WRING
VOL XXII NO. 1
JANUARY 1972
NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC. |
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¬
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WKINGBIRD
PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.
Vol. XXII No. 1
January, 1972
1-60
CONTENTS
President’s Page.. Kenneth D. Niven 2
The 1972 Federation Officers .. 3
Photographs of New York State Rarities
21. Great Gray Owl..Robert P. Yunick 5
Laboratory Maintenance of Tree Sparrows.
George R. Maxwell II and Ralph DiCaprio 8
Merriam’s Adirondack List .. John B. Belknap 18
Field Notes
A New Glossy Ibis Colony at Cedar Beach, New York.William Post 19
Lesser Black-backed Gull at Onondaga Lake, New York Paul DeBenedictis 20
A late and hungry Ruby-throated Hummingbird.Mrs. Lynn Clark 21
Highlights of the Fall Season ... Fritz Scheider 22
Regional Reports ..24
Editor — Joseph W. Taylor
Associate Editors
Field Notes — Sally Hoyt Spofford
Regional Reports — Fritz Scheider
Editorial Board
Allen H. Benton Eugene Eisenmann
Stephen W. Eaton David B. Peakall
Dorothy W. McIlroy Fritz Scheider
Circulation Manager — Frederick C. Dittrich
Cover Design — Douglas L. Howland
PRESIDENT'S PAGE
As I assume the responsibilities of the Federation as it’s newest presi¬
dent, I have been asked to continue the President’s Page.
At the outset, let me say that it is with some trepidation that I take
up the reins of authority turned over to me by my worthy predecessor,
Dr. Edgar M. Reilly, Jr. I say this because I am fully aware of the many
changes that have taken place in our environment and its ecology,
especially during the past several decades. The challenges that con¬
front us and the problems to be faced and hopefully solved are all
around us and constantly increasing, or so it seems. It has been said
before, but it will bear repeating, that as students of natural history,
(whether professional or amateur) be it ornithology, botany, zoology or
what have you, it has become increasingly obvious that we must be
concerned with our total environment and its future or there will be
no future for us or our children to say nothing of our grandchildren.
In view of some of the thoughts just expressed, it is to be hoped that
in the year ahead the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs will
grow in numbers and strength and that some of its good resolutions
may be translated to positive action. We all have our dreams, and yet
I realize that if any progress is made, it is going to require the full co¬
operation and support of both individuals and clubs, and this whole¬
hearted co-operaton I earnestly solicit.
Kenneth D. Niven
2
THE 1972 FEDERATION OFFICERS
There follows a very brief biolographical sketch of the Officers of the
Federation for 1972, their addresses being listed on the back cover:
President: Kenneth D. Niven. Mr. Niven was born in Monticello,
Sullivan County, New York in 1908, and has lived his entire life in that
area. He has been employed by the Post Office Department for 34 years.
He has been interested in nature generally and in birds and botany
in particular since his youth, although his serious ornithological interest
did not fully develop until later years. He has been a member of the
FNYSBC for 20 years and has served as Treasurer for 4. He has at¬
tended the Audubon Society Camps in Maine and Connecticut. He is
a member of the Wilson Ornithological Society, Hawk Mountain Sanc¬
tuary Association and is a former bird bander and member of the East¬
ern Bird Banding Association. In 1951 he was one of the founders of
the Sullivan County Audubon Society.
Vice President: Mary Ann Sunderlin. Mrs. Sunderlin has lived in
Rochester, New York all of her life. She has a Masters Degree in Edu¬
cation from SUNYC at Brockport and teaches in the East Irondequoit
Central School District at elementary level.
Mrs. Sunderlin s interest in birds stems from her grandmother who
conducted the first Christmas Census in the Rochester area, and she
carries on this interest, as well as one in conservation in general, through
her membership in many nature groups. She is vice president of the
Rochester Academy of Science and a past president of the Genesee
Ornithological Society. As President of the GOS she organized field
trips to the Adirondacks and would like to see the Federation sponsor
such trips to interesting areas throughout the state with local clubs
handling the arrangements.
Corresponding Secretary: Elizabeth A. Feldhusen. Miss Feldhusen was
trained as a nurse in the Brooklyn, New York, area and has actively
pursued her profession. She was a member of the Army Nurse Corps
in World War II, eventually being assigned to General Pattons Third
Army. She has been in public health nursing for many years and is now
a Consultant Nurse for Home Health Agencies in Brooklyn.
Miss Feldhusen has been an active member of the Brooklyn Bird
Club since 1945. While employed by New York State in Greene County
she started the Greene County Bird Club in 1957, and upon being
transferred to Oneonta in 1967 she started the Delaware-Otsego Audu¬
bon Society. She has been a member of the Federation since its second
year and has previously held the offices of both recording and cor¬
responding secretary.
3
Recording Secretary : Myrna Hemmerick. Mrs. Hemmerick has always
had an interest in nature and birds in general, but she became an avid
birder and conservationist upon moving to Setauket about 10 years ago
and meeting many of the fine naturalists there.
She helped organize the Suffolk Bird Club of which she is now presi¬
dent. She is Chairman of the Brookhaven Town Natural Resources Com¬
mittee and a Director of the Civic Association of the Setaukets. She
is also a member of the Huntington Audubon Society and The Nature
Conservancy.
Treasurer : Stephen Dempsey. A sketch on Mr. Dempsey will be in a
subsequent issue when data is received from him.
CORRIGENDA FOR OCTOBER 1971 KINGBIRD
Several errors of consequence appeared in the October, 1971 Kingbird, according
to letters received from authors of three articles. The Editor has not seen this issue,
and since he is now in the west birding andwill not see it for some time, these corri¬
genda are presented below/ somewhat informally, as received from the authors.
PREMATURE FEATHER LOSS IN TERNS
page 206, 2nd paragraph, 3rd line
3rd paragraph, 4th line
page 209, 2nd paragraph, 9th line
page 210, bibliography entry #1
Field Note on Mallard
line 14 of the note
line 15 of the note
the authors name
“largely” should read “rarely”
“Bull Island” should read “Gull Island”
“stupid” should read “studied”
“ffxtra” should read “Extra”
eating Painted Turtle
“4—12 to 6 inches long” should read
“4Vi to 6 inches long”
“7-18 inches” should read
“7 1/8 inches”
“Frederick C. Schlauch,”wo£
“Frederick C. Schauch”
Field Note on Apparent Nesting of Goldeneye at Buffalo
near the beginning and end of “1970 ” should be 1971
paragraph four on page 213 and
about the middle of the final para¬
graph on page 214
4
PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW YORK STATE RARITIES
21. Great Gray Owl
The Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa ) is an holarctic species that
breeds in the boreal forests of Alaska, western Canada, the Rocky Moun-
Photograph by Robert P. Yunick
Harris Road, near Halfmoon, Saratoga County, N.Y., March 1971
5
tains and North Central contiguous United States and occurs east to
Ontario. It winters in its breeding range and occasionally into northern
New York, and casually south of the state (AOU Check-list: 286, 1957;
and Bull, Birds of the New York Area, Harper and Bow, N.Y., 274,
1964).
This past winter (1970-71) a male (sex determined by wing chord
length) appeared on Harris Road near Halfmoon in Saratoga County
in late February and was viewed and photographed by many members
of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club in early March. On March 10, 1971 I
captured the bird with a mouse-baited Bal-chatri trap, and it was
banded by Dr. W. D. Merritt, Jr. of Rexford, It was last seen on Harris
Road on March 13 and was thought to have departed with the warming
weather of March 13-15, which brought in many migrants. However, on
March 19 some publicity on the bird appeared dn a Troy newspaper, and
on March 20 a woman having seen the newspaper article called to say that
she and her husband had seen this bird in their yard that morning,
about three miles from where the bird had been seen previously on
Harris Road. They gave a convincing description of the bird, and due to
the proximity 'of the two locations, it could have been the same individ¬
ual. This was the last report of the bird.
The accompanying photograph was taken late in the afternoon of
March 10, 1971 at Harris Road. This picture was shot under poor light
conditions as a 35-mm, slide at 14 feet with a 200-mm. telephoto lens. Mr.
Lawrence King of Schenectady kindly provided black-and-white prints
of the color transparencies.
A search of the state’s ornithological literature reveals the following
records for the species.
To 1912 Eaton (N.Y.S. Museum 66th Annual Report: 3 (1912), 116-7,
published by the Univ. of the State of N.Y. in 1914) listed 12 records as
follows: Marcy, Oneida County, February 1875; Adirondacks, March
1879; Steuben County, February 10, 1887; Watson, Lewis County, De¬
cember 17, 1889; New York State, 1889; White Lake, Oneida County,
February 1895; St. Lawrence County, three specimens, 1890-95; Mt. Si¬
nai, Suffolk County, date unknown; Rensselaer County, date unknown;
Seneca Castle, Ontario County, January 1907.
In 1938 (Auk, 55: 279-80) Stoner cited 1) the records of Eaton; 2) a
Franklin County record reported by W. DeW. Milles (Auk, 32: 228,
1915); and 3) published for the first time information on a specimen
shot in the autumn of 1919 at Great Tupper Lake in St. Lawrence Coun¬
ty and presented to the State Museum in 1937. At that time, Stoner
indicated that these 14 records were the only published ones known to
him for the species in the state.
In 1945 (Auk, 62 : 629-30) Stoner published two additional records
that had come to his attention, namely that of a specimen shot March 15,
1883 at Ft. Covington, Franklin County, and one of a wounded, caged
6
specimen of January 16, 1931 from Westville, Franklin County. Mrs.
Stoner kindly provided reprints of her husband’s papers for this review.
The AO U Check-list of 1957 cites records from Painted Post and Ful¬
ton County with no dates given.
Only one record appears in 21 years of field notes in The Kingbird
beginning in 1950. Meade (Vol. 5 (1): 24, 1955) reported a sighting of
a bird in a deep wooded swamp by Agnes Amstutz near Tupper Lake on
March 5, 1955. The only other recent records appear in Beardslee and
Mitchell’s Birds of the Niagara Frontier Region ( Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat.
Hist., 22 : 283, 1965). In addition to a specimen in the Buffalo Museum
of Science collected at Niagara Falls with no date given, they list 1) a
specimen collected in a cedar swamp in March of 1937, three miles west
of Chili; 2) a sight record of February 6, 1948 at Churchville; and 3) an
April 9, 1950 sighting in Dunkirk Harbor.
Bull (op. cit), lists two records and mentions several unconfirmed
sightings. One bird was shot on Long Island with the date and the spe¬
cimen’s whereabouts unknown. The other was collected on December 29,
1902 at Orient, but was not preserved.
A search through Audubon Field Notes for the years 1965-70 revealed
no New York State records, despite two “invasions” of the species. Rob¬
bins ( AFN, 20 ( 3): 396-9, 1966) called the 1965-66 influx of the species
“perhaps its first real influx in ornithological annals in North America.”
In that winter there were 37 records from Minnesota, 30 from Ontario,
14 from Quebec, two from Wisconsin, one from Alberta and one from
Oregon. He summarizes the reports of 1960-65 and indicates that they
averaged two per year. For 1960-65, there were no New York records in¬
dicated either.
A lesser invasion occurred in 1968-9 in the western Great Lakes region.
Plunkett (AFN, 23 ( 3): 440-6, 1969) summarized the invasion which
in Minnesota was at least as heavy as the one of 1965-6. Eastern reports
included one sighting from New Hampshire, one from Quebec and
seven from Ontario.
From the data at hand, it would appear that this winter’s sighting at
Halfmoon is the 26th reported sighting in the state.
Robert P. Yunick, 1527 Myron Street, Schenectady, New York 12309.
7
LABORATORY MAINTENANCE OF TREE SPARROWS
George R. Maxwell II and Ralph DiCaprio
Wild birds have increasingly become the subject of laboratory investi¬
gations by scientists. The recently discovered relationship between birds
and arborviruses and the increased use of birds in the study of bio¬
energetics have resulted in increased attempts to maintain these animals
in captivity for experimental purposes. Stamm (1966) expressed the
need for more information on methods of maintaining wild birds in the
laboratory. Farrar (1966) states that there is still little information on sev¬
eral of the species of birds widely used in the study of bioenergetics.
The main objective of this investigation was to determine the foods on
which the Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea, could best maintain its weight
while in captivity in a laboratory environment. Information concerning
the amount of food and water consumed, weight of excreta, and body
weight fluctuations was recorded from December, 1967 to April, 1968 at
the Rice Creek Biological Field Station, State University College, Os¬
wego, New York.
METHODS
Trapping of the Tree Sparrows began in early December, 1967 and
continued until 20 birds were captured early in January, 1968. The trap
consisted of a rectangular wooden frame of six square meters covered by
a nylon mist net which fell over the birds attracted to feed under the
net.
Twenty cages (16" X X 7" high) were used and divided by card¬
board into three rectangular compartments to minimize scattering of
feed and water. The larger middle compartment contained a perch, and
the side compartments contained the feed and water. The bottom of the
cage was covered by cardboard in order to further reduce scattering
and contain the loss. The front of the food compartment was covered
with clear plastic and the bottom cardboard was cut out under the feed¬
er. The plastic prevented food from being thrown out the front and
removal of the cardboard directly below the feeder allowed dropped
food to fall out of the cage and into a collecting pan below. The interior
bottom of the cage was lined with aluminum foil as recommended by
Martin (1967) to facilitate the separation of feed and feces.
Several types of feeders were tested and the simplest proved to be the
most satisfactory. A 250 ml beaker with the top half covered by tape
was used. This type of feeder contained enough food to last a week and
reduced scattering to a minimum.
8
The water container was a junior baby food jar, which held 250 ml
of water, inverted over an oversized cap with a stick tipping the jar
which allowed water to seep into the cap. The jars were filled under wa¬
ter so that all air was eliminated from the system.
According to West (1960) there was no difference between the energy
requirements of male and female Tree Sparrows even though the males
weighed slightly more. Because of this, the sex of the bird was not con¬
sidered and all data for both sexes were combined.
Twenty birds were divided into four groups of five birds each. Group
1, consisted of birds 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A, and were fed a commercial
mix called Feathered Friend packaged by Agway, Inc. of Syracuse, New
York. This mix contained millet, wheat, sunflower seeds, milo and peanut
hearts. Group 2, consisted of birds 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 10A and were fed
millet. Group 3, consisted of birds 11 A, 12A, 13A, 14A, 15A and were
fed finely cracked corn. Group 4, consisted of birds 16A, 17A, 18A, 19A,
20A and were fed sunflower seeds removed from their shells. The inves¬
tigation was carried out for twelve weeks and each group of birds was
always fed the same type of food.
As recommended by West (1960) a period of days was allowed for
the birds to adjust to captivity before the experiments were conducted.
Also climatic adjustment was necessary as the birds were taken from a
winter environment and placed in a room at 24 °C and with 16 hours of
daylight maintained by an automatic time switch.
The experimental procedure during the 12 week period remained con¬
sistent and was as follows: The aluminum foil bottom was weighed to
the nearest 0.01 gram and placed in the bottom of the cage. The feeder
jar was filled with the appropriate food and weighed to the nearest 0.01
gram. The water jar was filled under water to eliminate all air, the vol¬
ume for each jar having been previously determined. Finally, the birds
were weighed to the nearest 0.1 gram and one bird placed in each cage.
At the end of each week, the bird was removed and weighed. The
food spilled on the aluminum foil was separated from the feces and
weighed along with the remaining feed left at the end of the week in the
feeder jar. Subtraction of this weight from the original weight of the feed
at the beginning of the week gave the amount of feed consumed by the
bird per week. The aluminum foil containing the feces was folded and
dried. The foil was then weighed to obtain the dry weight of the feces.
Because of loss of water by evaporation, controls were necessary to
determine the amount of water consumed. Each group had a control
water bottle near their cages from which evaporation loss was measured.
Thus the amount of water consumed by each bird per week was ob¬
tained.
RESULTS
After capture, the body weight of the birds in all four groups declined
and remained at a level below their original weight. Each group
9
showed different body weight changes during the 12 week experimental
period as seen in Figure 1 and Table 1. The first group, which was fed
mixed grain, and were selective in their consumption of the various
components of that mix, was the most stable throughout the experimental
period. There was a decline during the first week, but then there was a
stable period lasting for seven weeks. Although weakened by their pe¬
riod of captivity, none of the birds died and all were able to fly well when
released.
The millet fed second group varied quite erratically in weight with
slight weight increases interrupting a gradual decline. Although their
weight did not drop as low as the corn group, the millet group suffered
the greatest number of casualties. Three of the original five birds died
Figure 1. Average weight of Tree Sparrows fed four feed types for 12 weeks. Five
birds were in each group.
10
toward the end of the twelve week study. The remaining two birds
were so weakened that they could only fly poorly when released.
The corn fed group dropped to very low weights during the first six
weeks and then remained low the rest of the experimental period. They
were in extremely poor condition and could not fly at the time of re¬
lease but only one bird died at the end of the experiment.
The fourth group, which was fed sunflower seed, experienced more
body weight fluctuation than the first group and one of the birds died.
They maintained the highest average weights and were only slightly
below their normal weight when the study ended. They were slightly
weakened by their experience but easily flew away when released.
A summary of the weekly measurements of food consumption, water
consumption, and feces weights is presented in Table 2. Statistical analy¬
sis was used to determine if equal amounts of the four feeds were con¬
sumed, if equal quantities of feces were produced by birds in the four
groups, and if weight fluctuation of birds fed on the four feeds was
similar. The analysis of variance was evaluated by an F-test to determine
if the above parameters were true.
TABLE 1
Weight Loss of Laboratory Maintained Tree Sparrows
Period
(days of captivity)
Mean Loss at End of Period
(Percent of Normal) 1
Feed Groups 2
Mixed
Millet
Corn
Sunflower
Normal Mean Weight
18.7 gms
17.8 gms
17.4 gms
18.4 gms
1-7
5.9%
6.2%
6.3%
9.2%
8-14
4.8
7.9
6.3
10.9
15-21
6.4
7.9
12.1
14.1
22-28
8.6
7.3
20.1
12.0
29-35
6.4
15.7
21.3
13.6
36-42
5.9
18.0
29.9
21.7
43-49
7.5
20.8
32.2
18.5
50-57
8.0
15.2
27.6
10.3
58-64
13.4
18.0
30.5
6.5
65-71
17.6
15.7
28.2
5.4
72-78
19.3
18.0
20.1
7.6
79-85
19.8
20.8
24.7
9.8
1 Normal refers to the mean weight of each group at beginning of experiment period.
2 There were 5 experimental birds in each feed group.
11
The amount of food consumed by each bird fed on the four feeds
and the analysis of variance is presented in Table 3. The F test for Table
3 shows a null hypothesis probability of more than 1%. Therefore, the
null hypothesis cannot be rejected. This means that on the average the
four feeds are equal in the amount consumed.
The amount of feces voided by birds fed on the four feeds and the
analysis of variance is presented in Table 4. The F test for Table 4 shows
a null hypothesis probability of less than 1%. This means that the null
hypothesis must be rejected and that the four feeds do not result in the
same amount of feces voided.
A summary of weight fluctuation of birds fed on the four feed types
and the analysis of variance is presented in Table 5. The F test shows a
TABLE 2
Average Food and Water Consumption and Feces Excreted in
Laboratory Maintained Tree Sparrows for 12 Weeks.
Bird #
Grams of Feed
Consumed per Week
Millileters of
Water Consumed per Week
Grams of Feces
Excreted per Week
1A
24.55
38.9
3.66
"g 2A
23.98
33.6
4.12
* 3A
25.14
30.1
3.42
S 4A
23.51
28.4
2.77
5A
23,08
51,6
3.08
6A
22.77
27.7
7.48
tJ 7A
21.64
51.3
4.17
8A
29.21
31.3
9.41
S 9A
28.99
26.0
9.96
10A
20.85
3.3
9.97
11A
20.82
37.0
2.85
^ 12A
24.12
40.7
2.41
S 13A
17.32
32.1
2.65
U 14A
20.58
59.1
, 2.49
15A
20.29
18.9
2.89
16A
21.07
66.4
9.12
£ . 17A
16.55
84.3
6.13
18A
20.71
57.4
10.63
§ 19A
20.33
37.6
8,64
1/3 20A
18.81
44.1
7.61
12
null hypothesis probability of less than 1%. Therefore, the null hypothesis
must be rejected which means the four feeds do not produce the same
gain in weight. Further support for this hypothesis can be seen in Figure
1 where a decided difference can be noted in the curves of these graphs
showing variations in bird weights in the four groups.
DISCUSSION
When wild birds are placed in captivity, there tends to follow a period
of weight loss lasting from a few days to weeks. In his investigation with
Slate-colored Juncos, Farrar (1960) reported an immediate decrease in
weight, followed by an increase to some stabilized position below normal
weight. He suggested that the rate of change, maximum loss, timing and
final stabilization point may or may not be dependent upon environ¬
mental conditions and that the decreases may be a result of some psy¬
chological effect, a change in diet, or most probably inactivity resulting
in muscle atrophy accompanied by a shift in water content to restore
normal water balance. West (1960) also reported a decline in body
weights after capture in his study with Tree Sparrows. West, however,
maintained that the birds returned to their original levels of body weight
after a few days of captivity.
In this study none of the Tree Sparrows returned to their original
weights. Weight losses were fairly continuous in all groups with the ex¬
ception of the sunflower seed fed group, which was able to nearly regain
the weight initially lost and the mixed feed group which was able to
maintain a fairly stable weight for seven weeks before it declined at the
end of the experimental period. The birds maintained on sunflower
seeds appeard to be healthier and were stronger when released. Loss
of strength was partly due to the lack of exercise space due to the small
size of the cage, although the feed probably was primarily responsible
for the weakening of the birds.
The fact that the birds survived best on the mixed grain and sun¬
flower seeds is indicated by the sample variances for these groups which
were much lower than those for the millet and corn (Table 3). The birds
on the more nutritional diet showed less individual variation of feed
consumed and showed less weight fluctuation during the period than did
those birds on the other feeds, which probably indicated some stability
in the better fed groups.
The birds consumed, on the average, equal amounts of each of the four
feed types in spite of the advantage to the bird of two of the feeds. This
phenomenon appears to be consistent with the observation that many
vertebrates will eat available food to fill their stomachs even if that food
is of low nutritional value. The fact that each feed type did not produce
equal amounts of feces probably indicates that some of the feeds are
more readily digested than others and thus produce less fecal material.
13
TABLE 3
\
\
Maximum-Minimum and Mean Amounts of Food Consumed per Week in Grams
by Laboratory Maintained Tree Sparrows During 12 Weeks.
Bird #
Max-Min
Sample Mean
Sample Variance
95% Confidence Interval
1A
26.95-20.37
24.55
1.19
23.86< ^<25.24
^ 2A
28.83-20.30
23.98
2.33
22.51
<23.70
12A
35.77-16.37
24.12
6.89
19.74< /x <28.50
S 13A
25.83-13.16
17.32
3.90
14.51 <^<20.13
O 14A
32.06-13.39
20.58
5.47
17.1 l< 3.20
5A
4.64-2.03
3.07
0.74
2.51 <^< 3.63
6A
9.06-5.04
7.48
1.10
6.74< A < 8.21
S 7A
6.37-2.24
4.17
1.22
3.40< 13.25
10A
6.58-2.95
3.97
1.16
3-24< i u< 4.70
11A
3.92-1.23
2.85
0.80
2-35 < j u,< 3.25
c 12A
3.08-1.68
2.40
0.56
1.98< /x < 2.82
g 13A
3.57-1.82
2.64
0.56
2-25 < iU ,< 3.03
U 14A
3.53-1.47
2.50
0.76
2.02<^< 2.98
"15 A
4.27-1.41
2.89
1.09
2.20< ja < 3.58
S3 16A
14.21-5.25
9.56
2.17
8.91 < pt< 10.21
1 17A
11.41-3.57
6.53
1.92
5.24< /a < 7.82
« 18A
15.33-8.59
11.25
3.75
8.73<^<13.77
§ 19A
10.57-7.91
5.91
1.81
3.66< m ,< 8.16
w 20A
10.05-5.46
7.92
1.51
6.91 < /x < 8.93
H = mean
Analysis of Variance of Table 4
Degrees of
Sum of
Mean
Source of
Variation
Freedom
Squares
Squares F
Between Samples
3
116.0
38.7 13.82*
Error
16
44
2.80
Total
19
160.0
—
* F.01 = not significant for F > 5.29
15
TABLE 5
Maximum-Minimum and Mean Weight Fluctuations per Week in Grams
by Laboratory Maintained Tree Sparrows During 12 Weeks.
Bird # Max-Min
Sample Mean
Sample Variance
95% Confidence Interval
1A
17.5-15.2
16.60
.71
16.18< i(X < 17.02
-o 2A
19.3-15.8
17.98
1.09
17.33 < M < 18.63
% 3A
20.1-17.0
18.73
.97
18.15< JU ,< 19.31
§ 4A
18.2-12.6
15.41
1.78
14.34< ]U ,< 16.48
5A
19.2-13.6
16.06
1.70
15.04< ja < 17.08
6A
16.1-12.4
14.12
1.16
13.39< M < 14.85
^ 7 A
18.2-13.0
14.96
1.28
14.19< ia < 15.73
^ BA
17.7-13.1
16.52
.99
15.76< jlt < 17.28
3 9A
18.2-13.7
14.96
1.42
13-965.29
16
SUMMARY
This study was conducted from December, 1967 to April, 1968 at the
Rice Creek Biological Field Station, State University College, Oswego,
New York for the purpose of obtaining information on the maintenance
of a selected fringillid in the laboratory.
In the study, twenty Tree Sparrows were divided into four groups of
five birds each. The groups were fed commercial mixed feed (Agway
Feathered Friend), millet, corn, and sunflower seed respectively. Data
concerning bird weights, food and water consumed and feces voided
were collected once a week over a twelve week period. The findings are
as follows:
1. The Tree Sparrows were most successful in maintaining their body
weight when fed the mixed grain or sunflower seed. Of the two
feeds, the sunflower seed appeared to be slightly better.
2. The Tree Sparrows could not maintain their weight on millet or
corn. Of the two grains, however, corn was better than the millet.
3. In this study Tree Sparrows consumed approximately the same
amounts of food per day irrespective of the type of grain.
4. The amount of feces voided by the birds was dependent upon the
type of feed.
5. If fed a mixed grain, the birds were selective in their consumption
of the various components of that mix.
Rice Creek Biological Field Station, State University College, Oswego,
New York 13126 and 13 Newman Street , Gloversville, New York 12078.
25 August, 1971.
LITERATURE CITED
Farrar, R. B., Jr. 1966.
Mean dry weight and water balance in Slate-colored Juncos. Auk, 83(4): 616-622.
Martin, Elden W. 1967.
