&.KINGBIRD THE KINGBIRD, published four times a year (January, May, July and October), is a publication of The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc., which has been organized to further the study of bird life and to disseminate knowledge thereof, to educate the public in the need of Conserving natural resources and to encourage the establishment and main¬ tenance of sanctuaries and protected areas. Individual member’s dues are $8.00 annually. Other membership classes are: Family Membership ($10). Supporting Member ($15), or a Life Member ($150)-“payable over a four-year period in equal installments,” if member so desires . Student membership $3.00. KINGBIRD institutional subscriptions: $9.00 per year on calendar year basis only. Single copies: $2.25. All memberships are for the calendar year and begin with January of the year in which the member joins. Memberships beginning after the first of the year include back issues for that year. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP should be sent to the chairman of the membership committee, Mrs. Myrna Hemmerick, P.O. Box 203, Setauket, N.Y. 11733. Send CHANGES OF ADDRESS to the Treasurer, Mr. Stephen B. Dempsey, 533 Chestnut St., West Hemp¬ stead, N.Y. 11552. Order SINGLE COPIES, BACK NUMBERS, and REPLACEMENT COPIES from Frederick C. Dittrich, 20 Drumlins Terrace, Syracuse, N.Y. 13224. Publication office is 20 Drumlins Terrace, Syracuse, N.Y. 13224. Second class postage paid at Syracuse, N.Y. FROM JOE TAYLOR - With this issue The Kingbird has a new editor—or, to be completely accurate, new co-editors—Manny Levine and John Farrand, Jr.—and I sincerely wish them every success. Having spent some time with them and having learned a little of their plans, I am sure that you are going to have a better journal for the Federation than you have had in a long time. I have enjoyed being editor for the past six years, even though it was at times somewhat disheartening and frustrating, particularly in that fortunately short period when there seemed to be so little interest on the part of the membership in having The Kingbird continue. But that has changed, and especially in the last couple of years since Douglas Kibbe has been Assistant Editor, many of you have shown increasing interest by sending in interesting material. I am most grateful to Doug and to all of you who have, directly or indirectly, contributed articles, and I urge you to continue to do so. And also my gratitude goes to Ted Dittrich, who as Circulation Manager has not only made certain that each of you received your Kingbird but has taken care of endless details for me. And lastly. The Kingbird would not exist without the hard, and sometimes tedious, work of the Regional Editors and their contri¬ butors in getting together their statistical data. To each of them go my heartfelt thanks for their efforts and their cooperation. They are our unsung heroes. — Joseph W. Taylor W.KINGBIRD PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS, INC. Vol. XXV No. 2 July, 1975 65-116 CONTENTS President’s Page.Gordon M. Meade, M.D. 66 Photographs of New York State Rarities 24. Mountain Bluebird .Richard P. Guthrie and Jeffrey A. Davis 68 An Observation of the Territorial and Reproductive Behavior of the Red-winged Blackbird, Part II.Barry Devine 71 New York State Waterfowl Count, January 1975.Douglas M. Auer 77 Review of “Birds of New York State”.Douglas Kibbe 82 Hurricanes and New York State Birds.John B. Belknap 84 Notes and Observations Boreal Owl found on Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York..Ken Feustel 86 Swainson’s Warbler at Forest Park, Queens Co., New York City.Thomas H. Davis 86 Hermit Thrush-Song heard in northern part of winter range.Fred N. Hough 87 Highlights of the Winter Season.Robert W. Smart 88 Regional Reports .. 90 Co-Editors — Emanuel Levine and John Farrand, Jr. Associate Editors Notes and Observations — Sally Hoyt Spofford Regional Reports — Robert Smart Editorial Board Allen H. Benton Eugene Eisenmann Stephen W. Eaton Fritz Scheider Dorothy W. Mcllroy Circulation Manager — Frederick C. Dittrich Cover Design — Douglas L. Howland PRESIDENT'S PAGE The Kingbird has new hands at the wheel—or new pens at the desk is perhaps the better way to phrase it. After six years of devoted and diligent service, Joe Taylor has relinquished the editorship. We are most appreciative of the time-consuming, painstaking work he has put into this primary activity of the Federation. While it hasn’t slowed him down much in his climb to the pinnacle as America’s No. 1 lister—the Ross’ Gull gave him No. 708 (new A.O.U. style)— perhaps now he’ll move onward and upward to 800. Our warm thanks, Joe. Now we have Kingbird co-editors—Emanuel Levine and John Far- rand, Jr.