Cton (JC). Black-and-white Warbler: only one report—4 Sep 6 KPB (HMBC). Tennessee Warbler: 1 banded very early, Aug 2, and other singles Sep 13, Oct 5 VFG (WDM, 42 RPY); 1 Oct 4 WPWS (ER), Nashville Warbler: Aug 22 Warren Co (EH) to Oct 12 E. Greenbush (WG). Parula Warbler: three singles—Sep 22 Loudonville (MWF); 1 found dead, along with other species of warblers on a foggy morning, Sep 30, at the base of the Education Building in Albany (PC); Oct 4 WPWS (ER). Yellow Warbler: marked decrease at VFG banding station, last one Aug 23, with an unusually high number of adult captures suggesting a massive breeding failure (RPY); last Sep 25 Hillsdale (R. Silverman). Magnolia Warbler: from 2 Sep 5 Sch Ctr (PC) to Oct 5 Berne (MK); max 10 Sep 6 KPB (HMBC). Cape May Warbler: more reports than usual—1 Aug 29 Sch Ctr (PC); 6 Sep 6 KPB (HMBC); Sep 16—25 Cton and Ghent (JC,P&GE), Black-throated Blue Warbler: Sep 6 Gr (CK) to Oct 8 Cton (JC). Myrtle Warbler: from Sep 6 KPB (HMBC) thru period; max 50 Oct 15 TR (PC). Black-throated Green Warbler: from Aug 30 VFG (WDM,RPY) to Oct 12 E. Greenbush (WG). Blackburnian Warbler: five reports—from Aug 26 Loudon- ville (MWF) to Oct 4 WPWS (ER); max 10 Sep 6 KPB (HMBC). Chestnut-sided Warbler: several reports; last Oct 5 VFG (WDM,RPY). Bay-breasted Warbler: from Sep 5 VFG (WDM,RPY) and KPB (HFB) to Sep 20 VFG (WDM,RPY); max 10 Sep 6 KPB (HMBC). Blackpoll Warbler: many reports including the following- increased very significantly at VFG banding operation, with max 30 Sep 27, and 22 Sep 28 (WDM,RPY); from Sep 10 daily to end of month, some days abundant Loudonville (MWF); arr Sep 6 KPB (HMBC); last 12 Nov 19 near Chatham (PM) —a very late record described as follows: “Definitely a warbler because of behavior, size and shape. Dull olive green, streaked pale yellow breast, two white-wing bars, white undertail coverts, pale legs and pale eye stripe. Resembled Bay-breasted Warbler, but had pale instead of dark legs, white not buffy undertail coverts. Found in woods of maples, oaks, shrubs and pines. I have seen this species many times be¬ fore—in both fall and spring plumage. 5 feet to 25 feet from birds, for 10 minutes, observed with naked eye. 3:30 p.m., overcast, good light conditions.” Pine Warbler: reported by one observer on several dates—5 Sep 18, 3 Sep 25-29, 1-3 Oct 3—8 Cton (JC). Prairie Warbler: 2 Sep 6 KPB (HMBC). Palm Warbler: from 3 Sep 27 WPWS (ER) to Oct 16, 17 Altamont (Florence Rogers, Beverly Waite); also, late date Nov 22 Pattersonville (DA). Ovenbird: one very late report—Oct 26 VFG (WDM,RPY). Northern Waterthrush: to Sep 28 VFG (WDM,RPY). Connecticut Warbler: 1 Sep 13 and 2 Sep 20 VFG (WDM,RPY). Mourning Warbler: an in¬ crease—6 banded Aug 8 to Sep 21 VFG (WDM,RPY). Yellowthroat: last Oct 19 VFG (WDM,RPY). YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT: fall reports generally very rare; four records of singles as follows—Sep 6 Gr (CK); Sep 13 Loudonville (MWF); Sep 17 CL (EH,RMcC); first fall banding ever, Sep 20 VFG (WDM,RPY). Wilsons Warbler: considerable increase; from Aug 22 VFG (WDM,RPY) to Sep 29 Cton (JC); max 4 Sep 6 and 4 Sep 12 VFG (WDM,RPY). Canada Warbler: to Sep 28 Cton (JC); max 9 Sep 6 VFG (WDM,RPY). American Redstart: to Oct 6 Gr (CK). BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: last Sep 13 Gr (CK). Eastern Meadow¬ lark: thru period (bsh). Orchard Oriole: Sep 1, 3 Cton (JC). Baltimore Oriole: last Sep 20 VF G(RPY). Rusty Blackbird: abundantly reported; from Aug 28 War¬ ren Co (EH) thru period; max 60 Nov 16 (bsh). Scarlet Tanager: to Oct 11 E. Greenbush (WG); max 25 Sep 26 Mville (DA). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: to Oct 9 Scotia (EH). Indigo Bunting: only two reports; last date unusually early—Sep 4 Gr (CK). Dickcissel: 1 at feeder Oct 21-26 in Colonie ( Mrs. John Phillips, Mrs. Marjorie Gresens). Evening Grosbeak: many reports, beginning Oct 30 Mville (DA); max 52 Nov 15 AR and BR (HMBC). Purple Finch: frequent reports; large increase in banding operation, with 47 banded from Oct 11-26 VFG (WDM,RPY); max 100 Oct 19 Mville (DA). House Finch: 1 female Oct 23 Nisk (Gustave Angst); 28 taken at a feeder in a yard in Nisk and banded from Nov 5-30, with max 12 Nov 8 (same yard as similar report Nov 1968) (RPY). Pine Grosbeak: a few reports, beginning Oct 28 (bsh). Common Redpoll: arr Oct 26 (bsh); many flocks reported, with largest 150+ Mville (DA), Pine Siskin: began arriving Oct 4 VFG (RPY); max 40 43 Oct 15 TR (PC). Red Crossbill: Nov 11-30, with max 10 Nov 16 E. Chatham (M& WU); flock of 65 Nov 13 Cheese Hill Area, Rensselaerville (Dr. Anna Perkins). White-winged Crossbill: 6 Nov 8 (bsh); 7 Nov 27 Berne (MK); Nov 20-30, max 6 Nov 22 Chatham (RD). Rufous-sided Towhee: last Nov 3 Mville (DA). Savannah Sparrow: to Oct 25 Gr (CK). Vesper Sparrow: throughout period. Slate-colored Junco: flocks appeared Aug 31 Thacher Pk (MK); abundant last half of Oct, with 100+ Oct 17 and 300 Oct 19 Mville (DA), and 115 Oct 28 Berne (MK). Tree Sparrow: arr Oct 5 (EH). Chipping Sparrow: to Nov 18 Hillsdale (W. L. Stock). Field Sparrow: last Oct 28 Gr (CK). White-crowned Sparrow: scattered reports of small numbers; from Sep 19 Mville (DA) to Nov 20 Ghent (P&GE); 27 banded Oct 4—11 Rexford (WDM). White-throated Sparrow: increased significantly at VFG banding operation, with 167 banded Oct 5 and 91 Oct 11, with a total 510 banded Aug 9 to Oct 26 (WFM,RPY); also, there was further evidence of probable breeding at VFG (RPY); another large report, 70 Oct 15 TR (PC). Fox Sparrow: from Oct 1 Chatham (M&AG) to Nov 17 Nisk (EH). Lincoln’s Sparrow: 5 banded between Sep 19 and Oct 5 VFG (WDM,RPY); Sep 20, 24, 27 Ghent and Chatham (P&GE, ER). Swamp Sparrow: to Nov 15 (bsh). Snow Bunting: arr Oct 23 Catskill (JB); reports from many areas, with flocks of up to 300 observed in Columbia Co (ADBC). R.D. 1, Box 