An improved cage design for experimentation with passeriform birds. Wilson Bul¬
letin, 79 (3): 335-338.
Stamm, Donald D. 1966.
Relationships of birds and arborviruses. Auk, 83(1): 84—97.
West ,G. C. 1960.
Seasonal variation in the energy balance of the Tree Sparrow in relation to migra¬
tion. Auk, 77:306-329.
17
MERRIAM'S ADIRONDACK LIST
The Adirondack region in northeastern New York has been defined in
a number of ways. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica (1965
edition) it covers five thousand square miles and is bounded by Lake
Champlain, the St. Lawrence River and the Mohawk River valley. As the
state became settled the heavily wooded Adirondack country with its
rugged terrain was bypassed and remained virtually untouched for many
years.
The region became famous for hunting and fishing, and late in the
nineteenth century the era of resorts began. Nonetheless until recent
times it remained largely wildernesss. Penetration by highways and rail¬
roads accompanied by extensive lumbering has now materially altered its
character.
For a few years in the early 1880’s Clinton Hart Merriam, following
graduation from medical school, practiced at Locust Grove, a small com¬
munity north of Boonville. During this period he studied the bird
life of Lews County as well as portions of the western Adirondacks lying
to the east. This resulted in the publication of an annotated list of 211
species entitled “Preliminary List of Birds Ascertained to Occur in the
Adirondack Region, Northeastern New York.” This was published in the
Nuttall Ornithological Club Bulletin (Vol. 6 #4), with three later adden¬
da. Together these constitute the first comprehensive report on the birds
of the area, although mention should be made of a somewhat earlier list
of summer birds observed near Paul Smith’s in Franklin County com¬
piled by Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Davis Minot.
Unfortunately Merriam did not define the area covered by his report.
It is evident that the term “Adirondack Region” was used loosely, and
that some observations were made in peripheral areas not strictly repre¬
sentative of the “Adirondack Wilderness.” For example, a number of
shorebirds and ducks are designated as having been seen “along Lake
Champlain.” It would appear that where observations were made by
someone other than Merriam, credit is given. Dr. A. K. Fisher, a class¬
mate in medical school, evidently carried out field work at Lake George
since a number of summer records are included on his authority.
Merriam’s report was prepared prior to the issuance of the first A.O.U.
Checklist and some of the common names of birds differ from those used
later. Thus we find Titlark, now Water Pipit; Blue Yellow-backed War¬
bler, now Parala Warbler; Black and Yellow Warbler, now Magnolia
Warbler; Grass Finch, now Vesper Sparrow; White-winged Gull, now
Iceland Gull; Little Blackhead, now Lesser Scaup.
Merriam included the Willow Ptarmigan on. the strength of a specimen
taken in Watson, Lewis County in 1876. It is described as "a male, in
18
changing plumage, mostly white but with brown head and neck.” Eaton
(1909) accepts this record but Reilly & Parkes (1959) question it, with
the comment “hypothetical, one specimen 1876, identification doubted;
specimen lost.” Could this have been an albino Ruffed or Spruce Grouse?
It might be added that the A.O.U. checklist (Fifth Edition, 1957) in¬
cludes Watson, Lewis County, N.Y. in the extralimital range of the Wil¬
low Ptarmigan.
The Whistling Swan is given as a possible breeding species on the
authority of DeKay (1844). However, the extreme northern distribution
of this species precludes the likelihood of its breeding in New York
State. One species whose status has changed radically since the time of
Merriam is the Raven. According to his report the Raven was “a common
resident throughout the Adirondacks.” Comments on the Loggerhead
(White-rumped) Shrike are interesting: “They now breed throughout
Lewis County and have extended their range into all congenial spots
within the Adirondack Wilderness.” This shrike is partial to open coun¬
try rather than heavily wooded areas and one wonders how many “con¬
genial spots” it would find in the big woods.
John B. Belknap , 92 Clinton St. Gouverneur , N.Y.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
American Ornithologists Union 1957. Checklist of North American Birds, p. 131.
Goues, Elliott 1878. The Willow Grouse in New York. Nuttall Ornithological Club
Bulletin, Vol. 3 p. 41.
DeKay, James E. 1844, The Zoology of New York. Part 2 — Birds.
Eaton, Elon Howard 1909. Birds of New York. Part 1 p. 375.
Merriam, Clinton Hart 1880. Preliminary List of Birds Ascertained to Occur in the
Adirondack Region, Northeastern New York. Nuttall Ornithological Club Bulletin,
Vol. 6 p. 225.
- 1882. Addenda to the Preliminary List of Birds Ascertained to Occur in
the Adirondack Region, Northeastern New York. Nuttall Ornithological Club Bull¬
etin, Vol. 7 p. 128.
--- 1882. Second Addendum to )the Preliminary List of Birds Ascertained to
Occur in the Adirondack Region, Northeastern New York. Nuttall Ornithological
Club Bulletin, Vol. 7 p. 256.
- 1884. Third Addendum to the Preliminary List of Birds Ascertained to
Occur in the Adirondack Region, Northeastern New York. Auk, Vol. 1 p. 58.
Reilly, E. M. and Parkes, K. C. 1959. Preliminary Annotated Checklist of New York
State Birds. p ; 15.
Roosevelt, Theodore and Minot, Henry Davis 1877. The Summer Birds of the Ad¬
irondacks in Franklin County, N.Y.
FIELD NOTES
A New Glossy Ibis Colony at Cedar Beach, New York: During May, 1971, Glossy
Ibis (Plegadis fdlcinellus ) established a colony along the ocean parkway at Cedar
Beach, Suffolk County. On 1 July, I penetrated the colony and estimated, by running
19
a 25 X 25 m transect, that there were 100 Glossy Ibis nests and 60 Black-crowned
Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) nests. The overall size of the colony was 250 X
25 m. It was situated in a dense growth of phragmites, which had overgrown a stand
of bayberry and poison ivy. The ibis and herons utilized the dead and dying
shrubs for nest support, and the phragmites provided cover and nesting material.
The ibis nests were 0.3 to 2.5 m high. The ones closest to the ground were built on
prostrate bayberry or poison ivy branches,and were additionally supported by a
solid mass of phragmites stems, so in effect the birds were nesting on the ground.
The center of the colony is only about 20 m from Great South Bay and 25 m from
the highway but the high, dense phragmites seem to provide sufficient screening and
protection from humans. In fact, few nests or young could be seen from the high¬
way. It is interesting that the ibis did inot seem to require elevated nest sites and
there appear to be few ground predators on this narrow section of the barrier beach.
At Tobay, Black-crowned Night Herons occasionally nest on the ground in a phrag¬
mites patch next to one of the pine groves, but such behavior is probably infrequent
because of the presence of foxes in that area.
The Cedar Beach colony appeared to have had a successful season. There were
many well grown young ibis climbing about their nests, and some were already flying
weakly.
This colony is the tenth known nesting site in New York. In addition to the six
locations reported by Post, Enders, and Davis (Kingbird, 20: 3-8, 1970), in 1970
P. A. Buckley found ibis nesting on Oak Island, Suffolk County (personal communi¬
cation), and D. Puleston reported four young hatched in a heronry on Gardiner’s
Island, Suffolk County (Kingbird, 20: 178-179, 1970). In addition, at least 19 pairs
nested in the pine groves f at Tobay Sanctuary in the summer of 1971. These groves
are near the Jones Beach parking field pine grove previously reported as a nesting
site (Post, Enders, and Davis, op. cit.).
William Post, 1719 Nottingham Road, Raleigh, North Carolina
Lesser Black-backed Gull at Onondaga Lake, New York: While checking gulls
and shorebirds on Onondaga Lake 28 September 1971 I found a distinctly dark-
mantled gull swimming with an assemblage of Herring (Larus argentatus ) and Ring¬
billed (Larus delawarensis) Gulls at the mouth of Nine-mile Creek. Struck by its
size, scarcely larger than the Ring-billed Gulls, and by its small-headed, slender-
billed appearance, I suspected it to be a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
although its legs were not visible. After following it several minutes, I quickly scanned
the rest of the area here, then discovered the bird had left its original position. A
quick check showed it to be standing just under knee deep in water in the center of
a large group of Ring-billed Gulls. I moved to a closer position to check leg color,
then dashed to the nearest public phone to alert other local birders, and returned to
the lake and continued studying the 'bird. F. G. Scheider, C. G. Speis, M. S. Rusk,
and J. W. Propst arrived in time to see the bird before it flew off to the southwest.
I observed the bird for perhaps 50 minutes under bright overcast skies with a 30 X
Balscope at ranges up to 50 yards. All observers, of which I was the only one not to
have seen the species before, concurred with the identification.
A description, with elaborations from notes made in the field and before consulting
field guides, in parentheses, follows:
A dark-mantled gull the size of (an extremely) small Herring Gull by direct com¬
parison, (probably in third alternate plumage). The head, belly and tail were uni¬
form white; (the back of the head was lightly streaked with gray or the feathers
were badly ruffled). The mantle was dark slatly gray, appearing uniform except for
white tips to the scapulars and secondaries and flashing white feather bases when
the bird spread its wings; the primaries were black and unpatterned, (the innermost
colored more like the mantle). In flight the primaries were smudged with black
below; the rest of the underwing was pure white. The wings were very long, ex-
20
tending 2 to 3 inches beyond the tail tip, and the tip of the secondaries icame to
within an inch of the tail tip.The head >was noticeably small for the size of the bird
and the bill, orangey yellow with a red spot at the gonys like a Great Black-backed
Gull { Larus marinus) , was long and slender, about 3 times as long as deep and
with almost no suggestion of a gonydeal angle. Leg color (was diffiuclt to deter¬
mine) ; the knees were a dark, dirty pink, and the tibia were darker (the color was
clearly in contrast to the yellow-green of adult Ring-billed Gulls and the fleshy pink
of Herring Gulls and immature Ring-bills); the feet /Were never seen. The eye was
small and appeared to be uniformly dark.
My general impression of the bird was a gull Jthe shape of an overgrown Ring¬
billed Gull, or even better, the long-winged extreme of Iceland Gull ( Larus glau-
coides), only with a mantle like a Laughing Gull ( Larus atricilla) but darker, although
not quite the slaty black of the Great Black-backed Gull. Because of the problems
associated with identification of this species in North America, I comment on why I
think all other species (and most hybrids) can be eliminated. Soft part colors can be
attributed to the bird’s immaturity. The small size of the bird, and in particular the
small-headed, slender-billed, long-winged appearance at once eliminates Great
Black-backed Gull, Slaty-backed Gull ( Larus schistisagus) , Western Gull ( Larus
occidentalis) , Kelp Gull ( Larus dominicanus) , and Herring X Great Black-backed
hybrids, all of which are larger than most Herring Gulls and noticeably heavier
billed, as are the two most similar Old World races of Herring Gull, L. a. atlantis
and L. a. heugUni. In addition the former is paler than fuscus (Scheider and Probst
both thought this bird was darker than the bird which wintered at Ithaca); heuglini
could only be eliminated on the basis of size, but presumably is also slightly paler.
Of the European forms, only the Lesser Black-backed Gull '{Larus fuscus graellsi)
has been documented for North America. Counting all appearances of the Ithaca
bird as 1 record, this appears to be the 4th record in New York State away from Re¬
gion 10, and the second for Region 5.
Paul DeBenedictis, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New
York 13210.
Ed. comment: The writer of this note is to be commended for an excellent job of
documentation without being unnecessarily wordy. Those reporting rarities are some¬
times upset over being asked to document carefully their observation, not realizing
that it is not merely a question of full verification but also to enable a reader, now
or in decades to come, to evaluate the report accurately. Too often good sight records
have had to be thrown out for lack of background information.
A late and hungry Ruby-throated Hummingbird: On September 29, 1971, some¬
time after the usual last date for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in our area, I was
surprised to have one appear in my yard, circle half way around me, very close, and
then light on ;a low iris plant. It sat with eyes closed and feathers ruffled up. I
thought it might be sick, but on the chance that it might be hungry I went to the
house and fixed one of my feeders with sugar solution. I held the feeder to the bird’s
bill and it drank and drank. I fed it a total of four times, at intervals, and each time
it seemed more lively and would fly a little. Finally I hung the feeder on the fence,
and was delighted to see the hummingbird visit it regularly for several days. On Oc¬
tober 11 it was still jthere, and I saw it for the last time when it hovered a foot from
the window in which I stood with my granddaughter, who was wearing a brilliant
red tee-shirt.
This seemed an unusually late date for the species, especially as our elevation
is 1485 feet and our birds tend to leave earlier than those farther north or at lower ele¬
vations. Our home is about five miles north-east of Delhi, New York.
Mrs. Lynn Clark, R.D. 2, Delhi, New York 13753
21
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FALL SEASON
Fritz Scheider
Everyone pretty much agreed — it was a very mild, very warm fall,
dry in the central and western half of the state, wet, if only episodically
so, in the eastern sectors. The lack of frosts — some record breaking
late — and snow permitted an array of departure dates that in any other
autumn would have been astounding. The multiplicity of late vireos
(3,5,8,9,10) and warblers (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10) stood out along with scat¬
tered record late dates for certain swallows (2,6,7) and Ruby-throated
Hummingbird (3,4,8,9). Surprisingly few late shorebirds were recorded
and the overall shorebird migration sounded like a dull thud. And as to
be expected with such warm, mild falls, the cold weather grebes, diving
ducks (1,2,3,5,7,8) and gulls were all very scarce or reported in worri¬
some low numbers.
Most enouraging in the potpourii of fall reports are the multiple and
varied intra-regional — many co-operative — projects that have been ini¬
tiated; the most obvious are the various hawk migration tallies estab¬
lished in Region 9, but the drive for repeated off-shore trips to document
the status of pelagic species off Long Island (10), co-operative, sequen¬
tial dead bird tallies along Lake Ontario in Region 5 (vide infra), and
tallies of tower kills (Regions 3,5) all point to great enthusiasm for
assessing avifauna, understanding migration patterns, and filling the
lacunae of local birding knowledge. Equally interesting is the array of
data presented and interpreted. Where many areas of upstate New York
have no published standard sources of data to compare current records
with, such sectors as Region 1 with their incredibly useful Beardslee’s
and Mitchell's Birds of the Niagara Frontier Region and Region 10 with
John Bull’s Birds of the New York Area are already editorializing on
these mountains of information; and, I suspect, full awareness of the im¬
port of certain published data from such well-summarized sectors demands
one be conversant with these texts, i.e., you need those books. As a second
but equally firm aside, I emphasize the abundance of the much needed
Caveats for carefulness which John Bull has placed in various “toughs
to — identify” species accounts in his recent text.
Double-crested Cormorants were widely reported (1,2,3,5,7,9) with
record numbers in certain sectors. However, white herons continued
scarce and Black-crowned Night Herons were also scarce upstate (1,5);
fall reports of Glossy Ibis (2,5) were the only positive note in the long-
legged waders.
The Brant flight on Lake Ontario proved particularly good, with sev¬
eral days when thousands were reported (2,5) with some inland records
also (3,8,9). Black Ducks continue to decline and upstate only Mon-
22
tezuma National Wildlife Refuge (3) showed good dabbling duck num¬
bers (q.v.).
The Accipitridophiles should carefully peruse the Region 9 tallies of
the flights at Mount Peter and Hook Mountain and then check thru
Snow Goose for an avian spin-off of such studies. Hawks across the rest
of state seemed distressingly low with little evidence of a good Rough¬
legged Hawk winter ahead.
Coot, unlike their prairie confreres, Ganvasback and Redhead, seemed
to have enjoyed a lush breeding season as they were reported up in 1,2,
5,9. The shorebird flight in general was poor in number and dull in
variety, late in coming and early in going — only a spurt of Buff-breasted
Sandpipers in central and western New York (1,5) and a few late Red
Phalaropes (1,2,5) enlivened the picture. The Lake Erie-Ontario For¬
ster’s Tern flight (1,2,5), one of the best ever, was matched eastward
by a post- hurricane influx of the same species in Region 9.
Snowy Owls were reported widely, often, and early (1,2,3,5,6,8,9,10)
and everyone echoed the prediction of a Snowy Owl winter; few Short-
eared Owls, however, accompanied the irruption.
Common Nighthawk numbers are noted to be down in 1,2,3,8,9 with
some increase in 5, and though Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were re¬
ported late, no large numbers were reported except in Region 8. Carolina
Wrens reports increased (1,3,4,5,9) and in certain sectors Tufted Tit¬
mouse were up (1,4,5,8), in others, Mockingbirds increased (4,8,9).
Though no major northern exodus of nuthatches or chickadees devel¬
oped, a few Boreal Chickadees were tallied (5,9,10) and more may show
up when northern food supplies dwindle as Region 7 reported them in
good numbers on their home territory. Eastern Bluebird numbers in¬
creased in 1,2,3, and 4 but no mention of this occurred in any of the
more eastern districts. Cedar Waxwings staged a state wide invasion
(1,2,3,4,5,8,9) and a few Bohemian Waxeings were noted also.
After Snowy Owls, the subject of discussion thru October and Novem¬
ber was winter finches. Pine Siskins (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10) and Evening
Grosbeaks (1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9) seemed to be most conspicuous and abundant
but lesser numbers of Pine Grosbeak (2,3,4,5,7,8,10) Redpoll, (2,5,7,9,10)
and White-winged Crossbill (1,2,3,5,6,7,10) appeared also. Surprisingly
Red Crossbill, though recorded, were not common and field finches such
as Lapand Longspur and Snow Bunting (2,3,5,8) were in low numbers.
House Finches continue their crimson spread (1,4,5,8,9) and I hope that
documentation of their occurrence is regularly published and summarized
to keep birders abreast of the eastern spread of this native adventive.
As to the newest adventive, the Monk Parakeet, read the comments of
the Region 10 editors!
Rare and unusual birds, in which autumn is usually rich, appeared in
copious quantity, particularly in the latter half of the fall. Two out¬
standing finds were a dead Fulmar (5), the first state specimen, and a
23
dead Long-tailed Jaeger (5), both found in the littoral litter along Lake
Ontario by repeated dead bird surveys of the shoreline. As much as I
dislike messing with vintage-type dead birds, it behooves all of us birders
to check the beach and shore debris for such avian desiderata — who
knows when or where the next Fulmar in the flotsam or a Jaeger in the
jetsam will be found. Other rarities for the season include: Arctic Loon
(10), Yellow-crowned Night Heron (2), White-fronted Goose (2,3),
American Avocet (6,10), Little Gull (6), Black-legged Kittiwake (9),
Roseate and Sandwich Terns (9), Sooty Tern (10), Western Kingbird
(1,9,10 inland), Common Raven (6,9,10), White-eyed Vireo (3,4), Au¬
dubon’s Warbler (10), Kentucky Warbler (8), Dickcissel (1,5,9), and
Green-tailed Towhee (10).
Congratulations again to observers and editors both — ten out of ten!
Build a better series, get a better ball game! Please get your field ob¬
servations to the editors on time; editors, please, mail in your summaries
promptly — and don’t catch flu!
417 South Main Street , North Syracuse , NT. 13212
REGION 1 — NIAGARA FRONTIER
Robert A. Sundell
Weather conditions during August were average with temperature within one
degree of normal and precipitation about one inch above normal mainly because
of heavy wind and rain on August 21 and 26. Both September and October were
unusually warm and dry with average temperatures several degrees above the
norm and precipitation well below the long-term average. November continued
the trend except for two late fall blizzards which blasted the region with up to
twenty inches of snow between November 6 and 8 and an even more severe storm
November 22 to 24 which dumped up to thirty inches of snow and brought tem¬
perature readings of zero.
Items of interest or trends are: (1) a poor showing of most loons, grebes and
herons, (2) a modest display of ducks, geese and swans with poor numbers of most
of the divers due to the unseasonably mild weather, (3) a greatly extended and
widely dispersed hawk flight, (4) a superb exhibition of rare and uncommon shore-
birds, (5) a good representation of larids but subpar for this region, (6) pre¬
liminary indications of a fine Snowy Owl winter upcoming, (7) early depaturre of
nearly all of the flycatchers, (8) increase and spreading of the titmouse and Caro¬
lina Wren, (9) tragically large numbers of kinglets and a substantial scattering
of other birds killed at several TV towers in the Buffalo area, (10) a fine showing
of warblers, especially uncommon species (i.e. Connecticut Warbler), with late
August and mid September peaks and many late departure dates, (11) a poorly
documented but obvious and substantial decrease in the numbers of icterids and
Starlings, (12) a poor display of nearly all of the fringillids, especially in terms of
numbers, except for modest midfall movements of Evening Grosbeaks and Pine
Siskins.
Rarities noted were the European Widgeon, Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted
Sandpiper (see comments in report ), Hudsonian Godwit, Wilson’s Phalarope, West¬
ern Kingbird, Dickcissel and House Finch.
24
Abbreviations: Bflo—Buffalo; Catt—Cattaraugus; Chaut—Chautauqua; INWR—
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge; OO—Oak Orchard; Ont—Ontario.
Contributors: RA—Robert Andrle; HRA—Harold and Rachel Axtell; TB—-
Thomas Bourne; RB—Richard Brownstein; LDB—Lou and Doris Burton; DC—
Douglas Carlson; AC—Arthur Clark; DD—Dorothy Danner; JG—Joseph Grzybow-
ski; JK—Joseph Kikta; WHK—Walter and Harriette Klabunde; WAM—Willard
and Alice McKale; HM—Harold Mitchell; JM—John Morse; PB—Paul Benham;
FR—Frances Rew; AR—Archie Richardson; WGS—William and George Smith;
RS—Robert Sundell.
LOONS—DUCKS: Continuing a trend of recent years, the Common Loon was
present in only very small numbers. Good counts of the Pied-billed Grebe in these
respective localities were 92 Sep 16 INWR (JM et al) and 25 Sep 18 Cuba Marsh
(LDB). An unusual concentration of the Double-crested Cormorant was a flock
of 5 perched on duck blind moorings Oct 10 off Greenhurst, Chaut Lake (Kelly
fide AR); 1 was seen Oct 10 on the Allegheny Reservoir opposite Onoville (RS).
A late Green Heron was noted Oct 31 on Canadaway Creek (FR, WHK). A Com¬
mon Egret Sep 24 at INWR (JM et al) was the only fall report. Black-crowned
Night Herons were scarce — 3 Sep 2 and 23 INWR (JM et al) and 8 Oct 10 in
Bflo (JK et al). The American Bittern was very scarce while the Least Bittern was
unreported.
The fall flight of Whistling Swans commenced with 3 Oct 17 on Langford. Pond
(WAM) and a peak of 500+ at Mayville, Chaut Lake Nov 7 (Larry Duckwall).
The flight of Canada Geese featured these maximum counts: 3000 Sep 30 INWR
(JM et al) ; 10,729 Oct 10 region-wide fall count; 2500 Nov 18 INWR (JM et al).
Maximum verified reports of the Snow Goose were 3 Oct 20 INWR (Webster et al)
and Blue Goose 4 Oct 17 INWR (RA et al). The following represent maximum
counts unless otherwise indicated: Mallard 3300 Nov 18 INWR (JM, Smith). Black
Duck: 500 Nov 18 INWR (JM ,Smith). Gadwall: 25 Nov 18 INWR (JM, Smith).
Pintail: 168 Oct 10 region-wide fall count. Blue-winged Teal: 537 Sep 16 INWR
(JM et al). EUROPEAN WIDGEON: 1 Oct 16, 22 (RB; Ulrich et al); 2 Oct 28
all at INWR (HRA). American Widgeon: 1500 Sep 16 INWR (JM et al).
Shoveler: 9 Sep 16 INWR (JM et al). Redhead: 240 Nov 3 Mayville (DC).
Ring-necked Duck: 30 Nov 13 Dewittville (Beal); rare during summer—1 Aug 24
Barcelona (DC). Canvasback: 650 Nov 3 Mayville (DC). Greater Scaup: early
migrants —2 Sep 30 INWR (JM et al). Surf Scoter: 30 Nov 10 Four Mile Creek
State Park (WHK). Fall flights of the Ruddy Duck and all three mergansers were
particularly poor.
HAWKS—OWLS: The hawk migration was apparently so extended and so
widely dispersed that few peaks were noted. On the region-wide fall count Oct 10
(which includes adjacent counties in Ont), totals were: Sharp-shinned 11, Cooper’s
4, Red-tailed 178, Red-shouldered 16, Broad-winged 6, Rough-legged 1, Marsh 37,
Osprey 7, Pigeon 1, Sparrow 63. The early Rough-legged Hawk in the OO area
(HM et al) was also observed Oct 12 by Beebee and a maximum of 31 was counted
Nov 21-30 in the Lyndonville area (WGS). The only Bald Eagle was an adult Sep
5 on the Allegheny Reservoir (JG). Late Ospreys were found Oct 30 (photo¬
graphed) on the Allegheny River at Allegany (JG) and at Belmont last seen Nov 2
(LDB).
A record buildup of Turkeys was noted in Catt County as 219 were banded in
four townships between Aug 15 and Sep 30 (S.W.Eaton). The few reports of
rails of interest were 61 Common Gallinules Sep 16 at INWR (JM et al) which
suggests continued breeding success in the OO refuge complex and 226 American
Coot Nov 16 at the same location (JM). The maximum-for the latter species was
1300 Oct 20 at Mayville (DC). Shorebirds were well represented with records of
25
several of the less common species. Large concentrations of Common Snipe were
noted at INWR with 44 Oct 22 (FR et al) and 59 Oct 30 (RB, Schaffner). A
late Spotted Sandpiper was observed at Canadaway Creek Oct 31 (FR, WHK).
The Knot is always rare away from Lake Erie but a bird was seen Oct 10 in the OO
area (HM et al). Single Baird’s Sandpipers were found Aug 21 at Bemus Point
(RS et al) and Oct 1 at Hamburg Town Park (TB). The rarely observed LONG¬
BILLED DOW IT CHER was represented by 2 at INWR Oct 16, 17 (RB) and Oct
28 (HRA). The most spectacular showing of the scolopacids was the BUFF¬
BREASTED SANDPIPERS frequenting a turf farm at Clarence Center northeast
of Bflo; 3 were found Sep 5 (WAM et al) ; 12 and 10 Sep 7 and 8 (RA et al) rep¬
resent among the highest counts obtained east of the Mississippi River (!) and 3
were last seen Sep 12 (RB et al). A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was noted at INWR
between Oct 16 (RB) and Oct 22 ,(FR et al). An early Red Phalarope was seen at
Athol Springs Oct 15 and 18 (TB) and 3 were at the mouth of Canadaway Creek
on Lake Erie west of Dunkirk Nov 9 (DC, RS) with 1 last seen there Nov 20
(DC). A WILSON’S PHALAROPE Sep 18 at Prendergast Point (RS) was a
month later than the usual departure and provided the first record for Chaut County.