—who begin their work with the May issue. Manny Levine lives on Long Island, is a manufacturer’s representative, a member of the Federation since 1958, a former editor of the Linnaean News- Letter, and a past president of the Linnaean Society of New York. John Farrand, Jr. lives in New York Gty and is a member of the ornithology staff of the American Museum of Natural History. He is a member of the Linnaean Society, the American Birding Associ¬ ation, the American Ornithologists’ Union, the Cooper Ornithologi¬ cal Society and the British Ornithologists’ Club. An editorial staff, however competent and dedicated, cannot alone make a successful journal. They need a continuing flow of ma¬ terial for publication, of suggestions and criticism, and of financial backing through a growing number of subscriptions. The Kingbird is our journal and if it is to be an increasingly important ornithological publication it must have our vigorous support. I hope you liked The Kingbird's new look in the January issue. It was created by our new publisher—Wilkins/Printers of Cortland, N.Y. In addition to being fine artisans, Mr. and Mrs. Chase Wilkins are birders, belong to the Cortland County Bird Club, and do consider¬ able printing for the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. So to their work they bring a knowledge of birds, and of bird watchers and their interests. And I’m sure you were impressed with the handsome new type faces and format of the March “New York Birders” for which we can thank Albert Bell, a Federation member of Sea Cliff, who has volun¬ teered to prepare the master copy on his new IBM composing type¬ writer. We owe him our warmest thanks for this very generous contribution. 66 Other publications are in the early planning stages. Members of the Cayuga Bird Club are undertaking to compile for the Federation a listing of birders who are willing to give advice about birding in their home area to visiting birders. And we now have several expressions of interest in helping to produce a “Birding Baedeker,” or “Where to Bird in New York State.” That’s still in the thinking phase and is some time ahead of us. All these things are only outward evidence of movement and change for the Federation. My earnest hope is that they also signal and will generate a wider and more active interest in the Federation on the part of the state birders. We very much need many more people who belong to the Federation, and are committed to and working for its objectives and activities. Only then will it realize its full potential. Let me hear from you if you want to become involved—there’s work for you to do. And come to the Federation meeting in Oneonta September 26-28. You don’t have to be a Federation member to attend. Gordon M. Meade , M.D. President 67 PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW YORK STATE RARITIES 24. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD Richard P. Guthrie and Jeffrey A. Davis On 20 December 1974, while conducting a preliminary survey for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count in the Town of Coxsackie, Greene County, New York (42° 18’ 33”N, 73° 48’ 23”W), we observed a bluebird perched in a treetop along a brushy fence row. The bird was first examined, and noted as a bluebird, from about 130 yards (119 meters) through a 20X lens. The absence of the rusty breast typical of the Eastern Bluebird (Stalia sialis) suggested the need for closer observation. The bird was subsequently studied for 45 minutes through both 20X and 30X lenses at distances as close as 30 yards (27 meters). Our ability to view the bird’s plumage at close range compensated for less than ideal lighting on an overcast day, allowing us to tentatively identify it as an immature male Mountain Bluebird (Sialia cwrrucoides). The two most distinctive features were the silhouette and lack of rust on the breast. In closer, the bird was gray¬ ish blue overall with deeper blue (cerulean) limited to the primaries, tail and rump area. In flight, the bird seemed to be more buoyant than the Eastern Bluebird, often hovering for a short period—especi¬ ally immediately prior to alighting. The only vocalization heard was a single, soft ventriloquial “churr” uttered infrequently and generally just after the bird took flight. Subsequently, on 22 December 1974 and 4 January 1975, Guthrie obtained color photographs, as the bird remained at its original location. To help substantiate the identification we examined skins of the three North American bluebird species at the New York State Museum, Albany, and the American Museum of Natural History, New York City. With the aid of these color photographs and those taken by others, Mr. John Bull of the Department of Ornithology at the American Museum has confirmed that the Coxsackie individual was a Mountain Bluebird. A color print taken by Allen Schroeder has been deposited in the American Museum of Natural History collec¬ tion as permanent documentation. The New York individual remained near its original location for at least 72 days, being exceedingly unwary and behaviorably predict¬ able. During this period, the bird was also observed at close range by many competent observers who concurred with our