55, Scotia, N.Y. 12302 REGION 9 — DELAWARE-HUDSON Edward D. Treacy September and October were warm and dry—with October producing a little more than an inch and one half of precipitation. November was normally cool with a great increase in rainfall; more than seven inches. The warbler flight was good but no especially large flights were noted. It looks like a good year for northern visitors. By the end of the period a large number of Red Crossbills, Snow Bunting and Evening Grosbeaks were reported. Red-breasted Nuthatches were more com¬ mon than usual, and a smattering of Siskins, Redpolls, and Pine Grosbeaks was noted. Most species of ducks were in good number by the end of the period. Sev¬ eral rarities were reported which are noted in the report. Area Compilers: Robert F. Deed, Mrs. William Grierson, Fred Hough, Mrs. George Little, John C. Orth, Mrs. Eleanor Pink, Otis Waterman, Martin Borko. Observers cited: GB—Gene Brown; EB—Enid Butler; DF—Davis Finch; JG—John Getgood; SG—Stanley Grierson; DG—Dick Guthrie; TH—Thelma Haight; AJ—Alice Jones; ML—Mabel Little; HM-Helen Manson; A,BM—Al, Barbara Merritt; JO— John Orth; VP—Vivian Parkhurst; EP—Eleanor Pink; RP—Robert Pyle; F,RS—Frank, Ruth Steffens; W,TS—William, Trixie Strauss; EDT—Edward D. Treacy MV—Marion Van Wagner. Abbreviations: EAMBC—Edgar A. Mearns Bird Club; FNA—Fyke Nature Asso¬ ciation Hawk Watch, Mt. Peter, N.Y. Sept 7-29, Oct 4-26; RAS—Rockland Audubon Society; WBC—Waterman Bird Club. LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: 2 Oct 4 flying over Schawangunk Mts. near New Paltz (EDT); 1 Oct 24 Mianus Gorge (James Todd); 2 Nov 23 Cornwall Bay, Hudson R (JG). Red-throated Loon: 1 Nov 8 Sylvan L, Dutch (DF et al). Red¬ necked Grebe: 1 Nov 8 Rhinecliff (AJ). Horned Grebe: from 10-12 Nov 6-8 in Dutch. Pied-billed Grebe: generally good fall flight, last report Nov 21 at Bashakill, Sull. GREAT CORMORANT: first observed Oct 19 on Hudson R at Cornwall by Mrs. Barbara Merritt, Remained thru Nov 2 when shot by hunter. Many observers thru period. Specimen now at State Museum for final identification. If correct, only inland record for New’ York State. Double-crested Cormorant: 2 Sept 7-9 Cornwall- 44 on-Hudson (EDT). Great Blue Heron: More reports than usual, at least 10 Sept 7 at Bashakill (RAS). Green Heron: at least 10-13 at Cornwall-on-Hudson thru Aug and Sept, last at Staatsburg Dutch Oct 30. Common Egret: 1 Aug 2 Dutch; another Sept 29 L Tappan, Rock, the latter seuond report for Rock in 9 years. Black-crowned Night Heron: 1 imm Aug 16 Cornwall-on-Hudson (EDT); another Sept 15 Red Oaks Mill Dutch (MK). American Bittern: only report 1 Sept 27 Bashakill (EAMBC). Mute Swan: continues in good numbers on Rock L; from 2-8 Oct 17: Nov 14 on Hudson R at Iona I (JO). WHISTLING SWAN: 11 Nov 14 Lake Tiorati, Bear Mt. Park (JO); 4th record for Rock. Canada Goose: normal large fall flights. Brant: more reports than usual; 1 Oct 25 Rock L (RAS); only 5th fall record for Rock; about 20 Nov 22 over Pound Ridge, West (Carl Bruninger); 1 Nov 8 Cornwall Bay (JG); good numbers in Dutch from Oct 20—‘Nov 3. Snow Goose: 1 Nov 13-30 and another Nov 30, Dutch; no flocks reported. Blue Goose: first record for Dutch Nov 11-24; 3 ad and 2 imm at Amenia (mob). Mallard and Black Duck: plentiful. Gadwall: only report 1 Sept 5 Mount Kisco (Anthony Buzinco). Pintail: ab 10 in Dutch thru Nov. Blue-winged Teal: left Dutch in Aug; 2 Sept 22 Katonah (SG). American Widgeon: ab 30 thru Nov in Dutch; 12 Nov 16 Iona I Rock (JO). Shoveler:l Nov 19-20 Millbrook (VP); 1 Dec 2 at Lederle Labs, Pearl River (FS). Wood Duck: appears down locally but some areas are better than usual; Ulst and Dutch report numbers off, but as many as 20 at Sparkill Cr Rock dur Oct and more than 50 Sept 27 at Bashakill (EAMBC). Redhead: 3 Nov 22 Hunns L. Dutch (EP, MV). Ring-necked Duck: normal to less; WBC reports only 25 thru Nov. Canvas- back: 1 Oct 25 Rock L (RAS); WBC reports 1 in Oct, 5-8 Nov 6, 6 Nov and 300 Nov 25, all on Hudson R. GreaterScaup: normal. Lesser Scaup: 2 Nov 11 Whaley L Dutch (DF). Common Goldeneye: all reports from Dutch, 22 in Nov. Buffle- head: earliest 7 Oct 23 Dutch; 2 more Oct 29; as many as 40 reported in Nov; 12 at Mt. Kisco on Oct 24. Oldsquaw: all reports Dutch; 13 Oct 30 on Hudson R.; 5 Nov 6 Verbank; 5 Nov 8 Rhine'beck. White-winged Scoter: all reports Dutch; 1 Oct 30' Rhinecliff (DG); 1 Nov 8 Rhinecliff (AJ); 3 Nov 20 Rhinecliff (DF); 1 Nov 26-30 Hunns L. (MV). Common Scoter: 1 Nov 8 Rhinecliff (AJ). Ruddy Duck: from 6-8 Nov 6-10 Hudson R in Dutch (HM,AJ); 11 Nov 8 Cornwall Bay (JG); Bob Deed reports more birds on Rock L than ever before and fewer on the Tappan Zee where they usually winter. Hooded Merganser: below normal in Bear Mt Park; 2 Nov 12 on Silvermine L (JO); numbers appear good in Dutch—4 dur Oct; 43 dur Nov. Common Merganser: reported normal in Dutch—88 Nov 24 L Tiorati, Bear Mt Park; none elsewhere. Red-breasted Merganser: unusual in fall; 2 Nov 8 Rhinecliff (AJ). HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: left Bear Mt Park by mid-Oct; last report Oct 30 Millbrook, Dutch. Accipiters: usual migrants reported; FNA reports best Oct flight in 11 years for Sharp-shinned Hawk but Sept numbers were very low. Red¬ tailed Hawk: FNA reports Oct flight well above normal. Red-shouldered Hawk: None reported except for FNA which had 17 in Sept and 10' in Oct; continues to decline. Broad-winged Hawk; Peak movements Sept 18-19—FNA reports 1,625 and 1,103 these two days; EAMBC reports 1,058 Sept 13 at White Horse Mt near Storm King Mt, while FNA reported only 240 that same day; FNA totals were 4,527 for period, about 2,000 less than all time high of last year but well above the average; more than 1000 were observed in less than an hour in late afternoon on Sept 18 over New City (F,RS); latest report 4 Oct 12 at Mt. Peter. GOLDEN