The only Parasitic Jaeger was noted Nov 4 at Bay View (TB). The first white¬
winged gulls were single Glaucous Nov 21 and 23 in Dunkirk Harbor (DC) and
Iceland Nov 12 at Hamburg Town Park (TB). The fall buildup of the Great
Black-backed Gull in Dunkirk Harbor reached 42 Nov 15 (DG). The reports of the
rarer small gulls were mainly from the Niagara River between Lewiston and
Queenston, Ont with 3 Franklin’s Oct 17 (PB) and 2 Nov 10 (WHK) ; also 6
Little Gulls Oct 17 (PB), 5 Nov 10 (WHK) and 3 Nov 25 (WHK). A Little Gull
was also observed Oct 26 at Bay View (TB). At the extreme dates of occurrence
were Forster’s Terns noted Aug 20 at Barcelona (RS, Walter Booth) and Nov 7 at
Hamburg Town Park (TB).
A substantial Snowy Owl flight appears in the making. The first report, Oct 27
on Squaw Island, Bflo (RB), was followed by records from 7 scattered localities
during Nov. Short-eared Owls were poorly represented with a maximum of 7 at
Youngstown Nov 25 (WHK). The first Saw-whet Owl was reported Oct 30 at
Hamburg (TB).
GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: The Common Nighthawk appears to be declin¬
ing in this region as well as others throughout the state with lower maximum
counts than in most recent years — 80 Sep 5 over Kenmore (Hess) and 46 Oct 1
over Eggertsville (WAM). Late Chimney Swifts were seen over Bflo with 17 Oct
14, 12 Oct 15 and 3 Oct 16 (RB). The departure of the Eastern Kingbird seemed
unusually early — Sep 4 New Hudson Township, Allegany County (LDB). The
third regional record of the WESTERN KINGBIRD was a bird photographed
Sep 30 near Howe Hill, Humphrey Township, Catt County (JG) ; for comparison
of the localities see Kingbird Vol. 18(1):31. Other early departures were Crested
Flycatcher Sep 16 Spring Brook (DD) and Least Flycatcher 2 Sep 20 Belmont
(LDB). A significant pre-migratory concentration of Purple Martins was an es¬
timated 10,000 Aug 25 on Grand Island (WHK).
The Tufted Titmouse is continuing to increase throughout the region. Red¬
breasted Nuthatches in moderate numbers were reported from most localities. In¬
dividuals were recovered with other TV tower kills Oct 7 at South Wales and
Oct 26 at Golden (AC). Carolina Wrens were reported from three new localities
continuing a slow but steady increase throughout the region.
A late Gray-checked Thrush was picked up among TV tower casualities at Colden
Oct 26 (AC). An excellent showing of the Eastern Bluebird was climaxed by a
regionwide count of 216 Oct 10. An indication of the extent of nocturnal migra¬
tion of the kinglets is seen in the following TV tower kills: Golden-crowned 251,
15 Oct 24, 26 South Wales and 28, 17 Oct 24, 26 Colden; Ruby-crowned 30 Oct
26
24 South Wales (AC). A group of 15 Water Pipits Sep 3 at Elma (DD) was
slightly early, while the early Nov blizzard resulted in flocks of 200 Nov 7 at
Fillmore and 300 Nov 8 Caneadea (Wilson). The count of 1597 Cedar Waxwings
Oct 10 on the regional survey was nearly twice the previous fall maximum.
VIREOS—WARBLERS: The fall warbler flight was protracted with a fine va¬
riety of species and peaks in late Aug and mid Sep. Also above average numbers of
the less common forms and several late departure dates added spice to the parulids.
Black-and-white Warbler: 1 Oct 28 East Eden Pond (TB) —a week late. Orange-
crowned Warbler: peak 7 Oct 10-14. Parula Warbler: 1 Oct 17 tower kill at South
Wales (AC) —one week late. Yellow Warbler: imm banded Oct 13 Riverside
(AR)—almost a month late: Cape May Warbler: 10 tower kills Aug 20 Colden
(AC); 23 Oct 10 region-wide survey — good numbers. Myrtle Warbler: 1738 Oct
10 on regional count is twice median for last 10 years. Black-throated Green War¬
bler: tower kill Oct 26 Colden (AC). Cerulean Warbler: singles Aug 14 Catt In¬
dian Reservation (RA), tower kills Aug 29 Colden and South Wales (AC) —rarely
recorded after July. A Bay-breasted Warbler tower casualty Oct 17 from South
Wales (AC) and a Blackpoll Warbler Oct 23 at Chautauqua (Pillsbury) were each
two days late. Pine Warblers were recorded Oct 5 at Hamburg (TB) and a tower
kill Oct 7 at Colden (AC). Connecticut Warblers were killed in unprecedented
numbers with 14 TV tower casualties at Colden and South Wales (AC) including
an early individual at Colden Aug 29 (the other 13 occurred Sep 12-18); 1 was
observed Sep 23 at Lakeside Cemetary, Hamburg (TB). Yellow-breasted Chats were
recorded Oct 2 at Riverside (banded by AR) and Oct 12 at West Seneca (JK) —
normal departure date Sep 7! American Redstart: tower kill Oct 26 Colden (AC)
— four days late.
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: For reasons not immediately apparent all of the
icterids and the Starling appeared in substantially reduced numbers throughout
the region. This situation deserves careful attention and analysis.
The DICKCISSEL was well represented with the following feeder reports: singles
Oct 12 at Fluvanna (Burgesons, Urbans), Nov 11 at Kenmore (PB), Nov 24 and
26 at Wellsville (Ferrand and Larson). Evening Grosbeaks appeared Oct 10 with
3 in the Alfred area (Klingensmith et al) and small flocks were scattered through¬
out the region by mid Nov. The HOUSE FINCH appears to be spreading from
the east; 5 were seen at a feeder in Amherst Oct 28 (HRA et al). A moderate
flight of Pine Siskin moved through the area during Oct and Nov; maximum
counts were 236 Oct 10 on the regional survey and 100 Nov 14 at the Youngstown
Cemetery (WAM). The only crossbills were 6 White-winged Nov 14 at the Youngs¬
town Cemetery (WAM).
A record fall count of 228 Savannah Sparrows was recorded on the Oct 10
regional survey. Late Grasshopper Sparrows were singles Sep 25 at Eden (TB) and
a tower kill Oct 11 at South Wales (AC). An early Slate-colored Junco was ob¬
served at a feeder Sep 5-22 in Eggertsville (WAM).
19 Chestnut St., Jamestown, N.Y. 14701
REGION 2 —GENESEE
Richard T. O’Hara
In this section of Western New York, we had one of those wonderful fall seasons
so frequent in our experience that we perhaps do not fully appreciate them. Long
27
stretches of beautiful weather in September, October and November do not neces¬
sarily produce great birding, but it’s always a joy to be afield, and there were
plenty of noteworthy or surprising records, too.
It was a relatively mild season and, except for a cold snap in early November
and another toward the very end of the month, the warm weather lasted to the
very end of the season and into mid-December. Rainfall which had been above
normal virtually all year lagged somewhat and in the end was only about an inch
or so high for the year. Snowfall so far has been just about half as great as last
year and at this writing, December 22, the ground is bare of snow and all sizeable
bodies of water virtually free of ice.
The fall flight commenced in late summer as usual, although early species of
shorebirds moved on quickly to more suitable areas. By late fall, mudflats at Brad-
dock’s Bay were extensive, but this was not true in August and early September.
Certain species of shorebirds were very scarce or absent as a result.
Warblers also appeared in late August but only trickled through in September,
and October produced an unusual number of late records, to no one’s surprise.
Many of the more erratic fall and winter species including most finches were
much better this year than last. This could hardly have been otherwise, since last
year they were all practically non-existent in this region. A few, notably Redpoll
and Pine Grosbeak, were present in very limited numbers, however.
Positive trends include: (1) good flight of Brant, Scoters and to a lesser degree
Horned Grebes; (2) reappearance of the Goshawk in Mendon Ponds Park for at
least the third consecutive year; (3) good numbers of some marsh birds, i.e., Sora,
Coot and Gallinule; (4) wide representation of less common gulls; (5) good move¬
ment of Snowy Owls and improvement in numbers of Screech Owls; (6) possible
increase in fall Bluebird flocks; (7) noteworthy finch flight, especially Pine Siskin
and White-winged Crossbills.
Negative trends include: (1) poor flight of some diving ducks, Redhead, Canvas-
back, and Common Merganser, perhaps only delayed due to mild weather; (2) an¬
other. year of failure of the area’s only nesting Bald Eagle; (3) rather poor
shorebird flight, probably due mostly to lack of mud flats; (4) only fair numbers
of fall warblers, again likely due to mild weather in September.
Rarities include: Yellow-crowned Night Heron, White-fronted Goose, Glossy Ibis,
Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Pigeon Hawk, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaegar,
Wilson’s Phalarope, Red Phalarope, Franklin’s Gull, Kittiwake.
Abbreviations: BB—Braddock’s Bay; BANS—Burrough’s Audubon Nature Sanc¬
tuary; CB—Charlotte Beach; DEP—Durand-Eastman Park; EP—Ellison Park;
HBP—Hamlin Beach Park; IB—Irondequoit Bay; IC—Island Cottage; MB—Mani-
tou Beach; MP—Mendon Ponds; SA—Shore Acres; WP—Webster Park; WL—
West Lakeshore.
Observers: RA—Robert Ambrose; JB—Dr. Joseph Berra; RC—Roger Clark;
J&JC—Jack and Jean Connor; JC—Jerry Czech; JD—James Doherty; JE-J. Esley;
JF—John Foster; GOS—Genesee Ornithological Society; AEK—Allen E. Kemint-
zer; WCL—Walter C. Listman; WL—Warren Lloyd; mob—many observers;
J&TM—Joseph and Thelma NcNett; L&NM—Laura and Neil Moon; FM—Fran
Munson; RO’H—Richard O’Hara; BO—Bernard Olin; BP—Betty Perrigo; GP—
Glenn Perrigo; NP—N. Prosser; MAS—Mary Ann Sunderlin; JT—Joseph Taylor;
MT—Michael Tetlow; TT—Tom Tetlow.
LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon, no large flights noted but present in fair
numbers this fall. A fine count of 50 Red-throated Loons was made on November
3 at MB (WCL.) These birds were in flight well out over the lake that morning.
Only a few Red-necked Grebes were noted, but a fine count of Horned Grebes,
150, HBP, was made on October 25 (RC) and many other smaller counts.
28
There were at least five reports of Double-crested Cormorants, more than usual,
including one of 2 birds on October 28 at IB (J&JC.) A Common Egret was still
present as late as October 11 at SA (JE), but they were again scarce this year
overall. The discovery of an adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron at a small pond
at the Monroe County Airport was one of the most outstanding finds of the season.
The bird was present almost every evening from August 17 to September 4 (Ruth
Reed et al.) This is only the third or fourth record of the species in this region.
A single Glossy Ibis was noted at the same place on August 28 (WCL.)
An unusual fall record away from Lake Ontario of 3 Whistling Swan was made
at MP, October 26 (GP.) The fall Brant flight peaked on October 24 with 5,557
birds flying past WP (WL.) ; smaller counts were made elsewhere on that day and
on several other days in late October. Two Snow Geese were seen at HBP, October
30 (NP), and more unusual were the 30 Blue Geese reported from Letchworth
Park on October 11 (W. Mulrey.) A single White-fronted Goose, a first fall record
here was noted in Webster on October 2 and 3 with Canada Geese (JC.)
The fall migration of ducks seemed about average this year but featured some
fine counts as listed below:
Species
Date
No.
Location
Observers
Mallard
Oct. 26
700
Mendon Ponds
GP
Black Duck
Oct. 26
350
Mendon Ponds
GP
American Widgeon
Oct. 26
375
Mendon Ponds
GP
Pintail
Sept. 19
200
Manitou Beach
WCL
Greater Scaup
Sept. 19
200 (early)
Manitou Beach
WCL
Oldsquaw
Oct. 24
400
Manitou Beach
WCL
White-winged Scoter
Nov. 16
3000
Irondequoit Bay
AEK
Surf Scoter
Oct. 24
X
Manitou Beach
WCL
Common Scoter
Oct. 24
3920-X
Manitou Beach
WCL
Red-breasted Merganser
Nov. 13
8000
Manitou Beach
WCL
Perhaps due to the mild fall season, some species have not yet appeared in any
large numbers. Noteworthy among these are the Redhead, Canvasback, and Com¬
mon Merganser.
HAWKS—OWLS: While all three accipiters were noted this fall, all were scarce.
Goshawk was seen on two occasions at MP, October 15 and 26 (GP.) This is the
same area from which it has been regularly reported for the past two winter sea¬
sons. No especially good counts of Red-tails were made although the birds were
well reported throughout this region. Two Rough-legged Hawks on September 5
were very early but well seen on Manitou Road (RA.) A Bald Eagle was noted
at Conesus Lake on November 24 (B. Foos.); our resident pair of Bald Eagles
produced a single egg which failed to hatch; it was later collected and found to
contain very high amounts of several pesticides. An immature Golden Eagle stayed
at least two days at HBP, November 27—28 (RO’H & JD.) A few Marsh Hawks and
Ospreys were reported along, the lakeshore as usual and odd individuals from in¬
land locations. Peregrine Falcons were noted twice, September 26 on Curtis Road,
Parma (JB) and September 27, Honeoye Falls (JF.) Pigeon Hawks were also lim¬
ited to two single records, September 6, Lima (JF) and October 17, IC (J&JC.)
A count of 12 Soras at IC was unusually high, although they had been noted
there frequently this summer when failing water levels exposed mud flats around
the cattail marsh. Coots were present in very large numbers along the west lake-
shore with a high count of 300 on October 10 (RO’H.) Common Gallinules seem
to have had another good year with many young birds in evdence.
As noted above it was not the best year for shorebirds. Many days in late summer
produced only 10 speces or so where 16 of 18 might be present under good condi-
29
tions. Nevertheless, some fairly good counts were obtained, although some species
never did appear.
A flock of about 40 Golden Plover stayed for several days in mid-August in a
plowed Held along Curtis Road in Parma (mob.) About 10 Black-bellied Plover
were in the same field with them on August 10 (RO’H), and there were other
records of small numbers elsewhere, but no large flocks. Semipalmated Plover were
common and Killdeer seem to be increasing again after a definite dip in numbers
in recent years. Turnstones on the other hand were very scarce as they were this
spring also. Several other species were also rare this year, notably the Knot and
Stilt Sandpiper with only one or two reports of each. Those species entirely absent
included Baird’s and Purple Sandpiper and Northern Phalarope.
Among the better records of shorebirds for the season are the following:
Species
Date
No.
Location
Solitary Sandpiper
Oct. 1
10
Sodus Bay
TT
Lesser Yellowlegs
Aug. 23
25
Ellison Park
JD
Dunlin
Oct. 30
175
West Lakeshore
G&BP
Wilson’s Phalarope
Aug. 28
2
Ellison Park
JD
Red Phalarope
Oct. 28-29
1
Irondequoit Bay Outlet
AEK
Most of ehe less common gulls were reported at least once this fall. The first
Glaucous Gull appeared on October 23 at HBP (GOS), wlhile Iceland Gull was first
noted on November 23 at BB (WCL.) 1 to 3 Little Gulls were seen by mob at IB
after the first one appeared on November 16 (AEK); a single bird was at CB on
November 14 (GOS); this species was also seen at BB in late October at least
twice (GOS & WCL.) A Franklin’s Gull was at SB on October 10 (TT), and a
Laughing Gull at GB on two days in early October (JD & JG) Black-legged Kitti-
wake, either an increasing species or a better recognized one, was noted 3 times this
fall, October 24 Nine Mile Point, Webster (WL & MAS), November 13 MB
(WCL) and November 25 DEP (GP).
Forster’s Terns were present over a rather extended period at BB this fall; first
reported on September 12 (GOS), they remained at least until October 25 when
at least 3 birds were still present (RO’H). It was also a good year for Jaegers. In
a reversal of the normal ratio, Pomarine was seen twice, October 10 at SB (TT),
and November 13 at MB (WCL) while Parastic was reported only once, October
23 at MB (WCL).
What appears to be an extensive invasion of Snowy Owls commenced on October
22 when the first report came in from Irondequoit near IB (RO’H); a maximum
of 3 was noted by Dr. Gordon Meade at BB. By the way it is a pleasure to welcome
Dr, Meade back home after many years absence! Short-eared Owls seem to be absent
once again from our lakeshore marshes, although several were noted at the end of
November near Mendon, south of Rochester (JT), The Screech Owl is reported
by several observers to be on the increase after a local drop in numbers over a
period of several years. Great Horned Owls are also doing well locally and apparently
bred successfully in EP among other places (JD). It is difficult to understand why
such species and others like the Red-tail Hawk do not seem severely affected by
pesticides while other species, i.e. Red-shouldered Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk have
almost disappeared as breeders here. Perhaps species which feed almost exclusively
on mammals do not ingest the same amount of poisons as fish and bird-eating
species. But then how to explain the apparent spread of the Goshawk?
GOATSUCKERS—STARLINGS: No flight of Nighthawks was noted this fall
as in some years. This species seems to bear watching to see if it is in trouble.
Kingfishers were quite common along Lake Ontario and elsewhere — a welcome
improvement! Flickers returned in good numbers, too, but not many Sapsuckers
30
were reported; 1 was still present on November 27 in Irondequoit, however, (LM).
The slowly increasing Pileated Woodpecker was reported from Penfield on Novem¬
ber 16 at a feeder where it has appeared before (FM).
An unusual count of over 100 Eastern Kingbirds was made at BB on September
5 (JD) ; these birds were in a loose flock, apparently resting en route south. A
very late Barn Swallow was still present at BB on November 6 (WCL), and the
same observer saw this bird or another still later one at the same place on No¬
vember 24. This must be a tribute to our late, warm fall. The best count of
Black-capped Chickadees was 250 at SB (TT) ; no other indications of large scale
movement was reported this year. However, a somewhat similar record of 200 Red¬
breasted Nuthatches came from HBP on October 30 (RC).
A fairly late House Wren was still in Fairport on October 5 (BO), and a still
more tardy Catbird remained in DEP on November 14 (RC et al). A Wood
Thrush stayed in Irondequoit at least until October 25 (MAS). There were 13
Bluebirds at BB on October 23 (J&JC) ; another flock of 12 was at SB on the 28th
of the same month (TT) ; these fall flocks have been very uncommon in recent
years near the lakeshore. A large flock of 200 Pipit at SB in October was the best
report of this somewhat erratic species (TT). There was a very large buildup of
Cedar Waxwings in DEP this fall with a peak of 700 noted on Novemder 28 (JD),
but no Bohemian Waxwings. A few Northern Shrike were reported in Nov.
VIREOS—WARBLERS: A fairly late Yellow-throated Vireo was seen at BANS
on October 2 (JF&TT), while a Solitary Vireo was noted the same day at MP
(RO’H). One Philadelphia Vireo was also at MP on the late date of October 26
(GP).
As noted above warblers were not as spectacular as last fall, in fact September
produced only scattered records and small numbers as fine weather seemed to de¬
lay migration or cause the birds to move south without pausing to be counted. A
few early migrants were noted in late August as usual including Black-throated
Blue, Cape May, Myrtle and Bay-breasted Warblers on the 31st at BB (RO’H).
In October, as noted above, many late lingering individuals were reported. These
include a Nashville on the 29th at SA (JE), a Magnolia at Lima on the 10th
(JF), and a fine count of 4 Orange-crowned Warblers at MP on the 26th (GP).
Still later records were made in November for Wilson’s Warbler, 1 at IC on the
7th (RC), and Ovenbird which remained until the 30th at a feeder near DEP
(L&NM).
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: It was an unusually good fall for Rusty Black¬
birds; large flocks were present for an extended period, especially around Brad-
dock’s Bay; 2 were noted there as early as September 11 (RO’H), and at times
over 100 birds could be counted easily; there were still a few present as late as
November 14 (GOS). A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was still at SA on October 23 (JE).
After our dearth of finches last winter, the flight this fall looked better than
average, but some species were still quite scarce. Pine Siskins appeared in numbers
by early October with a peak count of 1000 at SB on the 10th (M&TT); this
species remained numerous until the end of this reporting period and was cer¬
tainly the most outstanding feature of the finch flight. Redpolls appeared in limited
numbers, but not until almost the end of November; the best report was a flock of
30 on the 29th at HB (JD). Red Crossbills were also quite scarce, but there were
a few fair-sized flocks present off and on, including 25 on October 3 at DEP
(B&GP) and 25 on November 29 at HBP (JD). The White-winged Crossbill was
more frequently reported, beginning with a record from Irondequoit on October
30 (L&NM) and continuing through the reporting period; these birds were al¬
most continuously present in DEP and were also widely noted from Hamlin to
Webster along the lakefront. Evening Grosbeaks also appeared in November but
did not flood the area as they have in some years; the best number reported was
31
150 on November 20 at BB (WCL). Pine Grosbeak was noted only once, at IC a
group of 6 was seen on October 25 (J&TM). Goldfinches were quite widespread
but not spectacular this fall as far as numbers are concerned.
Nothing unusual was noted in the sparrow family this fall. The best flock of
Snow Bunting reported was 125 on November 25 along the WL (GP) ; otherwise
numbers were rather small for this somewhat erratic species.
265 Carling Road, Rochester, New York 14610
REGION 3 —FINGER LAKES
Dorothy W. McIlroy and Sally Hoyt Spofford
Temperatures were warm in August and September, warmer in October, coupled
with a very dry period with below normal rainfall the same period. November saw
a return to “normal” temperatures and precipitation. There was no frost until No¬
vember 5, the latest date in recording history for a first freeze, and this meant late
fruit crops and late fall of leaves. Curiously, this did not seem to influence migra¬
tion particularly. Warblers did not remain around to glean insects from these late-
clinging leaves. mid-November was quite wintry, and good snow on November 21-22
remained on the ground for some days.
With Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Rough-legged Hawks and a scattering of
Snowy Owls reported, early, it looked as if this might be a fine winter for the birder.
However, the build-up did not occur, as might have been expected, toward the
end of the period. There were no marked flights of raptors, except a small one at
Elmira on Sep 24 with 13 in 15 minutes, and no marked migration of land birds,
except a light flight Oct 14—15 (JT). But Canada Geese were abundant-—good
flight dates were Sep 21, 24, 29-30, Oct 3, 7 and 29. Of note were more Brant
than usual, White-fronted Goose, Bar-headed Goose, White-eyed Vireo and Con¬
necticut Warbler.
The TV tower at Elmira (see previous years) was checked by Wilifred Howard
every few days from Aug 30 to mid-November. The first “big” kill was between
Sep 13 and 16, which is when the largest kill has been in the past, — this year
just 71 birds. The largest kill was on Sep 30 when 225 individuals of 25 species
were picked up. A very late kill occurred on Oct 28 when 78 birds, chiefly fringillids
and kinglets, were involved. A Red-eyed Vireo on Nov 2 was a late record. The
total tower kill was as follows:
Green Heron 1, Virginia Rail 1, Eastern Phoebe 1, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 4,
Empidonax sp. 5, Brown Creeper 1, Winter Wren 1, House Wren 1, Catbird 1,
Brown Thrasher 1, Wood Thrush 2, Hermit Thrush 1, Swainson’s Thrush 4, Gray¬
cheeked Thrush 3, Golden-crowned Kinglet 22, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, Yellow-
throated Vireo 1, Solitary Vireo 4, Red-eyed Vireo 18, Philadelphia Vireo 1, Black-
&-white Warbler 9, Tennessee Warbler 22, Orange-crowned Warbler 1, Nashville
Warbler 12, Parula Warbler 6, Yellow Warbler 1, Magnoloa Warbler 37, Cape May
Warbler 2, Black-throated Blue Warbler 17, Myrtle Warbler 12, Black-throated
Green Warbler 27, Blackburnian Warbler 19, Chestnut-sided Warbler 10, Bay¬
breasted Warbler 23, Blackpoll Warbler 84, Pine Warbler 1, Palm Warbler 3,
Ovenbird 41, Scarlet Tanager 2, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2, Purple Finch 1, Slate-
colored Junco 10, Tree.Sparrow 1, Chipping Sparrow 7, White-throated Sparrow 8,
Fox Sparrow 1, Lincoln’s Sparrow 2, Swamp Sparrow 2, Song Sparrow 7 Unidenti¬
fied 65.
Abbreviations: Cay L—Cayuga Lake; MNWR—Montezuma National. Wildlife
Refuge; Sen L—Seneca Lake; Schuy,Co—Schuyler County; SWS—Sapsucker Woods
Sanctuary; WD—Waterloo Dump.
32
Area compilers: Betty Ammerman, Walter Benning, Jack Brubaker, William
Groesbeck, Frank Guthrie, Martin Phillips, James Tate, Jayson Walker, Mary Welles.
Observers: BA—Betty Ammerman; WEB—Walter E. Benning; MB—Mollie Bri-
ant; JBr—Jack Brubaker; CC—Cornell Campus Club Glass; KF—Kay Fudge;
FG—-Frank Guthrie; WG-—William Groesbeck; TH—Tom Howe; WH—Wilifred
Howard; DK—Doug Kibbee; PK—Peter Kaestner; PMK—Paul M. Kelsey; ML—
Malcolm Lerch; DM—Dorothy Mcllroy; MRP-—Montezuma Refuge Personnel; FO—
Francis Orcutt; FGS—Fritz Scheider; OS—Cornell Ornithology Seminar report;
SHS—Sally Hoyt Spofford; JT—James Tate; JW—Jayson Walker; MW—Mary
Welles; RW—Ruth Williams.
LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: For second year better counts on Cay L
than for previous years —first 2 Oct 5, max 62 Nov 20, high (DM) ; missing on
Keuka L, however. Pied-billed Grebe: max 64 Oct 9 MNWR (WEB); high 33
Sen L and 15 Waneta L Oct 24 (JBr). Double-crested Crmorant: 3 Cay L Oct 27
(DM), other reports of singles in Oct. Great Blue Heron: some remained late;
1 Chemung R Nov 26 (WH). Green Heron: decline noted Keuka area (FG), also
seemed scarce at Ithaca. Common Egret: 4 Aug 18 Sharon L nr Horseheads
(E Ruggles) unusual; max 7 Sep 1 MNWR, 1 still present (late) Oct 30 (WEB).
Black-crowned Night Heron: frequent sightings all fall MNWR. Least Bittern: fre¬
quent sightings by various observers esp in Aug MNWR. American Bittern: fewer
sightings than usual, last date Nov 1 (OS). Glossy Ibis: no reports. Whistling
Swan: 4 (2 ad, 2 imm) Nov 2 MNWR (CC), 1 there for two weeks; 4 (same?)