identification. The bird fed regularly on the fruits of buckthorn (Rhamnus sp.), 68 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD Coxsackie, N.Y.; 21 January 1975; Photo by Davis W. Finch; Courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History wild grape (Vitis sp.), and yew (Taxus sp.). During periods of severe weather, it fed on a manure pile adjacent to a dairy barn some 1600 yards (1.5 kilometers) southwest of the original site. On numerous occasions it was observed hovering in the air just prior to perching. Among bluebirds, hovering behavior is apparently peculiar to Sialia currucoides (Bent, 1949, Life Histories of North American Thrushes, Kinglets, and Their Allies, Bull. 196, U.S. Nat. Mus., Washington, D.C.). The locality where the bird was first seen, and subsequently ob¬ served most often, is of mixed cover types: brushy fence row, small evergreen nursery, adjacent to open pastureland. The general area, located in the mid-Hudson valley several miles east of the Catskill Mountains, is rolling farmland interspersed with old fields and small woodlots. 69 Primarily a species of the western mountains, Mountain Bluebirds breed as far east as North Dakota (Kermott, et al., Wilson Bull., 1974, 86(1): 83-84). During various winters “displaced” individuals have been previously reported as far east as Point Pelee, Ontario (American Birds, 1972, 26(3): 599) and southeastern Pennsylvania (American Birds, 1974, 28(3): 624). The present sighting is the first reported occurrence for the species in New York State. The term “displacement” has been applied to birds that are en¬ countered far from their normal range. The phenomenon is believed to represent some malfunction of the orientation mechanism in migrant species. Immature birds are more prone to such wanderings than are adults. The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. John Bull of the American Museum of Natural History in preparing this note. New York State Public Service Commission Office of Environmental Planning 44 Holland Avenue Albany, New York 12208 ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Richard P. Guthrie began birding in the mid-50’s. A graduate of the State University College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry (Landscape Archi¬ tecture), he is primarily engaged in the environmental review of electric trans¬ mission line siting with the PSC. Guthrie lives in New Baltimore, Greene County, is a bander, and a member of the Ralph T. Waterman and Hudson-Mohawk Bird Clubs. Jeffrey A. Davis was employed by the National Audubon Society and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, prior to his present position with the PSC. With the previous two organizations Davis worked as a wildlife biologist on both management and research projects. 70 AN OBSERVATION OF THE TERRITORIAL AND REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR OF THE RED WINGED BLACKBIRD Barry Devine PART II ARRIVAL AND BEHAVIOR OF FEMALES Again, many varied times are given for the arrival of females into different areas within our region. In general, they begin arriving some 2-3 weeks after resident males. Here the time span was greater. Al¬ though some females were seen as early as mid-March, it is thought that these were migrants that wintered not far south. The resident females began arriving sporadically from April 1 on. This further strengthens the idea that the movements of these different classes of individuals put forth by Allen (1914) are not so clearly defined. The majority of the females had arrived by the third week in April. Their initial behavior reveals that they flew into the area in groups of three and four, perching within a male’s territory. The males then in many cases would approach and drive them off, since they display at both sexes and will not tolerate the females until they are ready to mate. The females then begin to select specific territories. In all cases observed, the first territories selected were those considered to be prime habitat. As this has been explained before, it is definitely a natural mechanism by which the best genes of the species are per¬ petuated. Once a territory has been selected, the females begin to spend much time within it, moving about from perch to perch as if unsure. The male-female interaction at courtship is especially interesting. Once she selects a territory and begins to spend increasingly longer periods within it, the male, if he is ready to mate, will perch close by and she will move away. This goes on for several minutes until she lofts high into the air above the territory. The male will then follow her, circling close behind for a period of from 10 seconds to nearly a full minute. He then drops back to the territory and she follows. This action has been noted by Bent (1958) and Allen (1914), and indicates that the two have paired. Nesting does not begin immediately. In fact, 2-3 weeks may separ¬ ate the pairing and the nest building. The female’s activity during