EAGLE : 1 imm Schawangunk Mts near New Paltz Oct 4 (EDT, B&C Laird); another imm Oct 26 Mt Peter (WBC). Bald Eagle: More reports than usual; 1 ad Aug 1 over Storm King Mt (GB); 1 ad Aug 22 Hook Mt (L. & E. Mills); 1 ad Sept 10 Mt. Peter (WBC); 1 ad Sept 13 White Horse Mt (EAMBC); 1 near Mohonk (RP); 1 imm Oct 26 Neversink (KN); at least 2 winter residents established at USMA by late Oct. Marsh Hawk: 1 or 2 reported daily thru Sept and Oct by FNA. Osprey: FNA reports them constant thru the month of Sept and thru mid-Oct; max 30 in 3 hrs 45 Sept 13 over White Horse Mt, Oran (EAMBC); last Oct 22 in Dutch (WB'C). Peregrine Falcon: None reported by FNA; 3 Sept 14 Schawangunk Mts near New Paltz (Seldon Spencer); 1 Oct 1 Mianus Gorge (James Todd); 1 Oct 18 at Mt. Anthony’s Nose, N. West (ML). Sparrow Hawk: normal. Pigeon Hawk: 3 Sept 9 and 1 Oct 16 (FNA). Virginia Rail: Last Aug 25 Pine Plains (TH). Common Gallinule: 1 remained at Amenia thru Nov 20; peak there of 12 in Sept (W,TS). Coot: numbers returning to normal after lows of recent years; more than 300 re¬ ported from Dutch; 40 Oct 23 Muscoot Res; 22 Nov 16 Hudson at Iona I (JO). Shorebirds: in general poor migration this season. Semipalmated Plover: 2 Aug 16 Cornwall-on-Hudson (EDT), Killdeer: an unusual concentration of 30 in one pasture Oct 25 at Hamptonburg (EAMBC). American Woodcock: more than usual; 2 regularly thru Nov 23 at Tri-Loba Hill Sane, Katonah; one of these observed in courtship dance Oct 18-19 (SG). Common Shipe: last 2 Oct 29 Pine Plains (TH). Upland Plover: 1 Sept 16 Rock L (RS). 4th Record for Rock; resident birds at Hamptonburg, Oran observed thru Sept 7 (EAMBC). Spotted Sandpiper: very late date of Nov 23 at Cornwall-on-Hudson (JG). Solitary Sandpiper: only report 1 illegally shot Oct 21 near Muscoot Res, (Edward Kurka). Greater Yellowlegs: last Nov 5 in Dutch. Lesser Yellowlegs: 1 Nov 8 Amenia (W, TS). Pectoral Sandpiper: 1 illegally shot Oct 21 near Muscoot Res; 4 Oct 25 Otterkill Cr, Hamptonburg (EAMBC). Gulls: local residents normal. Laughing Gull: 4 Sept 9 Cornwall Bay (EDT); last 2 Oct 20 Hudson R, Dutch (AJ). Bonaparte’s Gull: 1 Sept 14 Cornwall Bay (EDT); 6 Nov 8 same place (JG); 1 Nov 6 Amenia (W,TS). BLACK¬ LEGGED KITTIWAKE: 1 Nov 20 on Hudson R north of Kingston-Rhinecliff Br, an imm bird w'ell described by Davis W. Finch, verification report filed. CASPIAN TERN: 1 Sept 6 Cornwall Bay (EDT). Mourning Dove: reported abundant in Nyack. Owls: most species normal except for Great Horned which was reported more frequently than usual; a pair nested between Rt 9W and Hudson R on south shore of Popolopen Cr; a pair heard calling at Carmel in late Nov (ML). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Whip-poor-will: 1 Aug 22-23 at Warwarsing only report (JO). Common Nighthawk: first migrant Aug 28 USMA (JG); 75 Aug 29 Cornwall-on-Hudson (EDT); small flights Sept 14-15 at Warwarsing (JO); and Sept 6-13 in Dutch; last Sept 15. Chimney Swift: last Oct 8 Poughkeepsie and Oct 14 Warwarsing. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: more reported than usual; late dates Oct 1 Nanuet and Oct 1—2 Dutch. Belted Kingfisher: normal. Woodpeckers: most species normal. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 1 Dec 2—3 Palisades (Mrs. Everett Mar- tine). Red-headed Woodpecker: more reports than usual; 1 imm at Viola, Rock second and third week of Nov (FS); another imm Nov 7 South Salem (SG); 1 reported regularly thru Oct and Nov in Dutch. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1 Sept 21 Warwarsing (JO); 2 Sept 29 and Oct 5 in Rock (RS); first report for Rock in six years. Eastern Kingbird: last Sept 5 Dutch. WESTERN KINGBIRD: 1 ISept 13 War¬ warsing, observed all day (JO). Great Crested Flycatcher: last report Sept 9 Dutch. Eastern Phoebe: in normal numbers to Oct 25 in Ulst and Oct 23 in Dutch; no Nov reports. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 1 Sept 13 Mine Rd, USMA (EAMBC). Wood Pewee: last Oct 31 (EB). Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 Aug 27; another Aug 29; 2 Aug 30 Weyant’s Pd, USMA (JG,EDT); from 4—5 in early Sept in Dutch. Horned Lark: numbers low but normal to end of period. Tree Swallow: thousands daily moving south along Hudson R at Cornwall thru Aug and Sept; last Oct 30 at Pleasant Valley, Dutch (MV). Bank Swallow: last Sept 1 Dutch. Rough-winged Swallow: 7-8 first week of Sept in Dutch was last report. Barn Swallow: last Sept 6 Dutch. Purple Martin: Appears to have left imm after breeding; no reports thru period. Blue Jay: up from last year; huge flights reported thru Oran and Rock, yet fairly common at end of period. RAVEN ; 4 Oct 21 over Mohonk (DF). Fish Crow: 2 thru period at Poughkeepsie; several birds observed but only 1 heard at a time at Woodlawn Cem, New Windsor Nov 30 (EDT). Black-capped Chickadee: up from lows of a few years ago; normal to better in most areas. BOREAL CHICKADEE: 46 1 Oct 19-20 Pleasant Valley (MV); another Nov 8 Rhinecliff (AJ); 1 Nov 11 Amenia (AJ,DF); 1 near Ashokan Res Nov 1 (RP). Tufted Titmouse: numbers down. Red¬ breasted Nuthatch: 1 Sept 25 South Salem, West; 8 Oct 11 Gross River, West; WRC reports 17 in Oct and 16 in Nov. Brown Creeper: good numbers in Oct; peak movement Nov 8-9 at USMA from 9-10 birds each day (JG), House Wren: normal after lows of several years ago; last report 1 Nov 23 Vassar Col (MK). Winter Wren: 1 Sept 27 Bashakill (EAMBC); WBC reports 3 in Oct and 3 in Nov. Carolina Wren: one day counts along Hook Mt in Rock found as many as 5 birds; a pair at the home of GB in Upper Nyack thru period; 3 thru most of Nov at Corn- wall-on-Hudson (A,BM). Mockingbird: unc in northern part of region. Catbird: normal numbers thru migration; last report 1 Nov 25 Beacon (MK). Thrushes: flight seemed good in Ulst, esp Hermit. Robin: good numbers to Oct 26; small flocks noted in Putn