Slaterville e. of Ithaca Nov 22 and several days following. Canada Goose: very heavy
flights noted this fall; first, 30 over Conn Hill s.w. of Ithaca Sep 21 (J Caslick);
Bath on Sep 24 and 29 (BA); Elmira flights Sep 21, 30 and Oct 7; Keuka late Sep,
early Oct, still 200 end Nov (FG); lots low in fog Oct 3 Hornell (WG); thousands
on Cay L Oct 28, noted moving in fog Oct 29; MNWR peak of 18,000 was nearly
double the ’70 record high of 10,000. Brant: more reports this fall than normally;
flock over Dryden Oct 17 (J Snelling); 31 s. end Cay L Oct 27 (DM); 34 on Sen
L Oct 26, 7 remaining for a few days (JBr); 1 Nov 5 Penn Yan (FO). WHITE-
FRONTED GOOSE : 2 Nov 28 MNWR (Asst. Mgrs. Mullen and Kipp). Snow
Goose: 5 end of Nov MNWR (MRP). Blue Goose: peak 12 Oct 30 MNWR
(WEB). BAR-HEADED GOOSE : 1 Oct 7 Seneca Flats (DM), 1 MNWR Oct
16-17 (WEG, mob) undoubtedly an escape; second record.
MRP report that flooded Storage Pool and its excellent growth of cattail and
smartweed was used heavily by ducks, up to 30,000 flying in each evening. Freeze
of Nov 7—9 saw many dabblers leaving. MRP reports following peak counts and
dates for waterfowl at MNWR: Mallard: 10,000 mid-Nov; still 5,000 end of Nov.
Black: 5,000 early Oct on. Gadwall: 2,500 all Oct. American Widgeon: 10,000
mid-Oct; Pintail: 2500 all Oct. Green-winged Teal: 6,000 mid-Nov. Blue-winged
Teal: 8,000 last week Sep to mid-Oct. Shoveler: 1,000 last half Oct, early Nov.
Wood: 2,000 during Oct. Redhead 100 (low) mid-Oct to mid-Nov. Ring-necked
Duck: 500 mid-Oct. Canvasback: 100 (low) early Oct to mid-Nov. Scaup: 50 Oct
and Nov. Common Goldeneye: 50 mid-Oct on. Bufflehead: 500 early Nov on.
Ruddy: 100 early Nov. Oldsquaw: 2 in Nov. Hooded Merganser: 1,000 early Nov.
Common Merganser: 500 most of Nov. This is a nearly 90 per cent decrease in
Redheads and Canvasbacks. Except for Pintails, most dabbling ducks were in higher
numbers there this year.
Other waterfowl reports of interest: Oldsquaw (rather early and always uncom¬
mon) first week Nov Cay L; Nov 1 Chemung R (WH); 1 Nov 16 Hornell Reser¬
voir (WG). Bufflehead: 8 Nov 7 Welles pond nr Horseheads (MW). Common
Scoter: this species, rarest of the three in the Finger Lakes, was the most common
this fall; approx 100, with a few Surfs in flock, Cay L end of Oct; 27 (5 m, 22 f)
33
Nov 1 Chemung R (WH); 1 MNWR Nov 13, 14; 1 Oct 25 Lamoka L w. of
Watkins Glen (JBr).
HAWKS—-OWLS: Turkey Vulture: last (late) 2 Oct 24 MNWR (WEB). Gos¬
hawk: 1 Sep 18 Horseheads (Emory Knapp) ; almost no other reports. Sharp-
shinned Hawk: few reports; 1 nr Shindagin Hollow s.e. Ithaca Oct 8 (FGS).
Cooper’s Hawk: 4 sightings in Region. Red-tailed Hawk: very good numbers. Red¬
shouldered Hawk: very few; 1 over Etna Nov 23, late (SHS). Broad-winged Hawk:
not much of a flight noted locally, except 30 over Ithaca Sep 11 (Edward Humu-
lock), 6 Sep 21 (CC), individuals until first week Oct. Rough-legged Hawk: 1 Sep
13 MNWR (MRP) early; first Schuy Co Nov 3 (JBr); a melanistic bird MNWR
Nov 14 (WEB); scattered reports in Cay L Basin Oct and Nov. Bald Eagle: 1
adult Ovid Sep 11 (Brewers, Sincebaughs); last date at MNWR Oct 5. Marsh
Hawk: encouraging number of sightings of singles throughout period incl Sep 21,
28, Nov 16 Ithaca; 10 Nov 1 MNWR (MRP); 1 Nov 26 Chemung R (WH) ;
2 near Watkins Glen (JBr). Osprey: 2 Aug thru Oct 7 MNWR; 1 Sep 10 Ithaca
Marina (DK); 1 late Sep Fall Creek at Etna; 1 Oct 25 s. end Lamoka L (JBr).
Peregrine: 1 spent several hours at SWS Sep 28 apparently watching ducks (mob) ;
one Oct 7 King Ferry (DM et a'l). Pigeon Hawk: no sightings. Sparrow Hawk:
good numbers everywhere.
Ruffed Grouse: slightly better than last few years (PMK). Bobwhite: only report
was of female picked up emaciated in Etna late Nov, fed up and released, seen
several days (SHS). Turkey: reported Oct 12 nr Cameron (BA) —new location;
five Oct 10 Camp Barton on w. shore Cay L (George Dyke); other scattered reports
s.e. Ithaca; seem reasonably good numbers in Conn. Hill area (PMK). Virginia
Rail: few reports. Sora: hundreds, in fact an est. 1000, on Storage Pool MNWR
in Oct, compared with almost no Virginias (MRP). Coot: max 2,000 mid-Oct
thru Nov MNWR, down from last year.
The following shorebird reports are from MNWR by WEB unless otherwise
noted. Semipalmated Plover: 17 max Sep 1, last 1 Nov. 3 Killdeer: high 50-60
Nov 27 Rhodes Farm, Elmira (WH); 40 Oct 10 WD (WEB). American Golden
Plover: singles Sep 1, Oct 21, Nov 14 MNWR; s.w. cor Cay L Sep 21 (CC); Keuka
L Oct 9 (FG). Black-bellied Plover: 12 max Nov 2 MNWR (CC). Ruddy Turn¬
stone: 2 Aug 25; 2 sightings s. end Sen L, unusual (JBr). American Woodcock:
Oct 29 Keuka, late date (FG), Common Snipe: 40 max Oct 10 WD (WEB).
Whimbrel: no reports. Solitary Sandpiper: seemed scarce everywhere. Greater Yel-
lowlegs: 14 max Sep 14; last 1 Nov 14. Lesser Yellowlegs: 40 max Oct 10 WD
(WEB); last 5 Oct 23; absent at Keuka. Pectoral Sandpiper: 40 max Oct 10 WD
(WEB); last 1 Oct 27. Baird’s Sandpiper: always uncommon, max 4 Aug 25; 2
Oct 6-7 Salsman Rd and Rte 414, Waterloo (JW); 1 Oct 10 WD (WEB). Least
Sandpiper: 64 max Aug 25. Dunlin: 30 max Oct 22 and 27, last Nov 20. Short¬
billed Dowitcher: 66 max Aug 22. Long-billed Dowitcher: 2 Sep 19 MNWR (FGS);
1 Sep 29 (SHS). Stilt Sandpiper: 27 max Sep 11. Semipalmated Sandpiper: 63
max Sep 14. Hudsonian Godwit: 1 Aug 14-21; 4 Sep 12 MNWR (RW); 2 Oct
6-10 WD (one crippled) (WEB); 2 Oct 6-7 Salsman Rd and Rte 414 (JW).
Sanderling: 1 Aug 22. Northern Phalarope: 4 Rushville beet-settling plant Aug
18-29 (ML); 1 Aug 28 Watkins Glen Marsh, unusual (JBr). Wilson’s Phalarope:
3 Sep 1 MNWR (WEB).
Great Black-backed Gull: first Sep 10 Cay L (DK); singles MNWR Oct 13 on;
none s. end Sen L. Herring and Ring-billed Gulls: normal numbers Cay L. Com¬
mon Tern: 9 max Aug 28 Watkins Glen (JBr); 1 Sep 21 s. end Cay L, prob. last
(CC). Caspian Tern: scattered reports Aug and Sep, max 6 Sep 15 Sen L (JBr).
Black Tern: 2 MNWR and 7 Watkins Glen Aug 28 prob. last. Yellow-billed Cuckoo:
1 report only. Snowy Owl: 1 Nov 13-14 downtown Elmira; 1 mid-Nov Italy Valley
34
(CSturdevant) ; 1 Arkport Nov 30 (fide WG). Short-eared Owl: 1 Nov 24 stone
quarry on Watts Rd in n. Sen county (WEB).
GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: The paucity of Nighthawk reports is distress¬
ing; 1 at Keuka Oct 2 (late) was only record there for year (ML) ; at Hornell,
where a flight usually is noted, 2 went over Sep 1 and 3 on Sep 3 (WG); better
numbers at Elmira: 15 on Aug 25 (KF), 35-50 Sep 6 (WH). Chimney Swifts were
noted migrating low in numbers of 10—20/min Oct 4 at WD (WEB). Ruby-
throated Hummingbird: last at Bath mid-Sep (BA) ; several late reports: 1 Sep 22
Etna (R Hance), 2 Oct 16 Elmira (M. Guinan), 1 until Sep- 26 Ithaca (RFarrell).
Pileated Woodpecker: increasing number of reports in more settled areas, possibly
from food supply offered by dead elms. Red-bellied Woodpecker: scattered reports,
no increase. Red-headed Woodpecker: increase continues, noted as up at Keuka.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 1 Sep 11 SWS (TH), only report except for the 4 in
the Elmira TV tower kill. Eastern Wood Pewee: fewer late reports than usual; last
Oct 13 Waterloo (JW). Tree Swallow: large flocks noted Oct 17, 25 and 30
MNWR, various observers. Bank Swallow: 1,000 Sep 1, last few Sep 6 MNWR
(WEB). Rough-winged Swallow: last Sep 11. Barn Swallow: last Sep 14. Purple
Martin: last Aug 29 MNWR (WEB). Common Crow: moving in numbers last
week Oct (WEB). Red-breasted Nuthatch: first indications were that they might
be numerous this year, but fewer noted as season advanced; first 6 Harris Hill
Elmira Sep 24 (WH). Brown Creeper: good numbers. House Wren: last Oct 5 nr
Tompkins Co airport (MB). Carolina Wren: individuals at three locations in Tomp¬
kins Co, all new — Etna Sep 14 and thereafter (SHS); Cascadilla Gorge, Cornell
Campus Oct 2 (PK) ; Forest Home Ithaca Oct 17 (E Little); 2 Schuy Co (JBr).
Winter Wren: 10 Oct 8 Monkey Run e. of Ithaca (FGS). Long-billed Marsh Wren:
last Oct 11 (OS). Catbird: last Nov 12 Burdett (J Bardeen). Hermit Thrush: last
Nov 8 Watkins Glen (JBr). Swainson’s Thrush: no marked migration noted. Gray¬
cheeked Thrush: 1 banded Penn Yan Sep 18 (ML). Eastern Bluebird: many ob¬
servers reported better numbers this fall; several flocks of 20-25 at Penn Yan;
several noted for week in Nov at Meyers (J Fenner). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: good
numbers Oct 9-10 at Lerch banding station Pen Yan. Only 1 shrike report, Shrike
sp’. Nov 29 Elmira (N Hood).
VIREOS—WARBLERS : WHITE-EYED VIREO: 1 Oct 9 netted and banded
Penn Yan (ML), first in Keuka area since May 1947. Solitary Vireo: last Oct 18
(OS). Philadelphia Vireo: 1 Sep 18 netted and banded Penn Yan (ML).
Few warbler reports, no pronounced waves. At Keuka, FG noted no record of
Cape May, Cerulean, Palm, Parula, Yellow-breasted Chat or either Waterthrush,
Myrtle Warbler: last Nov 16 Ithaca (CC). Black-throated Green Warbler: numbers
at Elmira Sep 21 (WH) ; last Nov 8 n. of Trumansburg (PK). Blackpoll Warbler:
10 max Oct 3 Ithaca (PK). Canada Warbler: Nov 1, late (OS). The following are
first capture dates by ML at banding station at Penn Yan: Black-and-white Sep
18; Tennessee Sep 12; Orange-crowned Oct 2, Oct 16 (late); Nashville Sep 12;
Black-throated Blue Sep 25; Blackburnian Sep 12; Bay-breasted Sep 4; Blackpoll
Sep 12; CONNECTICUT Sep 25; Mourning Sep 12; Wilson’s Aug 29.
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Large mixed flocks of blackbirds and Starlings
streamed into MNWR every night until about Nov 12 (WEB). Eastern Meadow¬
lark: 40-50 Nov 27 Rhodes Farm Big Flats (WH), rather late date although some
always over-winter. Rusty Blackbird: few reports, but perhaps overlooked. Baltimore
Oriole: no late records. Brown-headed Cowbird: 200 Nov 21 at Benning feeder
Clyde; small flocks same time in Etna, disappeared when snow melted.
Cardinal: late Sep broods still being fed into first week Oct. Evening Grosbeak:
small flocks noted during fall, but not seeming to remain in localities; 20 Oct 3
first Canisteo (fide WG) ; noted first week Nov Elmira (WH), Caton (Stasches’),
35
Keuka (FG), mid-Nov Dryden, Etna, Ithaca, Bath, late Nov Waterloo. House
Finch: 2 locations Nov 22 Elmira, no recent Ithaca or Etna sightings. Pine Siskin:
flock in birches in Oct, Elmira (H Woodward); small flock Nov 3 on, Watkins
Glen (JBr); 25 Nov 14 Clyde (WEB). American Goldfinch: large flocks; of inter¬
est is that wintering goldfinches have become regular visitors at feeders, throughout
Region; this was not the case 20 years ago. White-winged Crossbill: 3 Nov 8 Conn
Hill (fide OS). Sharp-tailed Sparrow: 1 Sep 21 s.w. corner Cay L, quite uncommon
(MB). Vesper Sparrow: last, end Oct Ithaca, Bath; 1 Nov 8 top of Mt. Zoar, Elmira
(WH); 1 Nov 22 MNWR (WEB). Chipping Sparrow: 1 Nov 30, late, Ithaca
(MB). White-crowned Sparrow: migrating in numbers first week Oct; some lin¬
gered into Nov at feeders. White-throated Sparrow: present to end of period;
numbers eating wild grapes Nov 3 Chemung R Elmira (WH) ; 103 banded Oct 2-3
Penn Yan (ML). Lapland Longspur: 1 only, Nov 27 Rhodes Farm Big Flats (WH).
Snow Bunting: 1 Oct 27 Watkins Glen (JBr); 6 Oct 30 MNWR (WEB).
419 Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 and “AvianaEtna, N.Y. 13062
REGION 4 — SUSQUEHANNA
Leslie E. Bemont
Mild weather lasted all the way through October but in early November there
was an abrupt change to persistently wintry conditions. There were a few light
snowfalls during the earlier weeks of November, but none were really significant
until the major storm of November 25 that hit much of the northeast.
The waterfowl, shorebird and raptor migrations were largely unreported but
banding results and other field work suggest a rather heavy small land bird migra¬
tion, particularly in the latter part of September. Cape May Warbler totals, espe¬
cially, were astounding.
Abbreviations: CF—Chenango Forks; EB—East Branch, in Delaware County.
Observers: MB—Margaret Bowman; GC—Gail Corderman; A,MD—Anna and
Marilyn Davis; CG—Clinton Gerould; SH—Shirley Hartman; EH—Elva Hawkin;
FL—Florence Linaberry; HM—Harriet Marsi; MS—Mary Sheffield; MW—Mil¬
dred White; R,SW—Ruth and Sally White; KW—Kathryn Wilson; DOAS—Dela-
ware-Otsego Audubon Society Field Trip.
LOONS—DUCKS: Horned Grebe: 2 Nov 7 Owego (MW, CG). Pied-billed
Grebe: 3 records, Aug 28 and Oct 24 Owego (MW, CG )and Nov 7 CF (A,MD).
Great Blue Heron; fairly frequent sightings; last date Oct 17 Whitney Point (MS).
Green Heron: none after 1 at EB Sep 7 (MB). Canada Goose: first fall migrants
Sep 25 CF (A,MD); bulk of migrants went through between Sep 30 and Oct 23;
the only ones reported after Oct 30 were 100 Nov 27 and 50 Nov 28 at Wells
Bridge (Mr. Dibble). Wood Duck: 23 Oct 10 Norwich (R,SW). Common Golden¬
eye: Nov 7 CF (A,MD). Bufflehead: 3 reports; 10 at Owego Nov 7 (MW, CG)
the best count. Oldsquaw: 2 Nov 2 Owego (MW, CG). Common Scoter: 21 Oct
24 at Guilford Lake and 30 Oct 27 at Norwich (R,SW). Common Merganser: 21
Oct 3 EB (MB).
HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: 1 Oct 9 EB (MB), the last; also reported
from Oneonta, Andes and Cannonsville Reservoir. Goshawk: Aug 21 south of Bing¬
hamton (GC, E. Kirch, W. Corderman), seen and heard; Aug 28 at North Fenton
in Broome County (W. R. Williams); 1 Sep 20 at Morris near Oneonta (Mr.
Fiske); Nov 22 1 in brown plumage at Choconut Center (MS), appeared to be in
36
poor condition. Sharp-shinned Hawk: Sep 2 Owego (MW, CG); 1 Sep 18 in the
Oneonta area (DOAS); Oct 12 at Friendsville in nearby Pennsylvania (C.
Gottschall); no others. Cooper’s Hawk: Sep 2 and Nov 7 Owego (MW, CG) ;1
Oct 1 Oneonta (KW); that’s all. Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 Oct 23 in Oneonta area
(DOAS); the only report. Broad-winged Hawk: over 300 Sep 17 Owego (CG) the
only large count; 4 Oct 2 EB (MB) the last date reported. Rough-legged Hawk:
I undated report from Cannonsville Reservoir during period (SH). Bald Eagle: 1
undated report from Cannonsville Reservoir during period (SH). Marsh Hawk: 2
Oct 30 Oneonta area (DOAS). Osprey: Aug 29 Whitney Point (MS) to Oct 22
CF (A,MD); a total of 20 individual reports of 1 or 2 birds each. American Coot:
4 Oct 23 at Portlandville near Oneonta (DOAS). Semipalmated Plover: 1 Aug
28 South Otselic Fish Hatchery (R,SW), the only one all year. Solitary Sandpiper:
3 Aug 28 South Otselic Fish Hatchery (R,SW). Greater Yellowlegs: 1 Sep 14
Sherburne (R,SW). Least Sandpiper: 4 Aug 28 South Otselic Fish Hatchery (R,SW).
Herring Gull: seen regularly in Triple Cities area from Nov 7. Black Tern: 1 Aug
28 South Otselic Fish Hatchery (R,SW), seldom reported in fall migration in Re¬
gion. Short-eared Owl: 1 undated report from Cannonsville area during period (SH).
GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Whip-poor-will: 1 Oct 7 Vestal (GC), mist
netted and banded. Common Nighthawk: Sep 10 Oneonta (KW). Ruby-throated
Hummingbird: Oct 11 Delhi (LC), last date. Pileated Woodpecker: 3 reports.
Eastern Kingbird: 1 Sep 18 Oneonta area (DOAS). Great Crested Flycathcer: Sep
4 Milford (DOAS). Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: Sep 13, 18 and 20 Vestal (GC).
Traill’s Flycatcher: 5 banded Sep 13 to 26 (HM, EH). Least Flycatcher: 15 banded
Sep 9 to 17 Vestal (HM); 1 Sep 29 EB (MB), last. Eastern Wood Pewee: Oct 8
CF (A,MD), late Tree Swallow: 25 Oct 22 and 1 Oct 30 (CG), late. Rough-winged
Swallow: Oct 9 Owego (MW, CG), late. Barn Swallow: 3 Sep 28 EB (MB).
Tufted Titmouse: regular all fall at CF (A,MD) ; 4 at Endwell all during Sep
(FL) ; bred at Oneonta during summer and 2 adults and 4 immatures were seen
Aug 31 (Mrs. J. Spencer); reported from 2 other Oneonta neighborhoods during
period. Red-breasted Nuthatch: fairly frequent reports all fall. Winter Wren: 1 Sep
25 EB (MB) to Oct 26 Vestal (EH) with numbers peaking about Oct 9. Carolina
Wren: 1 Oct 16 and 21 and Nov 4 Oneonta (Irene Wright); no others. Mocking¬
bird: reports from Choconut Center (MS), Endwell (FL), Vestal (GC), and Owego
(MW). Catbird: Oct 23 Oneonta (DOAS), the last report. Brown Thrasher: Oct
27 Norwich (R,SW). Wood Thrush: Oct 6 CF (A,MD). Hermit Thrush: quite
numerous Oct 5 to 28 in Triple Cities area. Swainson’s Thrush: 18 banded Sep 20
thru 30 Vestal (HM); numerous sight records Aug 31 thru Oct 26. Veery: 1 Sep
16 Vestal (HM), last. Eastern Bluebird: 9 Sep 4 Choconut Center (Robert Shef¬
field), flying over; a promising number of other reports, the last Oct 30 Oneonta
area (DOAS). Water Pipit: 1 Sep 19, Maryland, in Otsego County, (Irene Wright).
Cedar Waxwing: more numerous reports than most years. Northern Shrike: 1 Nov
28 Norwich (R,SW).
VIREOS—WARBLERS: White-eyed Vireo: Oct 30 Vestal (EH), our first fall
record ever. Red-eyed Vireo: 65 banded Sep 11 to 28 Vestal (HM); 1 Oct 9 EB
(MB), the last. Philadelphia Vireo: 6 banded Sep 10 to 26 Vestal (HM, L. Bemont).
Warbling Vireo: 1 singing Sep 6 Whitney Point (MS); 1 Sep 14 EB (MB),
the last. Golden-winged Warbler: 1 Sep 3 EB (MB). Blue-winged Warbler: 1 Sep
II Vestal (HM), banded. Tennessee Warbler: 1 Sep 17 Vestal (HM) to Oct 6
EB (MB). Orange-crowned Warbler: Oct 1 Apalachin (Glenys Curran). Nashville
Warbler: 14 banded Sep 13 to 30 Vestal (HM); last date Oct 12 Vestal (EH).
Parula Warbler: 1 Sep 29 EB (MB). Magnolia Warbler: 19 banded Vestal Sep 11
to 30 (HM). Cape May Warbler: 38 banded Sep 11 to 30 Vestal (HM) ; 5 other
reports Sep 7 Vestal (GC) to Oct 6 EB (MB); 1 Nov 16 Delhi (LC), extremely
37
late; an unusually high number of fall records for this species. Black-throated Blue
Warbler: 5 Sep 20 EB (MB), most and last. Myrtle Warbler: 8 Oct 27 Norwich
(R.SW), last. Black-throated Green Warbler: 21 banded Sep 11 to 30 Vestal (HM) ;
1 Oct 31 Oneonta area (DOAS). Bay-breasted Warbler: 5 banded Sep 17 to 27
Vestal (HM) ; Aug 25 to Oct 12 EB (MB), the first and last fall records. Blackpoll
Warbler: 14 banded Sep 22 to 28 Vestal (HM); Sep 9 to Oct 7 EB (MB). Pine
Warbler: 2 Sep 6 Laurens, in Oneonta area, (E. and F. Vermilya) ; an undated
record from Walton (SH). Palm Warbler: 1 banded Sep 26 (L. Bemont) Vestal.
Ovenbird: 11 banded Vestal Sep 9 to 26 (HM) ; last date Oct 12 Vestal (GC).
Northern Waterthrush; Sep 18 Vestal (GG). Connecticut Warbler: 1 banded Sep 16
and another Sep 17 Vestal (HM), Mourning Warbler: Aug 29 Owego (MW, CG).
Yellowthroat: 24 banded Vestal (HM) Sep 9 to 27. Yellow-breasted Chat: an un¬
dated record from Owego (Ruth Williams). Hooded Warbler: 1 Sep 1 EB (MB).
Wilson’s Warbler: Sep 2 Vestal (GC) ; 1 Sep 25 EB (MB) ; 2 banded at Vestal
Sep 9 and 24 (HM). Canada Warbler: Sep 25 Vestal (GC). American Redstart:
4 banded Vestal Sep 14 to 23 (HM); last date Oct 4 EB (MB).
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Baltimore Oriole: 1 Sep 16 EB (MB), the last.
Scarlet Tanager; 5 banded Sep 2 to 28 Vestal (HM); plentiful all Sep; 1 Oct 9
EB (MB). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 4 Oct 23 Milford (DOAS). IndigO' Bunting:
1 Oct 2 EB (MB), late. Evening Grosbeak: Oct 26 Vestal (GC), the first fall
record; 8 other reports, all of a dozen birds or less. House Finch: 1 or more daily
throughout Sep Endwell (FL). Pine Grosbeak: 1 Sep 18 Oneonta area (DOAS),
the only report received. Pine Siskin: 60 or more Oct 23 in 3 flocks Milford (DOAS);
no others. White-winged Crossbill: 20 or more Nov 13 Oneonta area (DOAS).
Vesper Sparrow: 18 or more Sep 18 Oneonta (DOAS) ; not many others, the last
Nov 6 Owego (MW, CG). Slate-colored Junco: present in reasonably good numbers
since Sep 26. Tree Sparrow: Oct 30 Vestal (EH). Chipping Sparrow: last one Oct
26 Vestal (W. R. Williams). Field Sparrow: no reports after Oct 22 CF (A,MD).
White-crowned Sparrow: Oct 1 Nichols, near Owego, (V. Hudson), first; Oct 19
Vestal (EH), last; not many. White-throated Sparrow: small numbers from Sep 4
and plentiful all Oct and Nov. Fox Sparrow: 1 Oct 9 Oneonta (Irene Wright) ;
6 other reports from Oct 28 to Nov 6. Lincoln’s Sparrow: 1 Sep 20 and 1 Oct 12
EB (MB); Oct 3 Choconut Center (MS). Snow Bunting: Nov 6 South Owego
(MW, CG).
710 University Ave., Endwell, N.Y., 13760
REGION 5—ONEIDA LAKE BASIN
M. S. Rusk and C. G. Spies
Like last fall, this one was warm and wet, with no lasting snow until after the
end of the period. Rain that fell during the autumn added to that in ponds and
creeks already full from the summer rains. Again like last fall, there were few
north-wind cold fronts to bring migrants down in waves. Despite similar weather,
fewer late departures for warblers and other small passerines were established than
last year.
Through the period, bird mortality surveys were done at the TV tower in Pompey
Twp, the larid islands in Oneida Lake, and Lake Ontario. Some of the resultant
information is in this report, but most of it hasn’t been completely compiled yet.