area to last week of November. Wood Thrush: last report Oct 1. Hermit Thrush: WBC reports 14 in Oct; last Nov 23 (MK). Swainson’s Thrush: WBC reports 2 in Sept, 3 in Oct; last obs in USMA Sept 23 (JG). Gray-checked Thrush: 1 dead at Poughkeepsie Sept 23 (AJ). Veery: 1 Weyants Pond USMA late date of Sept 22 (EDT,RS). Eastern Bluebird: Many small flocks from Oct 19-26 at Warwarsing; about 20 Oct 21 at Kripplebush (Fred Hough). Kinglets: both species in good evidence; Golden-crowned more frequently reported in Oct and Nov than usual. Water Pipit: Very few reported from Dutch; several hundred Oct 25 in Hamptonburgh area of Oran (EAMBC); 10 Oct 5 at USMA (JG). Cedar Wax¬ wing: above normal for the period; esp large flights in Sept and Oct. Northern Shrike: 1 appeared between Nov 17—21 at 3 feeders in small area of Suffern, ter¬ rorized housewives with its appetite for small birds (Edwina Bruggeman); 1 Nov 30 Pleasant Valley (MK). Loggerhead Shrike: 1 Warwarsing Sept 6, obs feeding on grasshoppers; another pursuing Redwing at Hamptonburg, Oran Oct 25 (EAMBC). VIREOS—WARBLERS: WHITE-EYED VIREO : very unusual in fall; 1 Sept 6 Skidmore, Dutch (HM). Yellow-throated Vireo: last Oct 2 at Green Haven (EB). Solitary Vireo: early fall date Sept 19 in Rock (RS); WBC reports 3 Sept records and 2 in Oct; last Oct 25 Circleville, Oran (Rosalie Keene). Philadelphia Vireo: 1 Sept 7 Red Oaks Mill (MK); 1 Sept 14 Moores Mills (EP,FG). Warbling Vireo: last very late date of Oct 7 near Green Haven (EB). Warblers: normal to better this fall; no major movements noted but some species in good numbers. PRO- THONOTARY WARBLER : 1 Sept 16 Red Oaks Mill (MK). Golden-winged War¬ bler and Blue-winged Warbler: gone by end of Aug. Brewster’s Warbler: 2 Aug 17 USMA (JG). Tennessee Warbler: 1 Oct 20 Amenia (W,TS). ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 1 Red Oaks Mill Sept 13 (M,JK). Yellow Warbler: none reported after Aug. Magnolia Warbler: first Aug 27 USMA (JG); another different part of USMA Aug 28 (EDT). Gape May Warbler: 2 Sept 13-44 (RS). Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1 late date of Nov 17-18 at East Park, Dutch (Ester Chapman). Myrtle Warbler: in usual good fall numbers; last Nov 8 USMA (JG). Black-throated Green Warbler: first Sept 11 USMA (JG). Pine Warbler: 1 Sept 22 and another Sept 24 USMA (JG,EDT); 1 at New Paltz Sept 22-24. (RP). Palm Warbler: 1 Oct 21 near Mohonk (DF). Northern W!iterthrush: last late date Oct 5 USMA (JG). Connecticut Warbler: 1 Sept 14 USMA (JG,EDT). Yellowthroat; 1 late date Nov 23 Bull Pond USMA (JG). Yellow-breasted Chat: 1 summer resident at Warwarsing sang thru moonlit night of June 1 (JO); 1 Rock L Sept 9 (RS); 1 Sept 2 Red Oaks Mill (J,MK); 1 Oct 1 Green Haven (EB); 1 Oct 17 Amenia (W,TS). Wilson’s Warbler: first Aug 30 USMA (JG); last late date of Oct 19-21 Amenia (W,TS). Canada Warbler: first Aug 30 USMA (JG); last Oct 27 Red Oaks Mill (MK). BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: last Sept 5 and 6 from 60 to 110 in Dutch. Baltimore Oriole: numbers dur Aug and Sept above normal; last Nov 22 Red Oaks Mill (MK). Rusty Blackbird: some huge flocks reported; first Oct 14 in West; Oct 23 in Ulst; several hundred birds at farm in Hamptonburgh Oct 25; remained 47 in Dutch thru Nov 30. Cowbird: More than 200 Aug 26 at Cornwall in all stages of molt; several hundred Oct 25 at Hamptonburg farm with Rusty Blackbirds (EAMBC). Scarlet Tanager: normal to better thru Sept; last Oct 13. Cardinal: normal thru region. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: WBC reports only 4 in Sept in Dutch, but numbers excellent in Oran thru Aug and Sept. Indigo Bunting: normal for pe¬ riod; last Sept 21 at Warwarsing and 2 Sept 26 Pleasant Valley: DICKCISSEL: 1 Nov 8 Amenia (W,TS) 2 Nov 10-16 Pleasant Valley (EP); 1 Nov 20-23 Chester (Sarah Uyhelyi), Evening Grosbeak: arr West and Rock Nov 8 in excellent numbers thru region to end of period. Purple Finch: excellent numbers at Warwarsing, not so many elsewhere. House Finuh: usual numbers in usual places: new location at Monticello thru summer and fall (Pauline Chernick), Pine Grosbeak: very few re¬ ports compared to last year; 8 Nov 18 Poughkeepsie; 6 Nov 26 Millbrook. Common Redpoll: first Nov 20 Monticello (Ed McBride); 1 Nov 29 Poughquag (A1 Pooth); 2 Nov 23 Pleasant Valley (MV); Paul Jeheber reports them in abundance on various ranges of USMA the last week of Nov. Pine Siskin: first Oct 28 at L Mohegan, West and Amenia, Dutch; more than 200 reported from Dutch dur Nov; 13 on Nov 8 and 50 on Nov 9 at USMA (JG). American Goldfinch: normal to better. Red Crossbill: in unprecedented numbers thru region; 4 Nov 8 Blauvelt, Rock (RAS); others (no number) Oct 21 near Mohonk (DF); 20 Hudson R, Dutch (DF); 45 Nov 26 at Millbrook (MK). Rufous-sided Towhee: normal abundant thru Oct; some persisted to end of period. Savannah Sparrow: normal. Grasshopper Sparrow: last Sept 15 Dutch. Vesper Sparrow: usual few. Slate-colored Junco: normal fall movement; first obs Oct 1 South Salem, West; Oct 3 Putn; Oct 5 Oran. Tree Sparrow: arr Oct 29 in Putn; Oct 26 in Dutch and Oran; numbers normal to end of period. Chipping Sparrow': above normal dur late Aug; normal after that till Oct 24. HARRIS' SPAR¬ ROW : 1 ad male Oct 14-16 at feeder in Dutch (MV,MK,AJ). White-crowned Sparrow: good fall flight most areas; last Nov 28 Dutch. White-throated Sparrow: excellent movement in Dutch; arr Sept 30 Katonah and Sept 22 in Oran. Fox Sparrow: arr Oct '23 Katonah; normal to better numbers with some persisting to end of period in Dutch. Lincoln’s Sparrow: 1 Sept 21 Millbrook (EP); 1 Sept 22 Weyarlt’s Pond USMA (EDT,RS). 1 Sept 24 USMA; 1 Oct 24 Warwarsing (JO); 1 Sept 27 Wurtsboro (EAMBC); 1 Oct 5 Moore’s Mills (EP). Song Sparrow: normal. Snow Bunting: 2 Oct 30 Lake Tiorati, Bear Mt Park (JO); 15 Nov 1 atop Bear Mt; a smaller flock same day at Hook Mt Beach, Upper Nyack (Harold Leidy); small flock Nov 7 Katonah and another Nov 1 at Ashokan Res (RP); from 6-15 thru Nov in Dutch. (Tom Gilbert) Winter reports due by Apr 5. Pellwood Lake, Highland Falls, N.Y. 10928 REGION 10 —MARINE Thomas H. Davis and Lee Morgan Early September was characterized by stagnant weather, producing little or no migration. On the 9th, Hurricane Gerda passed eastern Long Island out at sea, too far to have any effect. That evening, however, a massive cold front with strong NW winds moved across the region. The clear, cool dawn of the 10th initiated “the largest September flight I have ever seen” (John Bull). John and Helen Hirschbein’s report from Far Rockaway that morning included 250 Eastern Kingbirds, 6 Olive-sided Flycatchers, 1000 Rob¬ ins, 1000 Cedar Waxwings, 100 American Redstarts, 3000 Bobolinks, and over 300 Baltimore Orioles; they also saw an extremely early Orange-crow'ned Warbler at Jamaica Bay. Mike Gochfeld sent a full page summary documenting his activities 48 that day at Jones Beach. He estimated at least 1600 Warblers—of this total 536 individuals were identified as 16 species. Among these 536 birds, three species ac¬ counted for 94% of the total—405 American Redstarts (76%), '60 Yellowthroats (11%), and 38 Black-and-white Warblers (6.5%). Gochfeld also noted great numbers of migrating Bobolinks—“between 0630 and 0830, 35 flocks of 25 to 150 individuals and many smaller groups passed the fishing station.” His final estimate was 4200 ± 300 Bobolinks, noting that “probably an additional 2000 passed over without being seen, the difficulty in estimating the sizes of flocks was very great and this may be a conservative estimate.” At Atlantic Beach, Dick Cohen netted and banded 96 birds, 85 of them warblers of 11 species. “This was our best fall warbler flight in five years netting here.” His total included 41 American Redstarts, 24 Black-and-white War¬ blers, and a Summer Tanager. Busily tending mist nets at Fire Island Light, Davis and Morgan saw over 100 Baltimore Orioles, and netted an unprecedented early White-winged Crossbill. Last summer’s July Red Crossbill report was only a precursor of those to come. On September 10 the White-winged Crossbill was mist-netted at Fire Island, on the 21st a Red was reported from Orient. On the 29th the first Pine Siskin arrived. Three weeks later on October 19, Siskin numbers peaked with well over 5000 seen that day at Fire Island and over 4000 at Riis Park. The next crossbills were reported on October 25; on November 15-16 at Fire Island over 1000 Red Crossbills were seen each day. Common Redpoll, usually a mid-winter arrival, appeared first on October 24 at Fire Island and over 200 were seen there a week later on November 1. Con¬ trasted with previous invasions, Siskin numbers were nearly three times higher and Red Crossbills five to ten times higher. Also, these species peaked up to two weeks earlier than in any previous year. November might well be noted for the unique number of late records it produced. 14 species of warblers were reported, among them Black-and-white, Magnolia, Cape May (3), Black-throated Blue (2), Blackpoll (3), Prairie, Ovenbird and Redstart. Also reported this month were American Oystercatcher, 3 species of terns, Black Skimmer, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood Pewee, Gray-cheeked Thrush, 2 White-eyed Vireos, 2 Red-eyed Vireos, Bobolink, and Scarlet Tanager. One is tempted to blame a strong near hurricane-force storm that moved northw'ard along the coast from Georgia to southern New England November 2-3 for these reports. Possibly the above birds were displaced north where they were reported imme¬ diately following its passage, and especially during the period from November 13 to 16, the next period of favorable weather for southward movement. Rarities reported this season were Eared Grebe, White Pelican, White Ibis, Sooty Tern, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, and Bullock’s Oriole. In addition to Pine Siskin* and Red Crossbill, species reported in unprece¬ dented numbers were Glossy Ibis, Whistling Swan, Shoveler, Common Eider, Olive- sided Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, American Redstart, and Baltimore Oriole. Abbreviations: AMNH—American Museum of Natural History; JBWR—Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge; netted—implies the bird(s) was mist-netted, banded, and re¬ leased. Contributors frequently cited; Cox’s Ledge BT—Sep 6 boat trip to fishing ledge off Montauk Point (F. Heath, M. Gochfeld, M. and G. Kleinbaum, L. Morgan, P. Post, G. Tudor) RA—Robert Arbib; AB—A1 Bell; JB— John Bull; NB—Ned Boyagian; PB—Paul Buckley; RB—Robert Budliger; MB—Mona Boch; BC—Barbara Connolly; RC—Robert Claremont; RJC—Richard Cohen; AD—Aline Dove; JD—Jeanette Doran; TD—Thomas Davis; DF—Darrell Ford; MG—'Michael Gochfeld; HH—Helen Hirch- bein; FH—Fred Heath; MH—Myrna Hemmerick; HK—Henry Kemp; MK—Michel Kleinbaum; RK—Richard Kane; AL—Anthony Lauro; EL—Emmanuel Levine; KM— Kevin Malone; LM—Lee Morgan; WN—William Norse; DP—Dennis Puleston; RP— Robert Paxton; RLP—Richard Plunkett; GR—Gilbert Raynor; BS—Barbara Spencer; 49 FS—Frederick Schaeffer; FS—Paul Stouteriburgh; AW—Alvin Wollin; CW—Cornelius Ward; LW—Leroy Wilcox; JY—John Yrizzary. PART I—'SIGHT AND SPECIMEN REPORTS; BANDING RARITIES LOONS-DUCKS: EARED GREBE: Sep 14 thru period JBWR (JY et al)- eighth consecutive year at this locality! Cory’s Shearwater: 175 Sep 6 Cox’s Ledge BT; 150 plus Oct 17 Orient Pt (GR); up to “several dozen” seen from Oct 19—Nov 2 on Long Island Sound as far west as Mattituck (AD)—this pelagic species seldom wanders into these waters. Wilson’s Petrel: one Sep 6 Cox’s Ledge BT. WHITE PELICAN: Oct 20—21 Hood Pond, Southhampton (K. Farrington, fide LW)—the ninth record for this region. Great