We hope an article can be prepared for publication in the next Kingbrd.
Some positives for the season: 1) record maximum of Double-crested Cormorant;
38
2) a Whistling Swan flight equalling the previous best, another fine flight of Canada
Goose, and a good flight of Snow Goose; 3) an excellent flight of Red Phalarope
and good jaeger and Forster’s Tern flights; 4) the start of a large incursion of
Snowy Owl; 5) record counts of Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, and Eastern
Kingbird; 6) more Carolina Wren reports than usual; 7) best-ever fall flight of
Hermit Thrush, generally scarce for a number of years; 8) record flights of Solitary,
Red-eyed, and Philadelphia Vireos; 9) best fall flight ever of all three “ ‘winged’
warblers — Golden-winged, Blue-winged, and Brewster’s, and good counts on several
other warbler species; 10) promise of a good “winter finch” season to come.
Some negatives: 1) along with Black Duck, Mallard now also down precipitously;
2) very low numbers of both teal; 3) Ring-necked Duck and both scaup now with
the other Aythya as crash species; 4) low numbers of rallines (though high counts
of American Coot); 5) for the most part, a mediocre shorebird flight (?due to
mudflats being flooded) ; 6) low Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rough-winged
Swallow counts; 7) poor numbers of Northern Shrike; 8) mediocre counts of most
sparrows.
Rarities include Fulmar*, Glossy Ibis, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Long-tailed Jaeger*,
Laughing Gull, Bohemian Waxwing, Connecticut Warbler, Dickcissel, Oregon Junco.
Abbreviations: Adir—Adirondack; BL—-Beaver Lake Nature Center and vicinity
in Lysander Twp; DH—Derby Hill, Sage Creek, and vicinity on L Ont near Texas;
Estey—Estey Rd and vicinity near Pompey Center; ESVB—Edgewater Beach, Sylvan
Beach, and Verona Beach, comprising the E side of Oneida L; FH—Fair Haven
Beach State Park, Little Sodus Bay, and vicinity on L Ont; FR—Fox Ridge area
of Montezuma Twp; HIGMA—Howland Island State Game Management Area
near Port Byron; NM—Niagara Mohawk Visitors’ Center Hear Lakeview and vi¬
cinity; NP—Ninemile Point on L Ont near Lakeview and vicinity; NPT—NW portion
of Pompey Twp; Oak—Oakwood Cemetery and vicinity in Syr; Onon—Onondaga;
Ont—Ontario; PF—Pratts Falls County Park, Gardner Rd, and vicinity in central
Pompey Twp; SP—North Pond, South Pond, and the sand dunes on L Ont near
Sandy Pond; SSSP—Selkirk Shores State Park and vicinity near Port Ontario;
Stone—Stone Rd, Halladay Rd, and vicinity near Colosse; Syr—Syracuse:
TRGMA—Three Rivers State Game Management Area near Baldwinsville.
Contributors (initials used for unusual observations) : D. W. Ackley, B. Barnum,
V. Billings, A. M. Carter, G. & M. Church, D. W. Crumb, D. A. Dawley, P. A.
DeBenedictis, F. C. Dittrich, E. M. Freeborn, F. J. LaFrance, G. R. Maxwell, B. &
S. Peebles, J. W. Propst, T. M. Riley, M. S. Rusk, F. G. Scheider, K. A. Slotnick,
G. A. Smith, C. G. Spies, R. J. Sutliff, J. & E. VanDresar, R. & C. Wernick, R. &
S. White.
The editors’ gratitude to Dorothy Crumb, Carolyn Davis, Ferd LaFrance, Pete
Merritt, Jean Propst, Fritz Scheider, and Gerry Smith for their help in compiling
this report.
Corrigenda: Kingbird XXI: 4, October 1971, Region 5 report —^ p. 230, Canada
Goose: add no certainly feral birds reported elsewhere; Wood Duck: 50± nests
HIGMA; Common Merganser: 7 Jul 4 neat N Western; Red-breasted Merganser:
up to 4 males and 3 females Jun 13 Oneida L; p. 231, Ring-necked Pheasant:
appears to be stable or up on BBS; add Rock Dove: max 202 Jun 9, mostly in
Onon Twp; Mourning Dove: Aug 8 Horseshoe Is; Black-billed Cuckoo: also up
from last year; p 232, Reddieaded Woodpecker: . ; M near Mexico, near Eaton ,
Hatch L near W Eaton; Least Flycatcher: max 71 Otto; p. 233, Veery: ... 36 LJ;
p. 235, Louisiana Waterthrush: add newly located on the Mad R N of Otto Mills
near Redfield Jun 4 (DWC); add Western Meadowlark: “Suspected nesting, as I
* Specimen identified by John Bull at the American Museum of Natural History.
39
have heard singing males on SUGO campus for three years now,” Oswego (GRM)
no other details; p. 236, Hensiow’s Sparrow: 2 in lower S hill country.
LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: arr Sep 25, 3 Oneida L; max 18 Nov 20
DH; Adir dep Nov 21, 1 Dart L near Big Moose but present elsewhere in Dec.
Red-throated Loon: 2 Oct 28 SP, Is Nov 11 and 26 both FHo~—nly reports. Red¬
necked Grebe: 1 ad Sep 27 SP, 2 Oct 3 DH, 1 Oct 24 DH, 1 Oct 30 Burt Pt near
Fruit Valley — only reports. Horned Grebe: arr Oct 8, 2 Tully L; max 103 Oct 30
off 7 mi of L Ont shore. Pied-billed Grebe: max 22 Oct 24 FH, BL, HIGMA -—low.
FULMAR: 1 found dead Oct 3 L Ont shore near Demster (P. Merritt) is the 1st
Regional record and the 1st N.Y. state specimen. Double-crested Cormorant: max
28 Oct 24 Oswego (FGS) record high; season total was 9 reports of 38 birds from
24 observers—better than average; dep Nov 17, 1 DH.
Great Blue Heron: max 13 Aug 22 HIGMA — low. Green Heron: max 156
Aug 22 at FR roost (GAS)—high; dep Oct 10, 1 Mexico Pt near Texas and 1
Syr — a little early. Black-crowned Night Heron: 1 ad Aug 22 FR; 1 ad and 2 imm
Sep 9, 1 ad Oct 3, 1 imm Oct 31, all SP — only reports. American Bittern: max 2
Sep 12 Utica; dep Oct 24, 1 FH. GLOSSY IBIS: 1 imm Oct 10 SP (FGS, PAD)
1st fall record.
Whistling Swan: equal to previous best fall (1965) with 6 Nov 1 (G&MC) and
7 Nov 18 (AMC) both Hatch L near W Eaton, and 1 ad Nov 10-12 FH (JWP,
FGS). Canada Goose: arr Sep 14, 40 Oswego Twp; max 5000 Oct 5 BL (M.
Krebill, fide DWC) is very high and may reflect an unusually good breeding season
to the N as well as the one at HIGMA; Adir dep Nov 21, 18 Dart L, but present
elsewhere in Dec. Brant: arr Oct 12, 212 DH; max 4494 Nov 4 DH; 16 Nov 1 and
19 Nov 19 at Woodman Pond near Hamilton are noteworthy as birds found away
from L Ont or Oneida L are unusual; dep Nov 27, 4 L Ont E of Oswego. Snow
Goose: 1 ad Sep 26-Oct 2 HIGMA, up to 7 both ad and imm Oct 4-6 BL, 2 ad
Oct 17 NP — better than average. Blue Goose: 1 ad and 2 imm Oct 14 SP — only
report. “Snow Goose X Blue Goose hybrid’ 5 : 1 ad Oct 14 SP. Mallard: max 290 Nov
19 Woodman Pond, 266 Oct 12 DH — very low. Black Duck: max 108 Nov 25
Oneida L, 100 Oct 12 DH -—very low. Gadwall: arr Oct 23, 5 FH; max 56 Oct 24
BL, HIGMA, FH. Pintail: arr Aug 24, 1 SP; max 1395 Oct 12 DH (GAS) appears
to be record high. Green-winged Teal: arr Jul 2, 2 Onon L; max 24 Oct 4 TRGMA
— very low; 1 Nov 25—30 Dart L may attempt to winter there. Blue-winged Teal:
max 104 Sep 8 Oneida L — very low but better than 1970; 91 dead birds found
Sep 18 and 25 on Grassy, Long, and Wantry Islands in Oneida L (CGS et al) were
apparently victims of an epidemic which also had a slight affect there on Green-
winged Teal, Shoveler, and American Coot, and possibly Ruddy Turnstone. Ameri¬
can Widgeon: arr Aug 29, 3 SP; max 400 Oct 2 HIGMA. Shoveler: arr Aug 28,
1 Onon L; max and dep 6 Oct 3 L Ont near Texas. Wood Duck: max 85 Aug 22 FR.
Redhead: arr Sep 25, 12 Oneida L; max 60 Oct 26 DH. Ring-necked Duck:
arr and max Oct 2, 116 BL, HIGMA'—very low. Canvasback: arr Oct 5, 1 BL;
max 64 Nov 20 Oneida L — very low. Greater Scaup: arr Sep 9, 2 SP; max 690
Nov 7 DH. Lesser Scaup: arr Oct 3, 5 SP and 3 E of Oswego — late; max 70
Nov 20 Woodman Pond. Scaup: max 946 Nov 25 Oneida L — very low, as in 1969
and 1970. Common Goldeneye: arr Oct 15, 1 Rice Creek near Oswego Center; L
Ont max 375 Nov 14 FH, Oneida L max 292 Nov 25 —both low, perhaps a result
of the mild fall. Bufllehead: arr Sep 25, 4 Oneida L; max 86 Nov 4 DH. Oldsquaw:
arr Oct 26, 500 DH; max 905 Nov 7 DH — high. King Eider: 1 imm male Nov 13-
14 SP—only report. White-winged Scoter: arr Sep 9, 2 SP; max 1460 Oct 26 DH
•—good number; 1 Oct 17 Dart L and 1-4 Nov 1—20 Woodman Pond are note¬
worthy for their locations. Surf Scoter: arr Oct 3, 8 L Ont E of Oswego; max 730
Oct 26 DH — good. Common Scoter: arr Oct 6, 18 DH; max 160 Oct 17 NP;
40 Oct 27 Utica is noteworthy: Dark-winged Scoters: max 3100 Oct 25 DH (DWC)
40
in a tremendous flight. Ruddy Duck: arr Oct 6, 1 BL; max 33 Nov 14 BL; 14 Nov 1
Woodman Pond is noteworthy. Hooded Merganser: arr Aug 30, 1 Onon L; max
50 Oct 30 HIGMA. Common Merganser: arr Oct 5, 9 SP; max 155 Nov 14 SP.
Red-breasted Merganser: arr Oct 3, 2 SP; max 40004- Nov 3 and 6950 Nov 4 both
DH — good.
HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: 4 imm Sep 17 near Mexico were hopefully
raised by some of the adults seen in the area regularly through the summer; max
and dep 10 Oct 17 E L Ont. Goshawk: max 2 ad Nov 6 near Pompey Center; 13
birds —2 in Sep, 2 in Oct, 9 in Nov — from 24 observers include at least 2 ad
and 7 imm. Sharp-shinned Hawk: max 4 Oct 15 Eaton; 32 birds — 7 in Sep, 21 in
Oct, 4 in Nov—-from 24 observers. Cooper’s Hawk: singles only; 17 birds-—-1 in
Aug, 6 in Sep, 5 in Oct, 5 in Nov — from 24 observers include at least 7 ad and 4
imm. Red-tailed Hawk: max 10 Nov 26 Belgium to FH. Red-shouldered Hawk: arr
Aug 14, 1 near Fruit Valley; 4 others — 2 in Sep, 2 in Oct — very low. Broad¬
winged Hawk: arr Aug 4, 1 NPT and 1 Solvay; max 108 Sep 16 Makyes Rd in
On on Twp (GAS); dep Sep 21, 3 Makyes Rd. Rough-legged Hawk: arr Oct 16,
1 Elbridge; max 4, 3 light and 1 dark phase, Nov 14, SP, SSSP — low. Bald Eagle:
only report was 1 imm Oct 3 SP (PAD, FGS). Marsh Hawk: arr Aug 12, 1 Peter-
boro; max 7 Oct 24 SP. Osprey: arr Aug 22, 1 HIGMA; max 2s Oct 2-Oct 17 along
L Ont; dep Nov 6, 1 SP —late. Peregrine Falcon: 5 singles (4 ad, 1 imm) Oct
1-13 from E L Ont, ESVB, NPT. Pigeon Hawk: arr Aug 4, 1 imm near Cicero
(JWP) record early (previously Aug 31, 1969) ; only others were 1 Sep 17 and 1
ad male Oct 12, both DH. Sparrow Hawk: max 10 Sep 17 NPT.
Ruffed Grouse: max 14 Sep 8 NPT. Bobwhite: 2 Oct 1 near Pompey Center are
the only birds that might possibly not have been released this year, and are thought
to have been around at least since last year. Ring-necked Pheasant: max 8 Sep 5
near NM and 8 Oct 5 SSSP — low; numbers are still down, and it is unusual to
have the max near L Ont. Virginia Rail: max 2 Sep 4 and dep Sep 26, 1 Woodman
Pond. Sora: singles only from Onon L, FR, SP; dep Oct 5, 1 SP—-late. Common
Gallinule: max 11 Sep 12 SP-—very low; dep Oct 14, 2 SP. American Coot: arr
Sep 4, 7 FH; max 500 Nov 14 FH — very high.
Semipalmated Plover: arr Jul 14, 1 Onon L; max 30 Aug 4 Onon L and 30 Aug
29 Onon L, SP; dep Oct 24, 1 SP. Killdeer: max 110 Sep 7 Brandy Brook area near
Durhamville, ESVB. American Golden Plover: arr Aug 27, 3 ad Peat Swamp area
near Clay —late; max 18 Sep 29 Poppleton Rd near ESVB; dep Oct 28, 1 SP — a
poor flight. Black-bellied Plover: arr Aug 33 1 Oneida L;; max 18 Oct 17 SP; dep
Nov 14, Oneida L. Ruddy Turnstone: arr Jul 24, 1 Oneida L; max 8 Aug 28 Onon
L and 8 Sep 8 ESVB — low; dep Nov 6, 1 Oswego (FGS) record late.
American Woodcock: max 2 Oct 17 DH, Mexico Pt and 2 Nov 7 DH; dep Nov
13, 1 NPT. Common Snipe: arr Aug 22, 1 FH; max 40 Oct 31 SSSP, Texas-very
high; dep Nov 21, 16 Otisco L. Upland Plover: period max 6 Aug 22 Syr airport;
dep Sep 2, 1 Rome. Spotted Sandpiper: period max 26 Sep 4 along 7M> mi of L Ont
littoral; dep Oct 5, 5 Onon L. Solitary Sandpiper: arr Aug 22, 2 SSSP, 2 near
Stockbridge near Knoxboro, 1 Montezuma Twp —all very late but unusually wide¬
spread; max 2s thru Sep 8; dep Oct 3, 1 Texas. Greater Yellowlegs: arr Jul 5, 1
Onon L; max 36 Oct 17 SP; dep Nov 20, 3 ESVB. Lesser Yellowlegs: arr Jun 30,
3 Onon L; max 128 Jul 21 and 42 Aug 27 both Onon L: dep Nov 6, 1 ESVB. Knot:
arr and max 3 Aug 29 SP; dep Nov 6, 1 in breeding plumage Oswego (FGS)
record late. Purple Sandpiper: 1 Oct 31 SP, 1 Nov 6 and 1 Nov 11-12 both FH ~
an average flight. Pectoral Sandpiper: arr Aug 11, 2 Onon L — nearly a month
late; max 12 Sep 7 Onon L; dep Nov 17, 1 injured SSSP (DWC )ties record late.
White-rumped Sandpiper: arr Aug 4, 1 Onon L; max 6 Sep 14 SP; dep Oct 24,
1 ESVB — early. Baird’s Sandpiper: arr Aug 23, 3 imm Onon L; max 7 Aug 29
Onon L, SP; dep Sep 27, 1 SP. Least Sandpiper: arr Jul 5, 1 NM; imm arr Jul 27,
1 Onon L; max 200 Jul 17 Onon L, 50 Aug 23 Onon L — high; dep Oct 3, 1
41
ESVB — early. Dunlin: arr Sep 12, 1 SP; max 169 Oct 6 DH. Short-billed
Dowitcher:. arr Jul 6, 1 Onon L; max 20 Jul 25 Onon L, 12 Jul 25 FR, 14 Aug 29
On on L; dep Sep 18, 1 SP — early. Stilt Sandpiper: arr Jul 27, 2 Onon L —- late;
max 8 Aug 4-7 and 7 Aug 29 both Onon L; dep Aug 31, 2 Onon L ,—very early —
and no Out imm. Semipalmated Sandpiper: arr Jul 2, 1 NM is record early unless
it was a lingering spring migrant; next report Jul 10, 3 Onon L; max 300 Aug 8
and 170 Aug 24 both Onon L; dep Oct 24, 1 ESVB; later reports are possibly imm
White-rumped Sandpipers. Western Sandpiper: arr Aug 8, 2 Onon L; max 2s Aug 8
and 25 both Onon L; dep Sep 27, 1 SPearly.
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER: a record number of reports with singles Aug
22, Aug 29, Sep 2 all Onon L, 2 Sep 9 Brandy Brook area, 1 Sep 18 SP. Sanderling:
arr Jul 12, 6 Onon L and 4 Oneida L — record early by a week; max 85 Sep 27
SP. Red Phalarope: arr Aug 24, 1 imm SP — record early by a month; next report
1 Nov 5 ESVB; max 11 Nov 14 SP — a near record. Wilson’s Phalarope: 1 female
in breeding plumage Jun 30 SP and 1 imm Sep 8 Onon L were only reports.
Northern Phalarope: at least 7 birds at Onon L with — arr Aug 23, 2; max 6, 4 ad
and 2 imm, Aug 28; dep Aug 29, 2.
Pomarine Jaeger: 2 reports — 1 ad Oct 9 SP (PAD) and 1 imm Nov 4 DH
(FGS, JWP). Parasitic Jaeger: better than average flight despite poor winds — 6,
3 light ad, 2 dark ad, 1 dark imm, Oct 5 SP (FGS) ; 9, 2 light imm, 7 dark imm,
Oct 6 DH (JWP) ; 1 light imm Oct 12 DH (GAS); 1 dark imm Nov 4 DH (FGS,
JWP); 1 dark Nov 13 NP (FGS, PAD). LONG-TAILED JAEGER : 1 dead imm
Oct 31 SP (CGS) is the 1st Regional record and the 3rd upstate N.Y. specimen.
Glaucous Gull: arr Nov 14, 1 2nd yr Oswego and 1 1st yr SP. Iceland Gull: arr
Nov 11 1 1st yr FH is only report. Great Black-backed Gull: arr Sep 18, Oneida L;
max 65 Nov 26 along 4 Vz mi of L Ont from Oswego E. Herring Gull: max 2370 DH
and 910 FH, ESVB, both Nov 7. Ring-billed Gull: max 2538 Nov 23 along L Ont
from Oswego to SSSP. LAUGHING GULL: 1 delayed 2nd yr or advanced 3rd yr
Oct 10 SP (FGS, PAD) 1st report since 1969. Bonapartes Gull: max 100 Aug 12
Oneida L and 85 Oct 24 ESVB.
Forster’s Tern: at SP, arr Sep 12, 1 — late, and good max of 8 there Oct 14
with dep there Nov 4, 1; 1st Regional report away from SP was 1 Nov 12 FH
(JWP). Common Tern: max 400 Oct 1 ESVB, dep Oct 4, 120 ESVB. Caspian
Tern: arr Jul 10, 1 Onon L; max 44 Aug 21 SP, SSSP — low for recent years; dep
Oct 12, 1 DH; Black Tern: max 13 Aug 29 SP; dep Nov 7, 1 ESVB (PAD) record
late (previously Oct 19, 1967). Mourning Dove: max 107 Aug 22 Clay^Twp, FH,
HIGMA. Black-billed Cuckoo: max 2s Sep 4-9; dep Oct 20, 1 NPT (DWG) record
late.
Screech Owl: reported at 11 sites. Great Horned Owl: reported at 18 sites. Snowy
Owl: arr Get 31, 1 SP; max 3 Nov 6 SP, Oswego; away from L Ont, where it was
widely reported from FH to SP, species was noted at Baldwinsville, Onon L, Eaton,
Hinckley Reservoir and, most unusual, 1 Nov 11 at Dart L. Barred Owl: reported at
3 sites. Short-eared Owl: 1 Nov 1 near Bridgeport and 1 Nov 26 Oswego — only
reports.
GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Common Nighthawk: max 211 Aug 26 above
Onon Creek valley in Syr (EMF) record high, with the next highest 100 Sep 8,
19*70 in the same area; dep Sep 17, 1 Syr. Chimney Swift: max 500 Aug 26 above
Onon Creek (GAS) record high; dep Oct 12, 2 DH (GAS) record late. Ruby-
throated Hummingbird: max 6 Aug 21 SP, SSSP and 6 Aug 22 FH, HIGMA —
both very low; dep Oct 15, 1 Holland Patent (J&EV) very late. Belted Kingfisher:
max 11 Sep 5 along 8 mi of L Ont shore 8 good.
Yellow-shafted Flicker: max 75 Sep 26-Oct 4 Dart L area. Pileated Woodpecker:
reported at 19 sites. Red-bellied Woodpecker: reported at 5 sites. Red-headed
Woodpecker: max 2s Aug 25 N of Mexico, Sep 12 SP, Sep 15 Eaton; dep Oct 28,
42
1 SP, but others apparently attempting to winter. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: arr Sep
11, 1 NPT; max 11 Oct 5 NPT; interesting color variations were an albino Oct 1
NPT and a “black-headed sapsucker” Sep 26 SP. Hairy Woodpecker: max 5 Aug 22
FH, HIGMA — this low a max, and on an early date, indicates no significant mi¬
gration. Downy Woodpecker: max 12 Sep 11 Mexico Pt to SP, Stone—no sig¬
nificant migration. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: 1 male Oct 16 Five Ponds
area in N Herkimer Go.
Eastern Kingbird: arr Jul 5, 1 Onon Hill; max 71 Aug 23 N Syr (FGS) record
high count (previously 50 in 1962); dep Oct 10, 1 NP (FGS, PAD) record late
date (previously Oct 5, 1968). Great Crested Flycatcher: 3s Sep 4 Eaton and
Sep 12 Stone, DH to NP — scarce; dep Sep 18, 1 NPT. Eastern Phoebe: max 10s
Sep 4 SSSP and Sep 30 SP,SSSP—* good; dep Oct 17, 3 SP, Rainbow Shores Rd
near SP. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: arr Aug 16, 1 Oswego Twp; max 4 Aug 19
SP, SSSP; dep Sep 19, 1 NPT; at least 21 from 24 observers — better than average.
Traill’s Flycatcher: max 4 Aug 29 SP; dep Sep 4, 1 NPT. Least Flycatcher: max
42 Aug 31 PF — very high; dep Sep 25, 4 NPT. Empidonax species: dep Sep 26,
1 NPT. Eastern Wood Pewee: max 20 Sep 11 Mexico Pt to SP, Stone; dep Oct 19,
1 NPT (DWC) record late. Olive-sided Flycatcher: Is Sep 1—6 Estey, Sep 11 Stone,
Sep 12 Estey; also reported from Holland Patent.
Horned Lark: max 125 Oct 22 BL; other counts much lower but better than re¬
cent years. Tree Swallow: arr Jul 4, 55 Peterboro; max 2175 Sep 11 SP, SSSP; dep
Oct 30, 2 W of Burt Pt and 1 HIGMA — late. Bank Swallow: max 8000 Aug 15
DH and 4500 Aug 26 SP; dep Sep 27, 1 SP. Rough-winged Swallow: arr Jul 10,
2 Onon L; max 8 Jtd 25 FR — very low; dep Sep 30, 1 SP — very late. Barn
Swallow: max 18,000 Aug 5 Peat Swamp and 4500s Aug 15 DH and Aug 26 SP;
dep Oct 3, 1 SP. Cliff Swallow: max 100 Aug 5 Williamstown; dep Sep 18, 1 SP.
Purple Martin: max 400 Aug 25 DH; dep Sep 12, 7 SP.
Gray Jay: 3 Oct 16 Five Ponds area. Blue Jay: max 55 Sep 30 SP, SSSP — no
significant migration. Common Crow: max 3500 Oct 21 Mexico Pt to SP. Black-
capped Chickadee: max 225 Oct 20 DH — a light flight. Boreal Chickadee: 4 Oct
16 Five Ponds area; 1 Nov 14 FH (FGS, PAD). Tufted Titmouse: 2 in Skaneateles
(C. & E. Farnham, fide DWC) is only report. White-breasted Nuthatch: max 20
Oct 10-Nov 30 Dart L. Red-breasted Nuthatch: max 15 Oct 16 Five Ponds area and
9 Sep 11 SSSP, Stone—-mediocre flight through non-Adir areas. Brown Creeper:
max 21 Oct 5 Mexico Pt to SP, Stone. House Wren: max 19 Sep 11 SP, SSSP,
Stone; dep Oct 20, 1 DH. Winter Wren: arr Aug 19, 1 SSSSP; max 30 Sep 27 SP,
SSSP. Carolina Wren: 1 Sep 6 through period Kenwood near Sherrill, 1 Oct 30
Riker Beach near Lakeview, 1 Nov 13 through period SSSP, 1 Nov 20 Short Pt
near Cicero — more than usual. Long-billed Marsh Wren: max 10 Oct 5 SP, DH,
Mexico Pt — good, and better than recent years; dep Oct 14, 2 SP.