Cormorant; arr Sep 27 at Fire Island (PB, et al)—early. Cattle Egret: Nov 11 Cutchogue (PS). Snowy Egret: nest with young Sep 10 Jones (HK)—the latest recorded nesting in the area. Glossy Ibis: nest with nearly fledged young Sep 10 Jones (HK)—latest recorded nesting date for the area; max 225 Aug 31 JBWR (RA)-highest Regional count. WHITE IBIS: adult seen in flight Oct 25 JBWR (H. John son) —first Long Island record since 1843! Whistling Swan: this fall produced the largest number of Whistlers ever recorded on Long Island—on Nov 16 they were reported from 4 separate localities; 40 at Flying Pt ( C. McKeever), 39 flying over the ocean at Shinnecock Inlet (GR), 15 flying over Jones (MK), and two at Montauk (RLP); other reports: 10 Nov 17 Flying Point (C. McKeever), 3 Nov 22 Tobay (KM), Nov 22 Easthampton (GR), European Widgeon: Oct 12-Nov 8 Flying Pt (C. McKeever). Shoveler: max 350 plus Nov 29 JBWR (DP)—highest previous count was 200. American Goldeneye: July 27 Hempstead Reservoir (AW)—summer straggler. Common Eider; max 200 Nov 16 Montauk (F'LP)—highest Regional count. HAWKS—OWLS: Golden Eagle; Nov 8 flying over Hudson R from Yonkers to Alpine, N.J. (NB). Bald Eagle: adult and 3 imm Nov 8 flying over Hudson R from Yonkers to Alpine, N.J. (NB). Sparrow Hawk: max 400 plus Oct 4 Fire Isl (B. Adams et al). American Oystercatcher: to Nov 15 at Moriches Inlet (MB)—latest Regional record. Golden Plover: max 87 Sep 17 Orient (AD,BC,BS). Solitary Sandpiper: Oct 28 JBWR (WN)—late. Willet: max 25 Sep 10 Hampton Bays (MH). Baird’s Sandpiper: only two reports—(Sep 10 Jones (MG); Oct 18—21 Fire Isl (MK,TD,KM,DF). Buff-breasted Sandpiper; only report—two seen with Golden Plovers Sep 17 Orient (AD,BC',BS). Hudsonian Godwit: injured bird Nov 9 Jones (RA)—very late, Phalaropes: 2 Reds and 4 Northerns off Montauk Sep 6 (Cox’s Ledge BT); 1 very late Wilson’s Oct 28 JBWR (WN). Jaegers: 1 Pomarine, 1 Parasitic and 2 unidentified off Montauk Sep 6 (Cox’s Ledge BT). Black-headed Gull: arr Nov 22 at Jones (KM). Little Gull: adult Nov 29 Shinnecock Bay (C. McKeever); adult Nov 30 St. George, Staten Isl (RC). Terns: At Shinnecock Inlet Plunkett recorded 2 Forster’s, 30 Common and an ex¬ tremely late Royal on Nov 15. SOOTY TERN: adult Aug 23, Great Gull Isl (H. Hays et al)—seen sitting and flying, photographed by G. Donaldson (See Field Note this issue). Black Skimmer: 30 Nov 11 Flushing Bay (HK). Razorbill: Nov 9 Mon¬ tauk Pt ( fide TD); Nov 15 Montauk Pt (RLP); 7 Nov 30 Shinnecock (GR). Dove- kie: arr Nov 2 (8) at Montauk Pt (fide TD); 3 Nov 16 Montauk Pt (RLP). Mourning Dove: nest with 2 eggs Sep 28 Fire Isl (TD,PB, et al)—one egg hatched on Oct 4 and young raised successfully, the latest known nesting for the species by more than a month. Yellow-billed Cuckoo: Nov 13 Orient (AD,BS)—extremely late. Great Horned Owl: Nov 15 Greenwood Cem (RC, M. Cashman et al)—this is central Brooklyn! Saw-whet Owl: arr Oct 19—2 at Oak Beach (HH,CW); 2 netted at Fire Isl (TD,DF). GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Ruby-throated Hummingbird: an individual was present at Riis Park from late Oct to Nov 23 (WN, D. Edwards, S. Dempsey et al) 50 —extremely late but 8 years ago one remained at Riis until Dec 13. Belted King¬ fisher: Sep 6 Cox’s Ledge BT—seen over 25 miles from land. Yellow-shafted Flicker: max 1000 Sep 29 Far Rockaway (JB,HH); 600 plus Sep 29 Fire Isl Light (TD, et al). Red-headed Woodpecker: good late flight latter half of Oct—max 7 (one adult) Oct 28 Jones (JD); three mist-netted at Fire Isl Oct 19—20 (TD,DF). Eastern Kingbird: max 250 Sep 10 Far Rockaway (JB,HH); 250 Sep 10 Riis Pk (JY). Western Kingbird: 8 individuals reported Aug -22-Nov 28, max Nov 4 (3) at Fire Isl (TD). SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER : Oct. 16 Jones (AW)-’ ... ex¬ tended tail noted.” Great Crested Flycatcher: netted Oct 22 Atlantic Beach (RJC) —late. Eastern Wood Pewee: imm netted and collected Nov 15 Fire Isl (TD,DF) — AMNH #793548, latest Regional record by over two weeks. Olive-sided Flycatcher: six Sep 10 Far Rockaway (JB-HH) —highest Regional count. Tree Swallow: albino Sep 20 JBWR (GR). BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE ; apparent migrant flying east Oct 15 Jones (PB); remained in Jones—Oak Beach area to at least Nov 22 (mob). COMMON RAVEN: Nov 8 flying over Hudson R from Yonkers to Alpine, N.J. (NB). Boreal Chickadee: three Oct 26 Bronx Pk (E. McGuire et al)—a large in¬ cursion of this species passed just north and west of the Region. Red-breasted Nut¬ hatch: good flight this fall—max 120 Sep 19 Far Rockaway (JB). Robin; max 1500 plus Oct 25 Fire Isl (TD); 1000 Sep 10 Far Rockaway (JB,HH)—early for such a large number. Gray-Cheeked Thrush: netted Nov 14 Atlantic Beach (RJC)—ex¬ tremely late. Golden-crowned Kinglet: max 200 plus Oct 13 Fire Isl (TD)—highest Regional count. Cedar Waxwing: max 1000 Sep 10 Far Rockaway (JB,HH)—highest Regional count. VIREOS—WARBLERS; White-eyed Vireo: netted at Brookhaven Oct 30 (DP); imm netted and photographed Nov 4 Fire Isl (TD); Nov 22 Riis Park (L. and E. Mills, S. Dempsey)—previous late date was Oct 28. Red-eyed Vireo: netted Nov 7 Atlantic Beach (RJC); Nov 9 Pelham Bay Pk (MK)—both extremely late. Black- and-white Warbler; max 38 Sep 10 Jones (MG); Nov 27 Prospect Pk (M. Sohmer) —the latest migrant record, one old wintering report. Prothonotary Warbler: imm male netted Sep 5 Atlantic Beach (RJC). Golden-winged Warbler: male netted Sep 13 Atlantic Beach (RJC)—rare coastal migrant. Tennessee Warbler: netted Oct 25 Tobay (FS). Orange-crowned Warbler: Sep 10 JBWR (JB,HH)—extremely early. Nashville Warbler: netted Nov 16 Tobay (AL)—late. Magnolia Warbler: Nov 13 Montauk Pt (ABJD, O. Dunning)—extremely late. Cape May Warbler: imm female netted Nov 4 Fire Isl (TD); netted Nov 16 Tobay (AL); adult male netted Nov 22 Tobay (AL,FS)— only