Mockingbird: reported from DeWitt, Chittenango, Oneida, New Hartford. Cat¬
bird: max 54 Sep 11 SP, SSSP, Mexico Pt, Stone (FGS) record high; dep Nov 25,
1 Oswego Twp. Brown Thrasher: max 4 Aug 21—29 SP; dep Nov 13, 1 Estey and
Nov 14, 1 NPT. Robin: max 900+ Oct 31 Estey. Wood Thrush: max 35 Sep 19
NPT—very high; dep Oct 17, 1 SP and 1 Onon Hill. Hermit Thrush: arr Sep, 27
1 SSSP; max 22s Oct 14 Shore Oaks near Demster to SP and Oct 17 NP to SP —
the best fall flight ever, in general, with 1 observer noting 143 and another noting
91 through the period. Swainson’s Thrush: arr Aug 31, 1 Onon Hill and 1 Oak;
max 5 Sep 9—11 SP, SSSP — scarce; dep Oct 12, 1 PF — early. Gray-cheeked
Thrush: arr Sep 9, 2 SSSP; max 6 Sep 18 SP, Stone; dep Oct 5, 3 SP, SSSP and
1 NPT — early. Veery: max 7 Aug 21 SP, SSSP, Stone — very low; dep Sep 18,
2 Hollant Patent. Eastern Bluebird: max 9s Oct 21 Stone and Nov 1 NPT.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: Is Aug 21 SSSP, Aug 21 NPT, Sep 4 SSSP, Oct 10 SP
(FGS, PAD) —unusual to record this species in fall and the last is a record late
43
date. Golden-crowned Kinglet: arr Sep 11, 2 SSSP; max 160 Oct 22 NPT. Ruby-
crowned Kinglet: arr Aug 12, 1 near Smartville — may be a breeding location;
next report is Aug 31-—more normal arr—1 Oswego Twp; max 95 Oct 12 SP;
1 Nov 26 through period at a suet feeder in Eaton may attempt to winter. Water
Pipit: arr Sep 16, 1 SP; max 62 Oct 13 SSSP and 65 Oct 26 near Mexico — poor;
dep Nov 11, 1 Wampsville. BOHEMIAN WAXWING : 2 Nov 12 Schuyler Twp
(VB), 1 Nov 13 NP (FGS, PAD), 1 Nov 20 Syr (B. Schneider)—1st reporting
period with more than 2 reports. Cedar Waxwing: max 370 Oct 2 BL, HIGMA —
good flight but not quite as many as last year. Northern Shrike: arr Oct 24, 1 imm
near Demster; singles only through period — very low. Loggerhead Shrike: Is Aug
19 and Sep 27 both SP — the latter late.
VIREOS—WARBLERS: Yellow-throated Vireo: max 3 Aug 21 SSSP, Stone;
dep Oct 6, 1 near Lamson — late. Solitary Vireo: arr Aug 24, 1 SP; max 11 Oct
3 SP, NM to DH ties record high; a good season—1 observer saw 50 in the
period; dep Oct 20, 1 Oak. Red-eyed Vireo: max 76 Sep 5 Mexico Pt, Stone —
ties record high; dep Oct 10, 1 near Lycoming. Philadelphia Vireo: arr Aug 21,
1 SP; max 8 Sep 11 SSSP, Stone; by far the best season ever — 1 observer saw 32
in the period; dep Oct 2, 1 FH. Warbling Vireo: max 12 Sep 5 Mexico Pt to NM,
Stone; dep' Sep 30, 1 Stone.
Black-and-white Warbler: max 8 Aug 19-21 SP, SSSP; dep Sep 27, 1 SP — early.
Golden-winged Warbler: arr Aug 10, 2 NPT; max 3s Aug 21 SSSP, Stone and
Aug 22 FH; dep Sep 12, 1 Stone (FGS) record late. Blue-winged Warbler: arr
Aug 10, 11 NPT; period max 3 Aug 20 NPT; dep Sep 11, 1 SSSP and 1 NPT.
Brewster’s Warbler: 1 Aug 20 NPT, 2 Aug 23 NPT, 1 Sep 5 near Lycoming.
Tennessee Warbler: arr Aug 21, 1 SP; max 7 Aug 29 NPT, Onon Hill; dep Oct 15,
1 NPT. Orange-crowned Warbler: arr Sep 25, 1 Estey; max 4s Oct 3 SP, DH and
Oct 9 DH, near Fernwood, Stone; dep Oct 14, 1 E L Ont; 22 birds reported—-
except in S Pompey Twp, good though brief flight. Nashville Warbler: arr Aug 14,
1 NPT and 1 SP; max 12 Sep 27 NPT —low; dep Oct 14, 2 SSSP. Parula War¬
bler: arr Sep 9, 1 SP —late; max 4 Sep 27 SSSP, Stone; dep Oct 14, 1 SSSP —
late. Yellow Warbler: arr Jut 27, 3 Onon L — late; max 47 Aug 19 SP to Mexico
Pt, Stone; dep Oct 5, 1 SP (FGS) very late. Magnolia Warbler: arr Aug 20, 1
NPT; max 33 Sep 17 NPT, PF; dep Oct 4, 1 TRGMA — early. Cape May War¬
bler: arr Aug 19, 2 SSSP; max 15 Aug 21 SP, SSSP —high; dep Oct 12, 1 PF
(JWP) record late.
Black-throated Blue Warbler: arr Aug 13, 1 NPT — early; max 9 Sep 2 NPT —
poor; dep Oct 28, 1 NPT—very late. Myrtle Warbler: arr Aug 19, 2 SP; max
140 Oct 12 PF and 125 Oct 5 NPT; dep Nov 24, 1 Syr. Black-throated Green
Warbler: arr Aug 14, 1 Stone; max 61 Sep 17, NPT, PF; dep Oct 12, 1 PF. Cerulean
Warbler: 1 Aug 18 Ninemile Creek valley near Camillus is only report. Black¬
burnian Warbler: arr Aug 6, 1 near S Onon; max 16 Sep 17 PF; dep Oct 12, 1
SP. Chestnut-sided Warbler: arr Aug 15, 1 SSSP; max 8 Sep 9 SSSP, Mexico Pt
low; dep Oct 2, 1 near Lamson and 2 NPT. Bay-breasted Warbler: arr Aug 11,
1 Stone—early; max 32 Sep 11 SP to NM, Stone — high; dep Oct, 1 SSSP.
Blackpoll Warbler: arr Aug 31, 3 NPT — late; max 26 Sep 18 NPT; dep Oct 6,
1 NPT — early. Pine Warbler: more than usual with 1 male Sep 4 SSSP, 2 (1 ad
female and 1 imm) Sep 9 SSSP, 1 Sep 19 NPT, 1 male Oct 5 SSSP. Palm Warbler:
arr Sep 10, 1 NPT —late; max 8s Sep 17-19 NPT (JWP, DWC) record high;
dep Oct 17, “yellow Palm Warbler” SP.
Ovenbird: max 13 Sep 11 SP, SSSP — record high; dep Oct 17, 1 SP — late.
Northern Waterthrush: arr Aug 6, 1 injured at TV tower NPT; max 5 Aug 21
SP —high; dep Oct 5, 1 SP —late. CONNECTICUT WARBLER : 1 Sep 30 NPT
(DWC) and 2 dead at TV tower NPT in Sep. Mourning Warbler: arr Aug 14,
1 SSSP; max 4 Sep 6 NPT — high; dep Oct 2, 1 Estey. Yellowthroat: max 18s
44
Sep 9 SP, SSSP, Mexico Pt and Sep 11 SP to NM; dep Oct 25, 1 Oak. Hooded
Warbler: more than usual with 2 Aug 22 FH, 2 Sep 5 Shore Oaks near Demster,
2 Sep 12 Shore Oaks, 1 Sep 13 SSSP. Wilson’s Warbler: arr Aug 21, 3 SP, SSSP;
max 18 Sep 12 NPT; dep Oct 3, 2 SP, DH — early. Canada Warbler: arr Aug 14,
11 SSSP; max 12 Aug 29 NPT, Onon Hill (GAS) record high; dep Sep 25, 1 NPT.
American Redstart: arr Aug 10, 9 NPT; max 24 Aug 21 SP, SSSP, Stone—good;
dep Oct 5, 1 SSSP and 1 NPT.
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: arr Jul 10, 1 Onon L; max 55 Aug 28
Makyes Rd; dep Oct 10, 1 NM — late. Eastern Meadowlark: max 49 Oct 24 Ramona
Beach area near SSSP, DH. Red-winged Blackbird: max 8000 Nov 7 near Bridge¬
port-—Tate for so many. Baltimore Oriole: max 50 Aug 22 FH, HIGMA, FR; dep
Sep 18, 1 NPT. Rusty Blackbird: arr Sep 5, 1 Mexico Pt (FGS) record early; max
300 Oct 30 HIGMA. Common Grackle: max 500,000 Oct 31 HIGMA (PAD) is
only part of a flight estimated by PAD to have been 1,000,000 or more, and is a
record high. Brown-headed Cowbird: max 5600 Oct 24 DH to SP. Scarlet Tanager:
max 13 Sep 11 SP, SSSP, Stone —good; dep Oct 27, 1 Syr (DAD) record late.
Cardinal: max 11 Oct 2 TRGMA, BL, HIGMA, FR, Onon L — low, especially
for a total from the number of good-habitat sites. Rose-breasted Grosbeak: max 33
Sep 18 NPT (GAS) record high; dep Sep 30, 1 NPT—early. Indigo Bunting:
max 3s Aug 22 and Sep 6 both NPT—low; dep Oct 6, 2 Lysander Twp; 1 ad
male found dead Oct 31 on L Ont shore near Demster but estimated to have died
Oct 15-20 (P. Merritt) may be near record late. DICKCISSEL: 1 imm male at
feeder Oct 17-23 NPT (DWC et al) is the 1st report in 2 years. Evening Gros¬
beak: arr Oct 22 —average date for an incursion year—2 NPT; max 1375 Nov
17 DH. Purple Finch: max 29 Sep 27 SP, SSSP — good. House Finch: 1-3 per
day, involving at least 3 males and 1 female, Aug 20-Nov 25 Syr (DAD) ; 3 Nov 5
Oak (MSR) —i.e. still reported from the 2 most regular sites but not appearing at
new ones. Pine Grosbeak: arr Nov 14, 1 NPT and 2 Schuyler Twp; max 15 Nov
28 Dart L. Common Redpoll: arr Oct 30, 5 FH; max 283 Nov 17 DH hints at big
winter flocks possibly to come. Pine Siskin: arr Sep 30, 1 SP; max 230 Oct 10 SP,
Mexico Pt, DH. American Goldfinch: max 1740 Oct 27 DH (DWC) topping pre¬
vious record high set last year. Red Crossbill: arr Oct 24, 6 DH; max 50 Nov 21—28
Dart L. White-winged Crossbill: arr Oct 28, 10 NPT; max 140 Nov 17 DH.
Rufous-sided Towhee: max 15 Oct 5 NPT. Savannah Sparrow: max 40 Oct 3
NM, DH; dep Oct 28, 1 DH. Henslow’s Sparrow: dep Aug 20, 1 NPT. Vesper
Sparrow: max 20 Oct 26 SSSP; dep Nov 6, 3 DH. Slate-colored Junco: arr Sep 11,
2 SP, SSSP — early; max 115 Nov 11 Constantia area. OREGON JUNCO : 1 Nov
23 Franklin Park near E Syr (JWP). Tree Sparrow: arr Oct 21, 1 DH; max 225
Nov 13 NPT. Chipping Sparrow: max 50 Oct 12 PF; dep Nov 21, 6 Dart L—very
late, especially for Adir. Field Sparrow: max 42 Oct 4 Wampsville. White-crowned
Sparrow: arr Sep 16, 2 SP, SSSP; max 81 Oct 3 SP, DH to NM; dep Nov 28, 1
Eaton — late. White-throated Sparrow: arr Aug 23, 1 SP; max 205 Oct 5 SP to
Mexico Pt, Stone, Peter Scott Swamp-Stevens Pond area near Phoenix. Fox Spar¬
row: arr Oct 5, 1 SSSP; max 49 Nov 1 NPT (DWC) record high. Lincoln’s Spar¬
row: arr Sep 1, 1 N Syr — very early; max 4 Oct 6 Lysander Twp; dep Oct 25,
1 Oak. Swamp Sparrow: max 24 Oct 5 SP to Mexico Pt, Peter Scott Swamp-
Stevens Pond area. Song Sparrow: max 180 Oct 14 SP to Mexico Pt, Fernwood
area. Lapland Longspur: arr Oct 3, 10 SP, NM; max 28 Oct 30 SSSP (JWP) record
high. Snow Bunting: arr Oct 21, 6 SP, SSSP; max 450 Nov 3 DH; much lower
numbers were typical however.
242 W. Calthrop Ave., Syracuse 13205
45
REGION 6 — ST LAWRENCE
J. B. Belknap
Weather summary. — October was mild throughout, with only light scattered
frosts. First hard frost came on Nov. 5. Snow fell in the region several times in
November, but there were periods of milder weather resulting in no heavy snow
accumulation.
Abbreviations: ED—El Dorado; GP—Glen Park; PRGMA—Perch River Game
Management Area; THGMA—Tug Hill Game Management Area.
Observers: JB—John Belknap; RB—Richard Brouse; FC—Frank Clinch; NL—
Nick Leone; GP—Glenn Perrigo III; R&JW—Robert and June Walker; MW—
Mark Wolfe.
LOONS—DUCKS: Horned Grebe: present in small numbers along Lake On¬
tario until end of period. Pied-billed Grebe: 1 or 2 still present at end of period.
Great Blue Heron: last noted Nov 26 (NL). Green Heron: Oct 30 at ED (late)
(L&MW). Least Bittern: not often reported; 1 at PRGMA Aug 21 (JB); 1 at
ED Aug 23 (MW). Canada Goose: first report Sept 26; then noted throughout
remainder of period. Green-winged Teal: last date Nov 20 (RB), American Widg¬
eon: last date Nov 6 (RB). Ruddy Duck: small numbers at two locations in Nov.
Gadwall: seen at three locations in Nov. Shoveler: 19 at PRGMA on Nov 21
(MW). Scoters: all three species reported at ED, Oct & Nov. Common Eider: 2 at
ED Nov 12. Hooded Merganser: still present at PRGMA Nov 21 (NL&MW).
HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: last date Oct 17 (NL). Rough-legged Hawk:
first noted Oct 26 (JB), light flight thereafter; max 5 on Pillar Pt Nov 26. Bald
Eagle: imm on Pt Peninsula Nov 27 (RB, NL). Osprey: Oct 24, late ED (GP).
Peregrine Falcon: imm ED Sept 25 (RB, NL, MW, R&JW). Coot: 5 still present
at Chaumont Nov 26 (JB). Killdeer: last noted Nov 27 at Pillar Pt (RB). Golden
Plover: 10 at ED Sept 18 (RB) ; 22 at GP Sept 25 (NL, MW). Black-bellied
Plover: last date Nov 20 ED (RB). Common Snipe: last, Nov 14 (J&RW). Knot:
small numbers at ED. Pectoral Sandpiper: last, Nov 20 ED (RB). White-rumped
Sandpiper: several at ED, last Nov 20. Baird’s Sandpiper: Aug 22, 30, Sept 18 all
ED (RB, NL, MW, GP). Short-billed Dowitcher: present for several weeks at ED.
Stilt Sandpiper: a few at ED, late date Oct 25 (GP). Western Sandpiper: 2 at
ED Aug 23 (NL, GP). AMERICAN AVOCET: 4 at ED on Aug 20, well docu¬
mented by (GP), 2 were in spring plumage, 1 intermediate, 1 in winter plumgae;
these birds were also seen by several people from Watertown, Wilson’s Phalarope:
present at ED Aug 20—30 with max of 3 (GP, R&JW, MW). Northern Phalarope:
unusual concentration of 28 at ED on Aug 30 (FC, NL, MW). LITTLE GULL-,
one at ED Aug 21 (GP), first local record —, well documented. Snowy Owl: first
reported Oct 29, a few thereafter, light winter flight indicated.
GOATSUCKERS—STARLINGS: Whippoorwill: Sept 30 —late (St Lawrence
Co. fide Winn). Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: Oct 22 (R&JW). Tree
Swallow: late date, Oct 30 (RB). Common Raven: Nov 11, Childwold, St Lawrence
Co. (fide Lafave). Hermit Thrush: last Oct 25 Wellesley Is (R&JW). Wood
Thrush: last Oct 23 (MW, NL). Swainson’s Thrush: Oct 14 (FC). Northern
Shrike: several reports, occurrence normal.
VIREOS—WARBLERS: Yellow-throated Vireo: Aug 26 THGMA (MW). Soli¬
tary Vireo: Aug 26 THGMA (MW). Magnolia Warbler: Sept 29 (FC). Parula
Warbler: Oct 17 (FC).
46
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Pine Siskin: three reports, Oct 24-Nov 4. White¬
winged Crossbill: Oct 31 St Lawrence Co (JB); Nov 14 Watertown (NL), Henslow’s
Sparrow: Aug 18 (MW). Vesper Sparrow Oct 30-—late (RB). Fox Sparrow: Oct
25 ED (GP) ; Oct 31 GP (NL, MW). Snow Bunting: numerous reports, late Oct &
Nov.
Clinton St., Gouvernuer, New York 13642
REGION 7 — ADIRONDACK — CHAMPLAIN
Theodore D. Mack
In the weather department August seemed a rather mild month for the most part.
Some peaks over 4500 feet had snow on the 25 th and we had over two inches of
rain as a fringe benefit of the tropical storm that moved north along the east coast.
September was uneventful weather-wise, but it did produce 3 cormorants, an unusual
bird for our area.
October was mild here but may have been severe in northern Canada because
the flight of Canada Geese, over the Newcomb area at least, was far greater than
usual. Approximately 800 birds went over on the tenth and birds could be heard
passing over all through the night of the ninth. This area is anything but a flyway
in most years. Perhaps a cold snap caused the young of the year to move south at
the same time as the older birds.
November could best be called winter rather than fall. The very heavy flight of
winter fringillids other than Pine Grosbeaks reached a peak on the 20th. The
Myrtle Warbler seen in a snow-covered spruce bog south of Newcomb on that date
was notable as were the 3 Snow Geese on Schroon Lake November 4. Ruffed Grouse
were present in numbers although they tended to be tightly grouped where food,
water, and good shelter were readily available together. You had to do some search¬
ing, but they were there.
Observers: GC—Geoffrey Carle ton; GTC-—Greenleaf T. Chase; DC—-Dorothy
Crumb; PD—Paul DeBenedictis; SE—Stephen Everett; FL—Ferdinand LaFrance;
RM—Robert McKinney; TM—Ted Mack; GM—Gordon Meade; WR—William
Rutherford; JT—Joseph Taylor.
Abbreviations: BP—Barnum Pond; BTP—Browns Tract Ponds area; ChR—Chubb
River; E’town—Elizabethtown; Gabs—Gabriels; GF—Goodnow Flow; Ind L—Indian
Lake; LCh—Lake Champlain; Mad—Madawaska; OsP—Osgood Pond; PS—Paul
Smiths; Pierce—Piercefield; Ti—Ticonderoga.
LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 GF Aug 28 (TM) ; 1 Inlet Aug 29 (DC,
PD, FL) ; 3 (resident family) Lower St. Regis L Sep 7 (WR); 1 GF Oct 16 (TM).
Pied-billed Grebe: 1 Raquette L Oct 27 (FL). DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMO¬
RANT: 3 L Ch off Essex Sep 23 (GC). Great Blue Heron: 5 reported. Green
Heron: numerous Ti Sep 8 (GTC). American Bittern: 1 BP Oct 13 (SE). Canada
Goose: especially numerous this year; 250 E’town Sep 27 (GC); max 800 GF Oct
10 (TM); 150 BP Oct 13 (SE); 600 feeding on winter rye Gabs Oct 14 (TM) ;
500 GF Oct 16 (TM); 25 BTP Oct 25 (FL). S1VOW GOOSE: 3 Schroon I Nov
4 (GTC). Green-winged Teal: 5 BP Oct 13 (SE). Blue-winged Teal: 14 Ti Sep 8
(GTC); 7 GF Oct 17 (TM). Wood Duck: max 75 Ti Sep 8 (GTC). Greater
Scaup: 7 Eighth L Oct 27 (FL) —well rounded heads noted in scope. Lesser Scaup:
3 L Placid Oct 29 (SE). Common Goldeneye: 1 BTP Oct 27 (FL). Hooded Mergan¬
ser: max 40 BP Oct 13 (SE); 7 Fifth L Oct 27 (FL). American Merganser: max
16 GF Oct 17 (TM); 12 GF Oct 30 (TM).
HAWKS—OWLS: Goshawk: 1 BTP Oct 28 (FL); 1 Pierce Nov 7 (WR). Sharp-
shinnned Hawk: 1 PS Sep 20 (SE) ; 1 PS Oct 17 (SE). Cooper’s Hawk: 1 BTP Oct
47
25 (FL). Red-tailed Hawk: 1 Crown Point Sep 16 (GTC); 1 BP Oct 13 (SE).
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2 GF Sep 26 (TM). Marsh Hawk: 2 Grown Point Sep 16
(GTC); 1 Mad Sep 21 (SE, TM).; 1 BTP Oct 25 (FL). Osprey: 1 Saranac River
near Oseetah L Sep 10 (GM) ; 1 GF Sep 28 (Doris Mack). Sparrow hawk: 2 Mad
Sep 21 (SE, TM); 1 Ind L Sep 10 (RM). Ruffed Grouse: 3 GF Oct 23 (TM); 6
BTP Oct 28 (FL); 5 GF Nov 13 (TM); 8 Ind L Nov 17 (RM). Killdeer: 20 Gh
R Aug 26 (JT); 8 migrating over L Ch off Essex Sep 28 (GC). Woodcock: 3
Franklin Falls Sep 16 (TM) ; 5 PS Oct 17 (SE). Spotted Sandpiper: 1 Ch R Aug
26 (JT). Solitary Sandpiper: 1 L Kiwassa Sep 6 (GM) ; 6 Ch R Aug 26 (JT).
Greater Yellowlegs: 1 GF Oct 16 (TM) ; 2 PS Oct 17 (SE). Least Sandpiper: 1
Ch R Aug 26 (JT) —unusual this particular location. Herring Gull: 1 PS Sep 20
(SE). Ring-billed Gull: 40 Crown Point Bridge Sep 14 (SE). Screech Owl: 1 PS
Nov 6 (SE). Great Horned Owl: 1 BP Oct 13 (SE); 1 PS Oct 18 (TM). Barred
Owl: 2 BTP Oct 25 (FL); 1 Ind Oct 30 (RM).
GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Chimney Swift: 10 BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD,
FL). Ruby-throated Hummingbird: max 3 Flat Brook-Newcomb Aug 28 (TM).
Belted Kingfisher: numerous Ti Sep 8 (GTC). Yellow-shafted Flicker: max 40
Mad Sep 21 (SE, TM). Pileated Woodpecker: max 3 BTP Oct 29 (FL). Hairy
Woodpecker: max 12 Ind L Nov 17 (RM). Downy Woodpecker: max 5 BTP Oct
5 (FL). Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: 1 BP Oct 13 (SE); 2 BTP Oct 29
(FL); 1 Pierce Nov 7 (WR). NORTHERN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER :
1 BTP Oct 27 (FL). Eastern Kingbird: last report 1 PS Sep 14 (SE). Yellow-
bellied Flycatcher: 2 BTP Aug 29 (PD). Least Flycatcher 1: BTP Aug 29 (PD).
Olive-sided Flycatcher: last one E’town Sep 8 (GC). Horned Lark: max 50 PS Oct
24 (SE). Barn Swallow: last 2 BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD, FL). Gray Jay: 3 BTP Aug
29 (DC, PD, FL); 3 Ross Park Sep 9 (GTC); 3 Mad Sep 21 (SE, TM); 2 BTP
Oct 29 (FL). Boreal Chickadee: max 25 Osgood P Aug 26 (GTC). White-breasted
Nuthatch: max 5 BTP Oct 28 (FL). Red-breasted Nuthatch: max 17 BTP Oct 25
(FL). Brown Creeper: 1 singing! L Kiwassa Sep 8 (GM); max 6 GF Oct 23 (TM).
Winter Wren: max 3 BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD, FL). Long-billed Marsh Wren: 1 Mad
Sep 21 (SE, TM). Catbird: 2 Mad Sep 21 (SE, TM). Robin: max 20 Ind L Sep
25 (RM); last one PS Nov 6 (SE). Hermit Thrush: max 4 Mad Sep 21 (TM).
Olive-backed Thrush: 4 PS Sep 14 (SE) ; 3 Ind L Sep 25 (RM). Veery: last 1
E’town Sep 12 (GC). Bluebird: max 6 Brandon Sep 21 (SE, TM). American Pipit:
max 25 BP Oct 13 (SE). Cedar Waxwing: 8 Mad Sep 21 (SE, TM) ; 6 Ind L Sep
25 (RM).
VIREOS—WARBLERS: Solitary Vireo: 2 BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD, FL); 2 Mad
Sep 21 (SE, TM). Black-and-white Warbler: 2 BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD, FL). Nash¬
ville Warbler: 6 BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD, FL). Magnolia Warbler: 8 BTP Aug 29
(DC, PD, FL). Cape May Warbler: 1 E’town Aug 21 (GC); 1 BTP Aug 29 (PD).
Myrtle Warbler: max 25 BTP Aug 29( DC, PD, FL) ; 1 late bird in snow-covered
soruce GF Nov 20 (SE, TM). Black-throated Green Warbler: max 9 BTP Aug 29
(DC, PD, FL); 1 Mad Sep 21 (SE, TM). Black-throated Blue Warbler: 7 BTP
Aug 29 (DC, PD, FL). Blackburnian Warbler: 3 BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD, FL). Palm
Warbler: 2 Mad Sep 21 (SE, TM). Northern Yellowthroat: 5 BTP Aug 29 (DC,
PD, FL). Canada Warbler: 3 BTP Aug (PD); last E’town Sep 12 (GC). Ameri¬
can Redstart: 2 BTP Aug 29 (PD).
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: 5 migrating BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD,
FL). Eastern Meadowlark: 1 Bloomingdale Nov 16 (TM) ; 6 Gabs Nov 19 (SE).
Rusty Blackbird: max 10 BP Oct 13 (SE). Brown-headed Cowbird: 8 Gabs Nov 19
(SE). Scarlet Tanager: 1 BTP Aug 29 (PD); 1 E’town Sep 25 (GC); 1 Ind L
Sep 26 (RM). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: last 1 E’town Sep 22 (GC). Evening Gros¬
beak: large numbers passing through PS and Newcomb Oct 30 (SE, TM) ; max
48
500 Gabs Nov 6 (SE). Purple Finch: 10 BTP Aug 29 (PD) ; 10 Ind L Sep 25
(RM); 8 PS Oct 17 (SE); 4 BTP Oct 27 (FL). Pine Grosbeak: scarce; 2 Gabs
Nov 6 (SE) ; a few near Cascade Lakes in early Nov (Dirck Benson). Common
Redpoll: over 100 PS Oct 29 (SE); 20 Ind L Nov 17 (RM); over 250 GF Nov 20
(SE, TM). Pine Siskin: 10 Ind L Oct 30 (RM); over 100 PS Oct 17 (SE); 18 PS
Nov 7 (SE); 25 GF Nov 20 (SE, TM). Common Goldfinch: invasion about first
week of Nov throughout area. Red Crossbill: 5 PS Sep 17 (TM); 30 BTP Oct 25
(FL); 20 GF Nov 20 (SE, TM). White-winged Crossbill: this is the more common
crossbill this year by far; first 1 PS Sep 15 (SE); 35 BTP Oct 25 (FL); 22 Oct 27
BTP (FL); 125 GF Nov 20 (SE, TM). Savannah Sparrow: over 50 PS Sep 14 (SE).
Vesper Sparrow: 3 PS Oct 24 (SE). Slate-colored Junco: max 12 BTP Aug 29
(DC, PD, FL); last not at feeder 1 GF Nov 20 (SE, TM). Fox Sparrow*, max 3
BTP Oct 28 (FL). Lincoln’s Sparrow: max 5 BTP Aug 29 (DC, PD, FL). Swamp
Sparrow: max 4 Mad Sep 21 (SE, TM).
P.O. Box 125, Paul Smiths, New York 12970
REGION 8 —MOHAWK-HUDSON
Richard E. Philion
Precipitation in August totaled 7.04 inches, more than double the normal
amount. Between the 25th and 30th, 4.9 inches fell (Albany Airport) resulting in
high water and unfavorable conditions for shore bird migrants. On the other hand,
September and October were very mild with precipitation slightly below normal.
Favorable weather conditions on three peak weekends in late September and early
October resulted in the most productive banding effort in eight seasons. “A record
catch of 2807 birds of 63 species gave an unprecedented yield of 113 birds per
hundred net hours.” (RPY). The so-called favorable weather conditions for this
degree of banding activity have been described as a combination of clear skies and
high pressure to the north and rain, or fog (grounding conditions) to the south
resulting in a meteorlogical “dam” (RPY).
A 78 degree high on October 28 set a new record for the month. Most areas had
not experienced a killing frost until October 24. Early November was cooler than
normal with record lows being set on the 8th (18°), 9th (11°), 14th (12°). Many
of our boreal species were moving into the area a week or more in advance of this
cold air mass. Early reports of winter finches indicate heavier irruptions than last
year due to a poorer seed cone crop to the north. Heavy precipitation came in the
form of snow on the 24th and accumulation of 24 inches broke a record for the
month of November. Mild weather and rain followed the snow and by the end of
the month only a trace of snow remained.
Unusual species for the period include Common Scoter, Bald Eagle, Yellow-Bellied
Flycatcher, Kentucky Warbler, and House Finch.
Observers cited are: DA—Doug Allen; PC—Paul Connor; JC—J. Cook; RD—
R. Drowne; GE—G. Erlenbach; MF—Mabel French; M&AG—M&A Giddings;
MG—Monte Gruett; MK—Marcia Kent; MM—M. Mickle; RP—Richard Philion;
ER—Edgar Reilly; WBS—Walton B. Sabin; S&RS—S&R Silverman; B&HT—
B&H Tullar; RPY—Robert P. Yunick.
Abbreviations: ADBC—Alan Devoe Bird Club; HMBC—Hudson-Mohawk Bird
Club; HR—Hudson River; VFWM—Vischer Ferry Wildlife Management.
LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 Nov 16, 20 Queechy Lake (MM). Horned
Grebe: 3 Nov 20 Tomhannock Res (HMBC). Pied-billed Grebe: common thru
49
October (ADBC); 2 Oct 31 Glass Lake (RP). Great Blue Heron: thru Sept HR
(ADBC); 1 Nov 20 Tomhannock Res. (HMBC). Black-crowned Night Heron: 1
Aug 18 Rexford (RPY). Brant: 1 Oct 27 Queechy Lake (RD). Canada Goose:
103 Sept 27 Fuera Bush, 97 Sept 27 So. Westerlo (MK); ca 1,000 Oct 16
Schenectady (RPY); ca 450 Nov 20 Tomhannock Res. (HMBC). Snow Goose:
50 Oct 17 Muitzeskill (RD); 14 Oct 17 Mariaville (DA). Wood Duck: 5 Sept 18
VFWM (HMBC); 1 Oct 22 Mariaville (DA). Ring-necked Duck: 1 Nov 7 Alcove
and Basic Res. (HMBC). Lesser Scaup: 1 Nov 27 Lake George (RP). Common
Goldeneye: 10 Nov 20 Tomhannock Res. (HMBC) ; ca 200 Nov 27 Lake George
(RP). Bufflehead: no reports. Oldsquaw: 2 Nov 20 Tomhannock Res. (HMBC).
COMMON SCOTER : 12 Sept 28 HR (JC). Ruddy Duck: 1 Oct 16 Mariaville
(DA). Hooded Merganser: 35 Nov 20 Tomhannock Res. (HMBC) ; 3 Nov 27 Lake
George (RP). Common Merganser: 1 Sept 22 Hillsdale (S&RS); 22 Nov 14 HR
(RP) ; 60 Nov 20 Tomhannock Res. (HMBC).
HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: 2 Sept 19 West Mt (MK) ; 1 Oct 17 Maria¬
ville (DA). Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 Sept 8, 16 Chatham (M&AG); 1 Nov 11
Taborton (PC). Cooper’s Hawk: 1 Sept 26, 29 Chatham (M&AG); 1 Nov 18
Thacher Park (PC). Red-tailed Hawk: scattered reports thru period. Red-shoul¬
dered Hawk: no reports in Sept; 1 Oct 24 (HMBC); 1 report in Nov (ADBC).
Broad-winged Hawk: common Sept; last Oct 2 Castleton (JC). Rough-legged Hawk:
1 Nov 25 Smith’s Basin (RP). BALD EAGLE : 1 Oct 8 Country Rd #76 (Brent
Nelson, fide WBS). Marsh Hawk: 1 Sept 26, 28 Chatham (ADBC); 1 Sept 17
Mariaville (DA). Osprey: several reports thru Sept Chatham (ADBC); 2 Sept 18
VFWM (HMBC); 1 Oct 22 Mariaville (DA). Sparrow Hawk: several reports thru
period. Bobwhite: 1 Sept 5, 20 Muitzeskill (JC) (RD). Ring-necked Pheasant:
“Very scarce due to cessation of stocking by Conservation Dept.” (RPY). Korean
Pheasant: 6 Sept 16 Mariaville (DA). Virginia Rail: 1 Sept 6 Averill Park (RP).
Common Gallinule: 1 Sept 1 Chatham (MM). American Coot: 1 Oct 28 N.E. Col.
Co. (RD) ; 12 Nov 20 Tomhannock Res. (HMBC).
Semipalmated Plover: 5 Aug 28 VFWM (RP). Killdeer: several reports thru
Nov 25. American Woodcock: 1 Sept 28 Castleton (JC). Mourning Dove: 117 Nov
26 Switzkill Rd Berne (MK); “increasing in Montgomery Co.” (DA). Black-billed
Cuckoo: 2 reports Sept 15 Mariaville and Ghent (DA) , (GE) ; 1 Oct 4 Ghent
(GE). Screech Owl: reported in Sept and Oct (ADBC). Great Horned Owl: re¬
ported in Sept and Oct (ADBC) ; 1 Oct 26 Averill Park (RP). Snowy Owl: 1 Nov
6 Cobleskill (fide DA) ; 1 mid-Nov report Albany (fide RPY) and a late Nov report
in Muitzeskill (JC). Barred Owl: 1 Oct 15 perched in tree, observed and photo-
graped by many Rensselaer (MG).
GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Common Nighthawk: 50 Aug 21 “over house
in Delmar — air full of flying ants” (MK); 14 Aug 30 2 mi so of Lake George
(PC). Chimney Swift: 7 Sept 29 West Sand Lake (RP) ; 1 Oct 6 Chatham (MM).
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 6 Aug 28 VFWM (RP); 31 Sept 18 VFWM
(HMBC); last 1 Oct 12 Schenectady (RPY); 137 banded between Aug 28-Sept
25 a record catch at VFWM (RPY). Belted Kingfisher: 1 Nov 20 Tomhannock
Res (HMBC). Yellow-shafted Flicker: 4 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC). Red-headed
Woodpecker: 1 Sept 12 Castleton (JC). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: last 1 Oct 21
Ghent (GE). Eastern Kingbird: ca 25 Aug 28 VFWM (RP); last 1 Oct 2 (ADBC
Sanctuary). Eastern Phoebe: 1 Nov 29 Chatham (M&WR). Traill’s Flycatcher: 1
banded Sept 19 VFWM (RPY). Least Flycatcher: 1 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC);
1 banded Sept 19 VFWM (RPY). Eahtern Wood Pewee: last 1 banded Sept 19
VFWM (RPY); 1 Oct 2 Castleton (JC). Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 Oct 16, a late
record, Chatham (B&HT, ER). YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER : 3 Sept 18
VFWM (HMBC); 3 banded Sept 25 VFWM (RPY).
50
Tree Swallow: 1 Oct 11 VFWM (RPY) ; “very large flock” Oct 11 Chatham
(M&WU). Common Crow: max 613 Oct 29 Mariaville migrating south over 25
min period. Tufted Titmouse: several reports in Sept and Oct (ADBC). House
Wren: 1 Oct 19 Hillsdale (S&RS); 1 Oct 24 (HMBC). Winter Wren: 1st banded
Sept 18 VFWM (RPY); 1 Nov 12 Taborton (PC), Long-billed Marsh Wren: 1
Oct 12 Chatham (B&HT, ER). Mockingbird: reports throughout area. Catbird: 38
Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); peak migration last week in Sept, 55 banded Sept 25
VFWM); last 1 Oct 31 NE Col Co. (RD). Brown Thrasher: last 1 banded Oct
2 VFWM (RPY). Robin: max 150 Oct 17 Mariaville (DA); scattered reports late
November. Wood Thrush: 5 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); last 7 banded Oct 2
VFWM (RPY). Hermit Thrush: last 6 banded Oct 24 VFWM (RPY), Swainson’s
Thrush: 28 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); 132 banded VFWM, more than double last
years level (RPY); last 2 banded Oct 17 VFWM (RPY). Gray-cheecked Thrush:
1 banded Oct 3 VFWM (RPY), Veery: declined 2nd year in row — last 1 banded
25 Sept VFWM (RPY). Eastern Bluebird: 8 Oct 17 Mariaville (DA); 1 thru Nov
24 Rotterdam (fide DA). Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1st banded Sept 25 VFWM
(RPY); 2 Oct 17 Mariaville (DA). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1st banded 2 Sept 19
VFWM (RPY); max 25 Oct 6 Mariaville (DA). Water Pipit: max 38 Oct 20
Duansburg (DA); 1 late record Nov 27 Hillsdale (S&RS). Cedar Waxwing: max
70 Aug 29 Averill Park (RP); 50 Oct 24 VFWM (RPY).
VIREOS—WARBLERS: Yellow-throated Vireo: 1 Sept 28 Castleton (JC). Soli¬
tary Vireo: last 1 banded Oct 2 VFWM (RPY). Red-eyed Vireo: 37 Sept 18
VFWM (HMBC); last 1 banded Oct 23 VFWM (RPY). Philadelphia Vireo: 1st
banded Sept 2, max 6 Sept 18; last banded Oct 3 all at VFWM (RPY) (HMBC).
Warbling Vireo: 1st banded Sept 2 VFWM (RPY); last Sept 28 Castleton (JC).
Black-and-white Warbler: 1st banded Sept 11 — last Sept 19 VFWM (RPY).
Tennessee Warbler: 2 Sept 2 Loudonville (MF); 1 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC).
Nashville Warbler: 3 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC) ; 4 banded Sept 25 VFWM (RPY) ;
1 Oct 1 Ghent (GE). Parula Warbler: 1 Sept 17 Loudonville (MF); last 1 banded
Oct 2 VFWM (RPY). Yellow Warbler: 1 Sept 15 Ghent (GE). Magnolia Warbler:
max 14 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); last banded Oct 2 VFWM (RPY); late report
Oct 23 Chatham (E. Powell). Cape May Warbler: 3 banded Sept 18 for the first
time at VFWM in fall (RPY); 3 reports between Aug 31 and Sept 7 Schodack
Ctr (PC). Black-throated Blue Warbler: 3 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); 1 Sept 28,
29 Loudonville (MF) ; a late record Oct 17 Ghent (GE). Myrtle Warbler: several
reports thru Oct. Black-throated Green Warbler: 3 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); 1 Oct
17 Ghent (GE). Blackburnian Warbler: 1 Sept 2, 3 Loudonville (MF) ; 1st and
last banded 1 Sept 18 VFWM (RPY). Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1 report Sept 22
Loudonville (MF). Bay-breasted Warbler: 1 Sept 15 Ghent (GE); later than
normal report Oct 16 Chatham (B&HT, ER). Blackpoll Warbler: 37 Sept 18
VFWM (HMBC); “VFWM banding more than doubled combined previous 5 yr
total” -— last 4 banded Oct 23 a late record all at VFWM (RPY) ; a still later
record 1 Oct 28 Mariaville (DA). Palm Warbler: 2 reports in October, 1 Oct 17
Ghent (GE); 1 Oct 22 Mariaville (DA). Ovenbird: 6 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC);
last 1 banded Oct 9 VFWM (RPY) —another late record! Northern Waterthrush:
2 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); 1st banded Aug 29 —last Sept 24 VFWM (RPY).
KENTUCKY WARBLER : 1 Oct 2 ADBC Sanctuary (ER) — 1st fall report since
1962. Connecticut Warbler: 1st banded 1 Sept )—last 1 Sept 19 VFWM (RPY);
1 Oct 16 Chatham (B&HT, ER) —a late record. Mourning Warbler: 3 Sept 18
VFWM (HMBC); 1st banded 29 Aug last 3 Sept 18 VFWM (RPY). Yellow-
throat: max 13 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); last 1 Oct 17 Mariaville (DA). Wil¬
son’s Warbler: 5 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); 1st banded 2 Aug 29— last 1 Sept 25
VFWM (RPY): Canada Warbler: 1 Sept 4 Loudonville (MF); a late record Oct 16
Ghent (GE), American Redstart: max 11 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC); 1 Sept 28
Castleton (JC).
51
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Orchard Oriole: 1 Sept 9 Castleton (JC). Balti¬
more Oriole: last 1 Sept 7 Loudonville (MF). Rusty Blackbird: 1st Sept 29 Maria-
ville (DA); last 1 Oct 20 Ghent (GE). Scarlet Tanager: max 10 Sept 18 VFWM
(HMBC); last Oct 11 Loudonville (MF). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 21 Sept 18
VFWM (HMBC) ; 2 reports Oct 2 VFWM & ADBC. Indigo Bunting: 2 banded
Sept 25 VFWM (RPY). Evening Grosbeak: small flocks migrating south starting
Oct 17; max of 12 at feeder Jenny Lake thru summer (RPY). Purple Finch: 548
banded at Jenny Lake during summer to early Sept (RPY); “Greatest flight at
VFWM in 8 years between Aug 10 and Aug 20” (RPY). HOUSE FINCH : several
reports Oct and Nov from Schenectady but locally less abundant than in recent
years — last Nov 20 Schenectady (RPY). Pine Grosbeak: max 12 Nov 12 Taborton
and 4 Nov 24 Taborton (PC). Pine Siskin: a Sept 18 report from ADBC Sanctuary;
8 Nov 27 Schodack Ctr (PC). Rufous-sided Towhee: last 1 Oct 25 Castleton (JC).
Savannah Sparrow: 1 Oct 22 Ghent (GE). Vesper Sparrow: 6 Nov 20 Castleton
(A. Hallenbeck). Slate-colored Junco: 1 Sept 18 VFWM (HMBC). Tree Sparrow:
2 Nov 7 Tomhannock Res. (RP). Chipping Sparrow: last Oct 26 Ghent (GE).
Field Sparrow: 1 banded Oct 3 VFWM (RPY). White-crowned Sparrow: only 1
report Oct 23 Castleton (JC). White-throated Sparrow: 10 Sept 18 VFWM
(HMBC); max 206 banded Oct 2 VFWM (RPY); 2 Nov 14 Castleton (RP). Fox
Sparrow: 1st banded Oct 15 — last 7 Oct 24 VFWM (RPY); 1 report in Nov
(ADBC). Lincoln’s Sparrow: 1 Sept 17 Sacandaga Res. (DA); 1 Sept 18 VFWM
(HMBC); last banded Oct 24 VFWM (RPY). Swamp Sparrow: last banded Oct 2
VFWM — very scarce (RPY). Song Sparrow: very scarce at VFWM banding
stations (RPY). Snow Bunting: 1st Nov 7 Alcove and Basic Res.; max 25 Nov 14
Stockport (RP).
Edgewood Dr. Averill Park, N.Y. 12018
REGION 9 — DELAWARE-HUDSON
Edward D. Treacy
Your reporter does not have access to records, but feels that this must be the
warmest autumn on record. Killing frosts did not come to the uplands until Nov 5,
and many species of trees kept their leaves well into that month. Some, like the
Norway and Sugar Maples had their leaves killed by freezing while still green, and
finally lost them while still green in mid-December. Precipitation was much above
normal at the end of August to near normal for Sept, Oct and November. The only
appreciable snow fell on November 25, when parts of Sullivan and Ulster counties
got as much as 20 inches. Due to the unusually warm temperatures it disappeared
within a day or two, and none was reported for the rest of the season.
Along with the lingering foliage, the insects remained high well into November.
Bird migration flowed regularly and seemed spread well throughout the perod. The
mild weather probably accounts for the many late dates (some record fates) re¬
ported. Northern visitors came in as usual, with only a few species late. From the
number and species listed it looks like we may have a good year for winter finches.
November 2 seemed a peak date for waterfowl movements in the area. A1 Merritt
had a great day along the Hudson at Cornwall when he reported 30 Ruddy Ducks;
1 Pied-billed Grebe; 64 Whistling Swans; 4 Snow Geese; 340 Scaup; 57 Canada
Geese; 10 Buffleheads; 52 Horned Grebes; 64 White-winged Scoters; 2 Oldsquaw
52
and 1 Common Loon A number of other waterfowl were reported this same date
throughout the region.
Two daily hawk watches have done much to improve the reporting of these spe¬
cies in the region; and one, the Mt. Peter Hawk Watch, broke all records for the
region in their Broad-wing count. Ed and Lana Mills’ lonely observations from Hook
Mt. were organized this year into a major Hawk Watch thru the efforts of Stiles
Thomas, Regional Director for the Society for the Preservation of Bird of Prey.
Their constant surveillance produced 5 Bald Eagles and 4 Golden Eagles.
Observers cited: BA—Bob Augustine; EB—Enid Butler; JD—Jeff Daley; RFD—
Robert F. Deed; DF—Davis Finch; FG—Florence Germond; SOG—Stanley Oliver
Grierson; FH—Fred Hough; TH—Tom Howe; PJ—Paul Jeheber; AJ—Alice Jones;
J,MK—Jim and Mary Key; ML—Mabel Little; HM—Helen Manson; A,BM—A1
and Barbara Merritt; E,LM—Ed and Lana Mills; JGO—John C. Orth; EP—Eleanor
Pink; RP—Robert Pyle; B,TS—Bill and Trixie Strauss; CT—Czecher Terhune; JT—
John Tramontane; EDT—Edward D. Treacy; MVW—Marion VanWagner;
Abbreviations: mob-—many observers; Dutch—Dutchess Co.; Oran—Orange Co.;
Rock—Rockland Co.; Sull—Sullivan Co.; Ulst—Ulster Co.; West—Westchester Co.
WBC—Waterman Bird Club; HMHW—Hook Mt. Hawk Watch sponsored by the
Society for the Preservation of Birds of Prey from Aug 29 daily thru Oct 31, and
Nov 6, 9, 12—14; MPHW—Mt. Peter Hawk Watch daily from Sept 9-26, and week¬
ends in Oct. sponsored by Society for the Preservation of Birds of Prey, and the
Highlands Audubon Society of New Jersey.
LOONS—DUCKS: Common Loon: more reports than usual from Sept thru
mid-Nov; max 7 Oct 31 Croton Pt; 8 Nov Rhinecliff. Red-throated Loon: 1 Nov 13
Croton Pt (BA); an unprecedented 7 on Nov 1 Rhinecliff (MK, AJ, HM). Horned
Grebe: 52 Nov 2 Cornwall-on-Hudson (A, BM). Pied-billed Grebe: 1 fairly early
date of Sept 11 Rock; not known to breed there (RFD). Double-crested Cormorant:
many more reports than usual, but strangely missing from the Piermont area of
Rockland where they are usually observed; all observations well up river in Oran and
Dutch; last report 1 Nov 1 Rhinecliff. Great Blue Heron: numbers usual; all too
few. Common Egret: only report 1 Aug 19 East Park, Dutch (MK). Least Bittern:
other than the usual breeding birds at Cornwall-on-Hudson, the only report was 1
Aug 28 at Piermont Pier (RFD). American Bittern: 1 Oct 23—29 Green Haven,
Dutch (EB). Mute Swan: 2 ad raised 3 young at Iona Is, Rock. WHISTLING
SWAN: a flock of 64 Nov 2 on Hudson R at Cornwall (A, BM), 7 remaining thru
Nov 3. Canada Goose: usual very large flights; first reports mid-Sept; unusually
large movements thru Oct. Brant: two flocks on Oct 25 with more than 200 birds
in each flying east over Wawarsing in fog about 100 ft above the ground (JCO) ;
1 Nov 13 Pleasant Valley, Dutch (MK, MVW). Snow Goose: many more reports
than usual,, probably due to observations during hawk watches; Nov 2 found 98
with 2 imm Blue Geese on L. Gleneida, Carmel (ML) ; 4 same date on Hudson off
Cornwall (A, BM); some were reported Oct 31 on Ashokan Res; and a very large
flock of 299 was observed Oc't 31 over Hook Mt, Nyack (E, LM) ; 43 more were
observed same date at Croton Pt, these latter were possibly included in the Hook
Mt count; 50 more same date at L Walton, Dutch (Bob Merritt). Gadwall: always
rare; 2 Aug 17 near Bannerman’s Is, Hudson R, Dutch (DF); 1 Oct 17 Rockland
L (JCO). Pintail: more reports than usual; no more than 2 at any one time or
location from mid-Sept to late Nov. Green-winged Teal: more numerous than usual
on L Tappan, Rock. Blue-winged Teal: Aug 17 on Hudson R off Bannerman’s Is
(DF) ; very uncommon in summer. American Widgeon: more reports than usual,
but no large numbers. Shoveler: often unreported; 3 reports this season, 1 from
Rock, 2 from Dutch. Wood Duck: not widely reported; max 60 thru Sept and Oct
at Tri-Loba Hill Sanct, Katonah, left Nov 3, 4 (SOG); last reported Nov 28
Croton Pt (BH). Redhead: 3 from Oct 23 thru period Tarry town Res (BH); 2
53
Oct 28 at Verbank, Dutch (MVW). Ring-necked Duck: very few reports, numbers
definitely down the last few years. Canvasback: 65 Nov 16 Hudson R at Beacon
(MK, MVW, GT). Greater Scaup: better thru Nov than Lesser Scaup; about 75
Nov 2 on L Gleneida, Carmel (ML). Lesser Scaup: 8 Nov 1 Staatsburgh. Common
Goldeneye: first Nov 13 Tarrytown Res; no appreciable numbers thru end of period.
Bufflehead: arr usual dates and numbers; max 25 Nov 2 Verbank (mob). Old-
squaw: more reports than usual; first, 7 Oct 28 Verbank (HM); the rest the first
half of Nov; max 31 Nov 1, and 15 Nov 2 Hudson R in Dutch. (HM). White-winged
Scoter: sev reports, all Nov 1, 2; max 64 Nov 2 Cornwall-on-Hudson (A, BM).
Surf Scoter: always rare; 1 Nov 16 Hudson R at Beacon (MK); 1 Nov 28 Croton
Pt (BH). Common Scoter: all reports Nov; first Nov 1 Rhinecliff (MK); 10 Nov 7
Barrytown (EP) ; 1 Nov 7 Croton Pt (BH). Ruddy Duck: fewer reports than usual,
but numbers still good. Hooded Merganser: very uncommon in recent years; 1 Nov
11 Rockland L; 4 Nov 24 Millbrook; an unusual concentration of 10 Nov 14 at
Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorn (BH). Common Merganser: first reports 4
Nov 1 Beacon (MK). Red-breasted Merganser: 3 Nov 21 Cornwall-on-Hudson
(A, BM).
HAWKS—OWLS:
Hawk Watch Data:
HMHW
MPHW
Sharp shinned Hawk . . .
.. 2,095
246
Cooper’s Hawk.
37
13
Red-tailed Hawk.
.. 315
57
Red-shouldered Hawk ..
76
11
Broad-winged Hawk ...
.. 3,295
10,944
Golden Eagle.
4
0
Bald Eagle .
5
0
Marsh Hawk .
200
57
Osprey .
.. 256
70
Peregrine Falcon .
4
0
Pigeon Hawk.
7
1
Sparrow Hawk.
.. 623
232
Unidentified .
.. 102
38
Hours manned.
.. 410
142.5
Grand Total .
.. 7,019
11,779
Turkey Vulture: remained very late in Dutch area; 5 reported dur Nov, the last
Nov 21 (JD). Goshawk: 1 Oct 5 at Wawarsing; 1 NoV 27 Stissing Mt (Ed Briggs);
another Nov 29 near P’kpsie (AJ) ; 1 Nov 17 and another Nov 24 at Hook Mt after
official watch ended (E, LM). Sharp-shinned Hawk: an unusual number of 99 Sept
19 Mt. Aspetong, Bedford, West (BA, BH); this is an unusually large number for
such an early date, but the peak movement thru the area continued from this date
thru the following week. Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 Aug 4 at Knoll Creek Farm,
Dutch, where it was observed again in July. (DF) Broad-winged Hawk: best year
ever; the 10,944 reported at Mt. Peter is about 4,000 above the previous high; on
Sept 21, your reporter along with Trixie Strauss, the official counter, and Dick
Rogers, the director of the count, counted 6,658 individuals of this species; this
one day count exceeds numbers for previous entire seasons; an unusually good count
was made Sept 19, when 2,213 were observed; peak at Hook Mt, Nyack came on
Sept 22 with 1,455. Golden Eagle: more reports than usual; 1 imm Nov 4 at Letch-
worth Village, Stony Pt. (EDT); none reported at Mt Peter, but 5 reported from
Hook Mt: adults on Sept 18, Oct 5 and 29; and imms on Nov 14 and 24, the latter
was not included in official hawk watch (Walter Friton). Bald Eagle: 1 Sept 18
54
Croton Res; another Oct 11 Croton Pt (BA). Marsh Hawk: 19 Sept 19 Mt Aspe-
tong. Osprey: 57 Sept 19 Mt Aspetong (BH). Peregrine Falcon: 1 Sept 27 Croton
Pt (BH), could be the same bird that was reported in the nearby Hook Mt area
thru summer and early fall. Pigeon Hawk: 1 observed Aug 24 buzzing a Broads
wing at Hackensack Swamp, Blauvelt; only other Aug record is a specimen taken
Aug 10, 1889 at Nyack cited by A.K. Fisher in 1893. (RFD) Sparrow Hawk: 59
Sept 19 Mt Aspetong (BH). King Rail: 1 Sept 11 Piermont Pier (RFD). Virginia
Rail: 1 Nov 16 Tarrytown Res (TH); another Sept 11 Piermont Pier (RFD).