later record is an old Dec report. Black-throated Blue War¬ bler: netted Nov 13 Fire Isl (DF); netted Nov 16 Tobay (AL)—extremely late. Myrtle Warbler: max 800 plus Oct 13 Fire Isl (TD). Black-throated Green Warbler: netted Nov 16 Tobay (AL)—late. Blackpoll Warbler: imm netted Nov 14 Atlantic Beach (RJC); adult netted Nov 15 Atlantic Beach (RJC); imm netted Nov 15 Fire Isl (TD,DF)—three very late records. Prairie Warbler: found freshly dead Nov 29 N. Babylon (KM)—specimen to AMNH, ties latest previous record, two winter records. Ovenbird: Nov 29 Pelham Bay Pk (S. Stepinoff)—extremely late, several later winter reports exist. Yellowthroat: netted Nov 19 Brookhaven (DP)—late migrant. Hooded Warbler: male netted Oct 5 Tobay (FS,AL). American Redstart: max 405 Sep 10 Jones (MG)—highest Regional count; 100 Sep 10 Far Rockaway (JB,HH); 200 Sep 11 Mamaroneck (RA); Nov 16-18 Oak Beach (MK,JD)—ex¬ tremely late. BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: max 4200 Sep 10 Jones (MG); 3000 Sep 10 Far Rockaway (JB,HH); Nov 10 Riis Pk (D. Edwards)—seen perched at close range—extremely late. Baltimore Oriole: max 300 plus Sep 10 Far Rockaway (JB,HH)—highest Regional count; 100 plus Sep 10 Fire Isl (TD,LM); an imm net¬ ted at Fire Isl on Nov 16 remained at least until Dec 7 (TD,DF,PB). BULLOCK’S ORIOLE: imm female netted and collected Nov 30 Fire Isl (TD,DF)—AMNH 51 #793547, confirmed there by Dr. Lester Short—this is the third proven occurence in our Region, and the only extant State specimen. Western Tanager: only report—Sep 11 Prospect Pk (JY). Scarlet Tanager: Nov 17 E. Marion (J. Bennett)—extremely late. Summer Tanager. only report—1 netted Sep 10 Atlantic Beach (RJC). No Blue Grosbeak reports. Dickcissel: At Fire Isl Light 53 individuals, including 2 banded imm, were re¬ corded from Sep 6-Nov 8 (TD, PB et al); individuals were seen nearly daily from Sept 6 through the third week of Oct, 51 of them moving west along the bay side of the barrier beach; maxima recorded were Sep 27; 13 Sep 29; Oct 9; elsewhere in the Region, 25 were reported Aug 26-Nov 1, 16 of these from the barrier beaches. Evening Grosbeak: normal numbers—arr Oct 24 (5) on Staten Isl (N. Wagerick). Pine Grosbeak: only report—adult male netted Nov 1 Fire Isl (DF,PB). Common Redpoll: heavy early flight, numbers rapidly declining-netted Oct 24 Fire Isl (PB) —extremely early; max 200 plus Nov 1 Fire Isl (PB); smaller numbers (less than 10) seen most days during Nov along barrier beaches. Pine Siskin: the largest flight ever recorded in the Region—arr Sep 29 at Far Rockaway (JB,HH); early counts: 4 Oct 5 Fire Isl (TD,FH); 30+ Oct 10 Fire Isl (TD); 200+ Oct 15 Fire Isl (PB); 330+ Oct 18 Fire Isl (TD); peak counts: 5080+ Oct 19 Fire Isl (TD, PB)—con¬ servation estimate, probably well over 7000; 4000+ Oct 19 Riis Pk (RK); 500 + Oct 20 Fire Isl (TD); 1000+ Oct 25 Riis Pk (RC); 900+ Oct 26 Fire Isl (TD); during early November, Siskin numbers declined with less than 100 seen each day; inland counts averaged much lower—on Oct 19 35 w'ere seen at Brookville (BC) and 50 at Sea Cliff (AB). American Goldfinch: max 400 Sep 29 Far Rockaway (JB, HH); 100+ Oct 5 Fire Isl (TD). Red Crossbill; the largest flight ever recorded in the Region—arr Sep 21 at Orient (KM); next recorded Oct 26 (15) at Jones (AW); daily counts from Fire Isl (TD, FB,DF et al)—4 Nov 8; 1200+ Nov 15; 1000+ Nov 16; 400+ Nov 21; 300 + Nov 23; 400 Nov 26; 400 Nov 27; 50 Nov 29; 250+ Nov 30; high counts elsewhere —200+ Nov 16 Montauk (RLP); 500 Nov 22 Montauk (OR); 500+ Nov 22 Staten Isl Green Belt (RC, N. Wagerick). White-winged Crossbill: good flight but out-numbered by far by Reds; one netted at Fire Isl Sep 10 (TD,LM) was un- precentedly early; next recorded on Oct 25 (7) at Bronx Pk (RK); other counts—25 Oct 28 JBWR (WN); 30+ Nov 16 Fire Isl (TD,PB); max 100+ Nov 21 Fire Isl (PB); 3 Nov 22 Montauk (GR); 19 Nov 25 Pelham Bay Pk (JD). Lark Sparrow: five reported Sep 29-Oet 27. Slate-colored Junco: imm with traces of Juvenile plumage Aug 30 1 Riis Pk (RC et al)—unusually early; max 500+ Oct 13 Fire Isl (TD). Clay-colored Sparrow: five reports: imm Sep 6 Fire Isl (TD,DF)—earliest Regional record; netted Oct 18 Tiana Beach (LW); Oct 23 Fire Isl (KM); Oct 28 JBWR (WN); netted Nov 16 Fire Isl (PB,TD,DF' et al)—photographed, extremely late. “GAMBEL’S” WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: adult netted Oct 5 at Tobay (AL,FS,RP)—photographed by AL and F'S, first State record of this far western sub¬ species. PART II—BANDING REPORTS Data from six Long Island banding stations has been used for this report. Con¬ tributors were as follows: Atlantic Beach—^Richard Cohen (2216 birds, daily Aug 1-Oct 31, continued in November on a near-daily basis). Brookhaven—Dennis Puleston (2849 birds of 83 species, daily Aug 1-Dec 10, 3031 net-hours ). Fire Island Light—Paul Buckley, Thomas Davis, Darrel Ford, Fred Heath et al (6279 birds of 103 species, 43 days Sep 6-Nov 30, 3226 net-hours). East Moriches—Leroy Wilcox (497 birds, daily except Sundays Sep 1-Sep 25, 392 net-hours). 52 Tiana Beach—Leroy Wilcox (1738 birds, daily except Sundays Sep 25-Oct 31, 562 net-hours). Tobay—Fred Schaeffer, Anthony Lauro, Donald Cooper, Harvey Father et al (5741 birds of 94 species, 43 days Aug 2-0ct 31, 3466 net-hours, continued spo¬ radically into November). A total of over 19000 birds of 122 species were banded at the above stations. Ex¬ cepting Atlantic totals, species were 1) Myrtle Warbler—6026 2) Slate-colored Junco —-1124; 3) Song Sparrow—822; 4) Golden-crowned Kinglet—684; 5) Yellowthroat— 013; 6) Catbird—602; 7) Swamp Sparrow—516; 8) American Redstart—443; 9) Ruby-crowned Kinglet—395; 10) Robin—392; 11) White-throated Sparrow—356; 12) Red-breasted Nuthatch—330; 13) Brown Creeper—242. These 13 species ac¬ counted for 12545 birds—74% of the total. Abbreviations used: AB—Atlantic Beach; Brook—Brookhaven; Fire—Fire Island Light; Mor—E. Moriches. HAWS-OWLS: Saw-whet Owl: Fire-18, Oct 19-Dec 14, max 7 on Nov 27. AB—3, Oct 29-31. GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Yellow-shafted Flicker: Fire-169, Sep 11-Nov 29, max 74 on Sep 29. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Fire—40, Sep 26-Oct 24, max 25 on Sep 29. Hairy Woodpecker: Tiana—one on Oct 10; Fire—one on Oct 4; no others banded. Downy Woodpecker: Fire—51, Sep 14-Nov 30, max 5 on Oct 20 and Nov 13; Tobay—40, Aug 3-Oct 26, max 4 on Sep 20 and Oct 26. Eastern Phoebe: Tobay —41, Aug 22 and Sep 26-Oct 12, max 19 on Oct 4; Fire—41, Sep 19-Oct 30, max 11 on Sep 29. Empidonax Flycatchers: combined totals from Brook, Fire and Tobay— Yellow-bellied: 8, Aug 21-Sep 29; Traill’s: 43, Aug 16-Sep 19, max 9 on Aug 30; Least: 16, Aug-Sep 28. Black-capped Chickadee: inland flight did not reach coast— none banded at Fire, Tiana, or Tobay. White-breasted Nuthatch: Fire—7, Sep 14- Oct 26. Red-breasted Nuthatch: Fire—'299, Sep 10-Nov 13, max 53 on Oct 19, 49 on Oct 20. Brown Creeper: Fire—161, Sep 10-Nov 22, max 33 on Oct 10 and Oct 26, Catbird: Tobay—122, Aug 2-Oct 26, max 12 on Sep 7; Brook—280, Aug 1-Oct 25, max 17 on Sep 27. Robin: Fire—333, Sep 19-Nov 30, max 119 on Oct 25. Hylocichla Thrushes: combined totals from Brook, Fire, Mor, Tiana and Tobay—Hermit: 138, Sep 27 J Nov 30, max 29 on Oct 26. Swainson’s: 64, Sep 10-Oct 19, max 16 on Sep 29. Gray-cheeked: 17, Sep 14-Oct 20, max 7 on Sep 29. Veery: 59, Aug 30-Sep 25, max 16 on Sep 11. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: only record—Sep 3 at Mor. Golden- crowned Kinglet: Fire—462, Sep 27-Nov 16, max 125 on Oct 13. Tobay—138, Sep 27- Oct 26, max 49 on Oct 13. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Fire—227, Sep 19-Nov 27, max 71 on Oct 26. Tobay—75, Sep 20-Oct 26, max 15 on Oct 26—note similar data from two stations only several miles apart. VIREOiS—WARBLERS: Red-eyed Vireo: Fire-94, Sep 10-Oct 24, max 34 on Sep 29; Tobay—89, Aug 24-Oct 26, max 21 on Sep 27. Philadelphia Vireo: combined Fire and Tobay total—10, Sep 7-Oct 10. Warbling Vireo: combined Brook, Fire and Tobay total—5 Aug 28-Sep 27. Myrtle Warbler: Tobay—3465, Sep 19-Oct 31, max 729 on Oct 18; Fire-1439, Sep 20-Nov 30, max 299 on Oct 13, 75% of total captured Oct 11-25. Blackpoll Warbler: Fire—79, Sep 10-Oct 25 and Nov 15, max 16 on Sep 26. Pine Warbler: Fire—6, Sep 26-Oct 25, usually only one or two of this relatively rare species are netted at any station. This high total might possibly be due to the pine habitat where nets are set. Connecticut Warbler: combined total from AB, Brook, Fire, Mor, and Tobay—10, Sep 8-29. Mourning Warbler: Tobay—one on Sep 14; 4 were banded at AB (no dates), Yellowthroat: Brook—296, Aug l-’Oct 29 and Nov 19, 1615 in Aug, 101 in Sep; Tobay—225, Aug 2-Oct 26, 201 prior to Sep 27. Yellow-breasted Chat: combined total from Brook, Fire, Tiana and Tobay—18, Aug 25-Oct 20, max 4 on Sep 27. American Redstart: Fire-139, Sep 10-Oct 13, max 49 on Sep 11; Tobay—188, Aug 3-Oct 13, max 35 on Sep 14. 53 BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Scarlet Tanager: Fire-17, Sep 10-Oct 9, max 7 on Sep 29. Cardinal: this species is a migrant on the outer beaches, where it seldom breeds. Fire—9, Oct 19-Nov 29; Tobay—3, Sep 27-Oct 4. “Winter Finches”: big flight year, numbers banded at Fire mirror sight reports—Evening Grosbeak: 2, Nov 15; Pine Grosbeak: Nov 1; Common Redpoll: 10, Oct 24-Nov 26, max 5 on Nov 1; Pine Siskin: 149, Oct 18-Nov 22 (109 in Oct); Red Crossbill: 92, Nov 11—30, max 29 on Nov 23; White-winged Crossbill: 6, Sep 10 and Nov 16-29. Rufous-sided Tow- hee: max at Fire, 24 on Oct 4. Grasshopper Sparrow: Brook—3, Oct 5-22. Slate- colored Junco: Fire—948, Sep 29-Nov 30, max 321 on Oct 26. Lincoln’s Sparrow: combined total from Brook, Fire, Tiana and Tobay—11, Sep 26-Oct 30, Swamp Sparrow: Brook—476, Sep 1 and Sep 20-Dec 10, max 57 on Oct 13. Song Sparrow: Fire—146, Sep 14-Nov 26, max 19 on Oct 24. Note: Please have winter reports in by April 8. Thomas H. Davis, 8613 85th Street, Woodhaven, New York 11421 Lee Morgan, 4 Windsor Lane, East Northport, New York 11731 54 REPORTING REGIONS For descriptions of Regions see Kingbird Vol. IV, Nos. 1 and 2 FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC 1970 Officers President Dr. Edgar M. Reilly, Jr.. . .. .. . . . . Old Chatham, N.Y. 12136 Vice President Mrs. Alice E. Ulrich. . ...... 193 LaSalle Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 14214 Corresponding Secretary Miss Ada Carter . ... . . . ...... ..... . ..Morrisville, N.Y. 13408 Recording Secretary Mrs. Mary Ann Sunderlin . . .505 Bay Road, Webster, N.Y. 14580 Treasurer Mrs. Edward M. Somers ..Box 7273, Capitol Station, Albany, N.Y. 12224 Editor of THE KINGBIRD Joseph W. Taylor 20 Parish Rd„ Honeoye Falls, New York 14472 Appointed Committees Bulletin Exchange: Mrs. Alice E. Ulrich, 193 LaSalle Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 14214 Conservation: Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr., 333 Bedell Street, Freeport 11520 Finance: Kenneth D. Niven, 61 Broadway, Monticello, N.Y. 12701 Publicity: Membership: Mrs. Ruth Williams, P.O. Box 382, Owego, N.Y. 13827 Publications and Research: Dr. Edgar M. Reilly, Jr., State Museum, Albany Bibliography: Dr. Sally Hoyt Spofford, Box 428, Etna 13062 By:laws: Richard Sloss, 1300 Seawave Drive, Hewlett Harbor 11557 Waterfowl Count: John L. Mitchell, 345 Conrad Drive, Rochester 14616 John J. Elliott Memorial Committee: Cornelius J. Ward, 804 South Ocean Avenue, Freeport 11520 Elected Committees Auditing: Samuel R. Madison, 326 Wellington Road, Delmar, N.Y. 12054 Guy Bartlett, 1053 Parkwood Blvd., Schenectady, N.Y. 12308 Nominating: Mrs. Ruth Williams, Owego, Ch.; John Bull, New York; Kenneth D. Niven, Mon¬ ticello