Sora: 1 Oct 17 Croton Pt; and another Sept 11 Piermont Pier (RFD). Coot: 10
Oct 13 at Iona Is; numbers good Oct 17 at Rockland L. Semipalmated Plover: 2
Aug 19 Piermont Pier; 2 Sept 16 Clinton Corners (MVW). Killdeer: highs of 74
Sept 27 Croton Pt and 94 Oct 25 same location (BH). Black-bellied Plover: 1 in
spring plumage Sept 10 at Piermont Pier (Tony Amos); 30 Sept 18 flying over
Westmoreland Sanct, West (BA). Common Snipe: more fall reports than usual; 1
Nov 13 Croton Pt (BH); 11 Oct 6 Thompson Pd, Dutch; 2 Oct 26 Dutch (CT);
I NdV 6 Pine Plains (MVW). Least Sandpiper: 20 Aug 19 Piermont Pier; 40 Sept
II same place (RFD). Dunlin: 3 Sept 11 Piermont Pier (RFD); 1 Nov 13 Croton
Pt (BH). ICELAND GULL-. 1 early date of Oct 31 Croton Pt (BH). Bonaparte’s
Gull: 1 Oct 9 North Tarrytown; 1 Nov 7 Croton Pt (BH); 1 Nov 20 Piermont Pier
(RFD). BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE : a second record for Dutch, the first
being Nov 21, 1969, 1 imm Oct 17 flying south over Hudson just south of P’kpsie,
all field marks noted by two very experienced birders (J, MK). Terns: on Aug 28
as tropical storm Doria broke up, RFD and son Donald were at Piermont Pier and
found 4 Forster’s, 65 Common, 2 Roseate, and 2 Sandwich Terns, all species ob¬
served in flight and at rest on nearby rocks. Mourning Dove: numbers continue
good. Owls: usual species and reports. Screech Owl: at winter box by Oct 29 in
Dutch (EP). Great Horned Owl: a few more reported than usual. SNOWY OWL:
1 Nov 27 reported by school boy in Katonah, bird was on roof of house being pestered
by crows (SOG); 1 imm Nov 1 P’kpsie (MK).
GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Common Nighthawk: numbers down thru sum¬
mer, but good migration in early Sept; max 112 Sept 3 Cornwall-on-Hudson; several
very late reports: 1 Sept 30 near Kripplebush (FH); 1 Oct 2 Kensico Res.; another
Oct 23 Hawthorne (BA, DH). Chimney Swift: more than 30 Sept 30 over High
Falls; more same date over New Paltz; last report there Oct 7 (RP) ; 2 Oct 13
Middletown (JT), Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1 Oct 9 and another Oct 12 in
Dutch (B, TS); last observed in the New Paltz area Oct 4 (RP). Red-bellied
Woodpecker: rare and accidental till now, presently 1 or 2 reported every season;
1 Oct 11 Mt Aspetong; and another Nov 14 Irvington (BA); 1 at Tom Gilbert’s
home in East Park observed off and on from Aug 25 thru Nov, bird was hoarding
hickory nuts in trees. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: a few more than usual; numbers
good in Dutch. Eastern Kingbird: last, 1 Sept 18 Upton L Rd, Dutch (MVW).
WESTERN KINGBIRD: observed and photographed from Oct 9-17 in Pleasant-
ville, West by BA and BH. Empidonax Flycatchers: 1, species undetermined, Nov 7
at Croton Pt (BH). Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 4 Sept 11 Thompson Pd, Dutch
(EP). Olive-sided Flycatcher: first Aug 29 in Cornwall, and Aug 31 at Pond Gut;
last report Sept 8 in Dutch. Horned Lark: excellent numbers thru Oct in Dutch.
Tree Swallow: good numbers of Aug continued thru Oct. Barn Swallow: 1 late
bird Sept 20 Kripplebush (FH). Cliff Swallow: numbers good at Wawarsing (JCO) ;
last, 6 Sept 25 Dutch (EP). Purple Martin: last Aug 18 near nest site in Pleasant
Valley (MVW). Blue Jay: even better than usual. COMMON RAVEN: 1 Oct 8 Mt
Peter (Don Vail, John Mann). Common Crow: returned to winter roosts by end of
Oct; more than 3,000 by end of Nov at Hudson R State Hospital. Fish Crow: 2
thru Aug and Sept downtown P’kpsie (MK). Black-capped Chickadee: numbers
excellent; 88 Oct 15 observed in Dutch (MVW). BOREAL CHICKADEE: 1 Oct
55
18 Dutch (MVW), Red-breasted Nuthatch: more than usual from all areas; most
noticeable in Sept. House Wren: 1 very late date of Ncv 9 (MVW, CT). Winter
Wren: more reported than usual. Carolina Wren: numbers good, especially along
the Hudson. Long-billed Marsh Wren: 1 Nov 13 Croton Pt (BH). Mockingbird:
“Everywhere in north West” (SOG); “Common in Bear Mt Pk” (JCO). Brown
Thrasher: JCO .reports numbers down in Bear Mt Pk and at Wawarsing in Ulst.
Thrushes: all species reported uncommonly scarce in Rock. Robin: generally excel¬
lent; hundreds reported most areas dur mid-Oct. Wood Thrush: 1 Oct 21 in Dutch,
was very late (CT). Swainson’s Thrush: numbers good thru mid-Oct. Grey-cheeked
Thrush: 2 Sept 5 and 2 Sept 11 near P’kpsie (J, MK). 1 Oct 6 and 2 Oct 8 in
Dutch (AJ). Eastern Bluebird: low but normal. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: not com¬
monly reported in fall; 1 Oct 11 Mt Aspetong (BH) ; 1 Aug 29 S Nyack was only
the 4th fall record for Rock. Kinglets: good numbers for both species. Pipit: be¬
tween 200-500 dur Oct in the Pleasant Valley area of Dutch; 27 Nov 14 Pound
Ridge, West a late date for that number. Cedar Waxwing: virtually absent last
spring;' numbers improved thru summer until abundant this fall; many reports of
large numbers from all areas. Northern Shrike: 1 Nov 18 West Point (PJ) Logger-
head Shrike: 1 Nov 22 Pleasant Valley (MV, CT). Starling: thousands reported at
the Hudson R State Hosp roost, P’kpsie (AJ).
VIREOS—WARBLERS: White-eyed Vireo: rare in fall; 1 Sept 6-8 Amenia (TS).
Yellow-throated Vireo: several reports but numbers low. Solitary Vireo: more than
usual,.most in Oct; 1 very late date of Nov 6 at Millbrook (FG, MVW). Red-eyed
Vireo,:-.last, Oct 9 in West and Dutch. Philadelphia Vireo: 2 Sept 6 P’kpsie; and
1 Sept. 7 same area (J,MK); 1 Sept 11 Bashakill (Mearns BC) ; 1 Sept 15—16 in
Dutch (MVW). Warbling Vireo: well reported thru Sept; 1 very late date Oct 2
in Dutch (EB). Blue-winged Warbler: 1 Oct 3 Green Haven (EB). Tennessee
Warbler: 1 Oct 8 near Wawarsing (JCO). ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER: 2
Sept 3 near P’kpsie (J, MK). Nashville Warbler: Oct 30 near Mohonk (RP). Parula
Warbler: 1 Oct 16 Dutch (FG). Magnolia Warbler: 1 Oct 9; 1 Oct 13 in Dutch
(CT). Cape May Warbler: 2 Aug 24 (J,MK) ; 2 Aug 30 (MVW); last, 1 Nov 3-6
Pleasant Valley (MVW). Myrtle Warbler: 2 Aug 24 (J,MK) ; very common thru
Oct; WBC reports 3 records in Nov. Black-throated Green Warbler: 1 Aug 23
(J,MK); 1 late date of Oct 23 (MVW). Blackburnian Warbler: first Aug 24; last
Sept 27. Pine Warbler: 3 reports from West; 1 Sept 27 Hawthorne; 1 Sept 29
Pleasantville; and another Sept 30 Pocantico (BH) ; 1 Sept 18 Dutch (J,MK).
Ovenbird: last, 1 Oct 2 and 2 Oct 6 in Dutch. Connecticut Warbler: 1 Sept 16 in
Dutch (MVW). Mourning Warbler: 1 Sept 13 Amenia (TS). Yellow-breasted Chat:
not common in fall; 1 Oct 3 and again Oct 10 Wawarsing (JCO) ; 1 Oct 23 Tama¬
rack Pd (FG). Canada Warbler: first Aug 26 (MK). Redstart: lingered very late
in Dutch; 1 Oct 25 and another Nov 12 and 25 at Salt Point (CT). HoodecI War¬
bler: 1 late date of Sept 23 in Dutch (CT).
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: Bobolink: 1 Oct 14, late for Dutch (B,TS).
Meadowlark: numbers down in farm country. Orchard Oriole: 1 Sept 6 near P’kpsie
(J,MK). Baltimore Oriole: numbers good; 1 very late date of Nov 28 near P’kpsie
(J,MK). Common Grackle: peak number of 11,400 Oct 8 at roost near Middletown
(JT). Scarlet Tanager: 1 very late date of Oct 22 in Dutch (MK). Cardinal:
always in excellent numbers, but reported reduced in several aresa. Indigo Bunting:
numbers generally low; only Sept report from Dutch with 4 between Sept 2 and 18.
DICKCISSEL: only 1, Oct 18 in Dutch (MVW). Evening Grosbeak: first 7, Oct 7
in Dutch; arr in moderate numbers in most areas the first and second weeks of
Nov. Purple Finch: numbers much better than usual. House Finch: explosive in¬
crease in Middletown area; JT reports avg of 22 daily at feeder; max 52 on Nov 20.
Common Redpoll: only report 6, Nov 11 Lithgow (MK). Pine Siskin: 1 Oct 25
Croton Pt; 40 Nov 24 Pleasantville; 2 Nov 26 S Nyack. Savannah Sparrow: 4 late
56
birds Nov 27 Salt Point. Vesper Sparrow: several reports in Oct from West; and 2
Nov 7 at Groton Pt (BH). Slate-colored Junco: first reports from Oran and Dutch
Sept 17; numbers excellent as usual thru end of season. Tree Sparrow: arr late and
in very sparse numbers; first Oct 27 in Dutch; no real numbers until late Nov.
Chipping Sparrow: last, Nov 7, 4 at Groton Pt. White-crowned Sparrow: first, 2
Sept 20 Amenia (TS); several others reported the first two weeks of Oct. Fox
Sparrow: first, Oct 13; good numbers thru rest of month esp in Dutch and West.
Lincoln Sparrow: 1 Oct 3 Wawarsing; 1 Oct 7 Croton Pt; 2 Pleasantville and 1
Hawthorne Oct 9; 1 Oct 5 and another Oct 6-7 in Dutch (B,TS). Song Sparrow:
continues high but lower than last year. Snow Bunting: first Oct 31 Piermont Pier
(RFD); several Nov 16 West Point; 26 Nov 19 Kensico Res; 12 Nov 24 Pleasant
Valley.
Winter reports due no later than Apr 5
Pellwood Lake, Highland Falls, N.Y. 10928
REGION 10 —MARINE
Thomas H. Davis and Lee Morgan
This will be one of our longer introductions to any seasonal report we have yet
written for the Kingbird. We feel it is time to leave the stilted structure which
results from merely recording sightings. Our future impetus will be toward more
editorial analyses, and in attempting to present meaningful statements out of the
ever-increasing supply of raw data fed to us by the burgeoning ranks of Region 10
birders. Our remarks below regarding the Monk Parakeet invite further discussion
and, we hope, action. The records resulting from Hurricane Doria and a Cox’s
Ledge pelagic trip, instead of being presented in traditional, rigid AOU order, have
been isolated to better highlight significant meteorological influences. A short sum¬
mary of a migration field project undertaken by a group of birders, advertises what
can be accomplished by the more curious observer, especially when joined by others
of his (or her) kind.
The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is fast becoming established in our
area as a result of an undetermined number of escapes, (see John Bull, 1971, Monk
Parakeets in the New York City Region, Linnaean News-Letter, 25 (1).) This year
there were three instances of young being raised in the New York City area: 1) Lord-
ship, Conn. (American Birds, 25 (5): 839); 2) Staten Island (H. H. Cleaves, 1971,
The Monk Parakeet Invades Staten Island. Proceedings of the Staten Island Insti¬
tute of Arts and Sciences, 26 (2): 53-57.) and 3) Valley Stream, Nassau County,
NY (verb. comm. John Bull). This specise is native to South America to 40° south
latitude (R. M. deSchaunsee, 1966, The Species of Birds of South America and
their Distribution, Livingston Publishing Company, Narberth, Penna.). In the tem¬
perate zone of Argentina, it is considered a severe agricultural pest and bounties
are paid to control its numbers (verb. comm. Dr. Michael Gochfeld). Cleaves (op
cit) comments that these parakeets have been observed feeding on pears and apples
on Staten Island. New York State does not need another introduced pest species,
no matter how exotically interesting it may be. Your editors herein urge the elimina¬
tion of all free-flying Monk Parakeets before their increasing numbers rate them as
economic and ecological pests. Let’s not wait until they become too difficult to
eliminate — or even control — as in Argentina.
Hurricane Doria swept inland into North Carolina on August 28. Five hundred
miles further north, on coastal Long Island, southerly winds reaching a maximum
of 40 M.P.H. were recorded. Being on the outer fringe of the storm, few exotics
57
were recorded, the following list being comprised largely of pelagics driven inshore:
Leach’s Petrel: 7 Aug 28 Point O’ Woods, Fire Island (S. Hopkins, C. Terhune) ;
Aug 28 Shinnecock Inlet (MK)—photographed; 3 Aug 28 off Great Gull Island
(RP).
Wilson’s Petrel: max 200 Aug 28 Point O’ Woods, Fire Island (S. Hopkins,
G. Terhune).
Sooty Tern: adult Aug 28 Riis Park (BB, WB) ; 2 adults Aug 28 Great Gull
Island (mob)—one weakened bird was captured, banded, photographed, and re¬
leased.
Cox’s Ledge, a cod fishing area some 40 miles ESE of Montauk Point, continues
as a prime spot for pelagic birds. This September 11, a Linnaean Society sponsored
field trip recorded 20 species in very foggy, near windless conditions. Several gall —
jaeger encounters were witnessed, and in addition to pelagics, a number of dis¬
oriented passerines are included on the following list: 1 Greater Shearwater ;1
Leach’s Petrel; 38 Wilson’s Petrel; 1 Gannet; 4 Duck sp.; 1 Greater Yellowlegs;
1 shorebird sp. (dowitcher?) ; 33 Northern Phalarope; 2 Phalarope sp.; 17 Pomarine
Jaeger (mostly adults, only one dark-phased bird) ; 8 Parasitic Jaeger (mostly sub¬
adults); 9 jaeger sp.; 6 Great Black-backed Gull; 70+ Herring Gull; 1 Ring-billed
Gull; 3 Common Tern; 1 Magnolia Warbler; 1 Cape May Warbler; 1 Palm War¬
bler; 2 Northern Waterthrush; 3 American Redstart; 6 Warbler sp.; 1 Redwing
(female); 3 Baltimore Oriole (together) ; 1 Bobolink. (L. Balch, C. Clark, TD, S.
Dempsey, G. Litell, L. Marsh, T. Mason, J. Sanders, B. Smith, W. Tweit).
A Blue Jay migration watch was maintained this fall by eight members of the
Lyman Langdon Audubon Society under the leadership of A1 Bell. At Garvies Point,
Glen Cove, observations of a half hour or longer were made on 18 days between
Sept 11 and Oct 11, for a total of 33 hours of watching. Flights were observed on
10 of the 18 days, and a total of 2209 jays were counted. All flights took place ex¬
clusively during the morning hours, being over by noon. Following are the four
best days:
Oct 3
3 hrs
Oct 4
3 hrs
Oct 5
4 hrs
Oct 9
2% hrs
no wind
E wind
W wind
SW wind
325 jays
374 jays
472 jays
461 jays
— from LLAS Bulletin 20 (3) :6.
Rarities included in this report are Arctic Loon, Eared Grebe, Sabine’s Gull,
Raven, 2 Audubon’s Warblers (one netted, banded and photographed; the other ob¬
served and photographed), Yellow-headed Blackbird, Green-tailed Towhee (speci¬
men), Lark Bunting, and Oregon Junco (banded). High counts were recorded for
Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet. Great Cormorant set a new arrival
date, and Ruff, Yellow-throated Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler,
and Summer Tanager set new departure dates. A minor “winter finch” flight in¬
cluded every northern species excepting only the accidental Hoary Redpoll, and a
major Snowy Owl invasion was under way by the end of the period.
Observers frequently cited: BB—Bill Baumann; WB—Wilma Baumann; PB—-
Paul Buckley; JB—John Bull; TD—Tom Davis; DFi—Davis Finch; DF—Darrel
Ford; FH—Fred Heath; HH—Helen Hirshbein; GK—Georges Kleinbaum; MK-«*
Michel Kleinbaum; AL—Anthony Lauro; TL—Tom Love; HM—Hugh Mclnness;
RP—Roger Pasquier; DP—Dennis Puleston; LS—Laurie Schore; JY—John Yrizarry.
Abbreviations: AMNHt—A merican Museum of Natural History; JBWR—Jamaica
Bay Wildlife Refuge; Jones—Jones Beach State Park.
LOONS—DUCKS: ARCTIC LOON: Nov 26-27 Point O’Woods, Fire Island
(S. Hopkins) —on the 27th studied with 20X scope at a distance of 200 yards and
with Red-throated Loons nearby for comparison. “Description: Extremely dark on
58
top and side of head down to and just past the eye, equally dark hind neck and
on side of neck to median, and equally dark on back — the darkest winter loon;
have ever seen. . . bill straight, rather blunt tipped, like the half-sized bill of a
Common Loon. Line of gape straight, with upper and lower, mandibles appearing
about symmetrical. The head was carried at a slight upward angle, but the bill was
in a straight line with the head, and had no upward slant of its own. The overall
size of the bird was that of a Red-throated, but I thought the head and neck were
less snaky. . . Flight: The wing amplitude was obviously less than the deep amplitude
of the Red-throated, but close to the amplitude of the Common Loon. In fact,
were the subject to pass down the coast amongst migrating loons^ it would un¬
doubtedly be called a Common Loon on its shallow wing beat.’—extracted from
a 2 page typewritten account. The editors feel it is quite reasonable to expect Arctic
Loons from eastern Canada to occur at times, perhaps even regularly, in very small
numbers in the northeastern US in winter. The difficulty in identifying an Arctic,
the even greater difficulty in collecting supposed Arctics, precludes any conclusive
statement. Griscom’s Birds of Massachusetts (Peabody Museum, Salem, 1955) men¬
tions the Arctic Loon as “apparently a regular winter visitant. . . seen by numerous
observers with experience of the species” but relegates it to the hypothetical sec¬
tion “in the absence of a specimen, 5 citing possible confusion with small, immature
Common Loon Specimens. EARED GREBE ; Oct 22 JBWR (DFi) —10th consecu¬
tive year reported at this locality. Great Cormorant: arr Sep 10 Great Gull Island
(RP) —earliest Regional record.
HAWKS—OWLS: Golden Eagle: Sep 21 Breezy Point (LS, BB, WB); Nov 15—16
Jones (F. Mengels). Osprey: belated summer report (DP) — 17 fledgelings from
34 nests at Gardiner’s Island; 13 fledgelings from 5 nests at Shelter Island. Sparrow
Hawk: 3004- Sep 21 Breezy Point (LS, BB, WB). Marbled Godwit: Nov 22 Tobay
Pond (LS, WB). Ruff: Nov 6 (R. Plunkett) — latest regional record. American
Avocet: Oct 10 Shinnecock Inlet (HM).
Jaegers: daily observations to mid-Sept from Great Gull Island produced the fol¬
lowing numbers (RP)—Pomarine: one each Sep 8, 11, and 21. Parasitic: 20,
Aug 26; 20, Sep 5; max 28, Sep 4. Parasitic: max elsewhere—35 Oct 9 Jones
(DFi). SABINE’S GULL : adult Oct 30 Southampton (C. McKeever, fide PB) —
seen flying off beach. Royal Tern: max 10 Oct 10 Shinnecock Inlet (HM). Dovekie:
arr Nov 20 (3) Riis Park (BB, WB). Snowy Owl: arr Nov 7 Pelham Bay Park
(J. Machado, et al); next reported Nov 15 JBWR (H. Johnson) -—the precursors
of a major invasion, further details in next issue. Long-eared Owl: Oct 18 Alley
Pond Park (BB, WB)—early migrant. Saw-whet Owl: max 7, mist-netted, Nov 14
Fire Island Light (DF).
GOATSUCKERS—STARLING: Common Nighthawk: Oct 15 Robt Moses State
Park (DFi) —photographed, extremely late. Western Kingbird: 12 individuals re¬
ported, Sep 17-Nov 17, the only inland report was one at Bronx Park Sep 17
(Hackett) — the first record for this locale. Great Crested Flycatcher: Nov 4—6 Riis
Park (DFi, JY)—extremely late. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: max 7 Aug 22 Great
Gull Island (RP). RAVEN : Nov 23 Pelham Bay Park (D. Rafferty). Boreal Chicka¬
dee:— extremely rare on the coastal plain — 2 reported — netted, Nov 8, Brook-
haven (DP); Nov 10, Great Kills Park, Staten Island (L. Mills). Brown Creeper:
max 1504- Oct 9 Fire Island Light (TD) —highest regional count. Short-billed
Marsh Wren: Oct 30 Southampton (B. Conolly) — a secretive migrant. Golden-
crowned Kinglet: max 400+ Oct 7 Fire Island Light (TD) —highest regional
count.
VIREOS—WARBLERS: White-eyed Vireo: Oct 12-21 Riis Park (TD, TL,
DFi)—extremely late. Yellow-throated Vireo: Nov 3—12 Riis Park (M. Sohmer,
BB, WB) -—latest regional record by three weeks. Solitary Vireo: netted, Nov 14
59
Tobay (AL) —extremely late. Philadelphia Vireo: Nov 7 Riis Park (E. Daly) —
latest regional record.
Prothonotary Warbler: Sep 8 Great Gull Island (RP) ; Sep 28-29 Glove Lakes
Park, Staten Island (H. Fischer). “Lawrence’s” Warbler: netted, Aug 16 Atlantic
Beach (S. Cohen). Tennessee Warbler: netted, Nov 14 Fire Island Light (DF) -—
extremely late. Cape May Warbler: Nov 6 Fire Island Light (FH) —late. AUDU¬
BON’S WARBLER: netted, Nov 6 Tobay (AL) —banded, photographed, and re¬
leased; Nov 21 Cedar Beach (C. Ward, A. Wollin, S. Schiff) — “unbanded,” photo¬
graphed (CW) —photographs of both birds were shown at the Dec 14 meeting of
the Linnaean Society of New York, and species verification accomplished by many
familiar with the bird; second and third regional records. Blackburnian Warbler:
Oct 31 Jones (GK, MK)—latest regional record. Yellow-throated Warbler: Sep
4 Borough Park, Brooklyn (E. Swayer). Connecticut Warbler: Aug 18 Glen Cove
(R. Cioffi) —extremely early.
BLACKBIRDS—SPARROWS: YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD : male, Sep 25
Fire Island Light (TD, H. Honig) Summer Tanager: 3 reported, an unusual number
for the fall season — Sep 9 Tobay (A. Wollin); Oct 9 Jones (E. Levine); adult
male O'ct 20 Oak Beach (BB, WB, LS) — latest regional record. Blue Grosbeak:
8 individuals reported from coastal locations, Sep 2-Oct 29. Indigo Bunting: netted,
Nov 14 Fire Island Light (DF, FH) —extremely late. Dickcissel: max 15+ , Oct 7
Fire Island Light (TD, TL, H. Kemp) —flying west along beach, a flock of 6 was
noted; 8 Oct 8 Fire Island Light (TD, DFi). Pine Grosbeak: arr Nov 13 Montauk
Point (mob). Common Redpoll: arr Nov 17 (30) Fire Island Light (PB)—early,
but none reported after this date through period. Pine Siskin: arr Oct 8 (2) Fire
Island Light (TD, DFi). Red Crossbill: arr Nov 9 (10 + ) Tobay (AL)—both
crossbills noted in small numbers along outer beaches following this date.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE : Oct 19 Scarsdale (Frank Haeni — trapped in
weakened condition, later died, specimen to AMNH, first Regional record. Lark
Bunting: Oct 17—31 Baxter Creek, Bronx County (R. Kane, et al) —in our region
this species was recorded only 5 times to 1963; since then it has been reported 9
times; 12 of the 14 reports fall within the span Aug 31-Oct 17. OREGON JUNCO:
Nov 6 Fire Island Light (FH, et al) — brought alive next day to AMNH where
compared to specimens, “appeared to be a female oregonus type” (J. Bull, B. King),
released in Central Park. Clay-colored Sparrow: only two reported, Oct 8—9 Fire
Island Light (TD, DFi, et al); Oct 10-16 Robt Moses State Park (DFi et al).
Note; winter reports by Apr 8, please.
Davis: 8613 85th St, Woodhaven, N.Y. 11421
Morgan: 4 Windsor La, E. Northport, NY 11731
60
REPORTING REGIONS
For descriptions of Regions see Kingbird Vol. IV, Nos. 1 and 2
FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC.
1972 Officers
President
Mr. Kenneth D. Niven . ... . . . . . .. . P. Q. Box 343, Monticello, N.Y. 12701
Vice President
Mrs. Mary Ann Sunderlin . . ...... . .. 505 Bay Rd., Webster, N.Y. 14580
Corresponding Secretary
Miss Elizabeth A. Feldhusen ... 891 Union St. Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215
Recording Secretary
Mrs. Myrna Hemmerich.... P. O. Box 203, Setauket, N.Y. 11733
Treasurer
Mr. Stephen B. Dempsey. 533 Chestnut St., West Hempstead, N.Y. 11552
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: Dr. Gerhard W. Leubner, 151 Upland Dr., Rochester, N.Y. 14617
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: Robert S. Arbib, Jr., 226 Guion Dr., Mamaronek, N.Y. 10543
Bibliography: Dr. Sally Hoyt Spofford, Box 428, Etna 13062
Bylaws; 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