this period is usually very tranquil. She will flit about the territory, 71 many times following the male very closely. If she ventures too close to the perimeter of an adjacent territory, her mate will fly quickly up and usher her back within his bounds to protect his mating right. Both now spend increasingly more time within the territory. The daily flight to the upland meadows to feed is reduced, and more time is spent perched within the territory. A very interesting phenomenon was observed with 3 females. Though females select territories and not males (Smith, 1973), they have not been recorded as showing any territoriality although the male is known to be promiscuous-mating with more than one fe¬ male within the established territory. The male distinction between polygamy and promiscuity seems to be an ambiguous one at best. The reason is that males will mate often with more than one female and protect each nest with equal fervor (Bent, 1958). How then is one to distinguish between the pair bond and the promiscuity? At best the distinction in this case is vague and its value unclear. From this point is appears as an unnecessary confusion of the data. However, since many times there is more than one female per ter¬ ritory, it would tend to negate any territorial behavior among the females. What has been observed in four different instances tends to confuse this issue. This is not to say that the author feels that females are necessarily territorial, but that there is some aberration in the thought, based upon personally observed accounts. On three separate observations females at close distance were seen “puffing up,” extending the shoulders and spreading the tail. The call and song were certainly distinct from the call of the male. The first sighting was of only one call, the second of two or three. The last female observed within a territory was seen to call in this manner some 15 times while perched upon a cattail stalk. Nine or ten of those calls were in rapid succession and occurred within the time in¬ terval of one minute. What may be of importance was that this was observed on the day before nesting was recorded for this bird. The other observation that was unique occurred within the well- established territory of a male. A female had already been paired with, but nesting had not occurred. Another female was seen to fly into the area. Each time, she was met by the resident female. No ac¬ tion was observed. However, the male soon flew up and began chas¬ ing her erratically throughout the territory with the resident female following. Soon the tumult was joined by several males from adja¬ cent territories. The intruding female then flew high above the marsh and was followed closely by the resident female until she deserted 72 the area and the resident female returned. The resident male’s be¬ havior might be explained by the fact that he was not ready to ac¬ cept this female. What of the other males, and more importantly the behavior of the resident female? This is certainly peculiar, but since observations were carried out for such a short period of time it may not be that uncommon. The calling of the females is another peculiarity, and no other ex¬ planation is offered other than that these three may have been genetically distinct in those terms. As was previously stated, red-wings are considered polygamous or promiscuous depending upon your point of view. In any event, it has been fairly well established that they mate with more than one female and hence there may be more than one female per terri¬ tory. Bent states, as do many others, that it is often evident that there are more females and more occupied nests in a marsh than there are males. This current study exhibits a discrepancy between the female-male ratio and my own findings. More than likely it is peculiar to this study area, but the males outnumbered the females. Though 45 to 50 male territories have been established, only approximately 33 females have selected territories. This far exceeds the expected ratio of males to females and it is evident that some mechanism is operating here. Perhaps the type of nesting area, the size of the territories or the age and experience of the males are factors. Of the 33 males known to have selected territories, all appeared to be alone, with secondary habitat only partially filled. The eight nests located at this time are each alone in an individual territory. As has been documented thoroughly, the female builds the nest alone. But it is not known what triggers this activity, since females have been observed within the territories for 2-3 weeks before actual nesting begins. Perhaps it is the increasing length of day, and then in¬ duction by activity of some females on others. Of the eight nests ob¬ served, 7 were located in prime habitat and one in a questionable area. All nests were constructed in well protected areas from 2-6 feet above the water level. Located in bushes of bayberry, blueberry and prickly dewberry, they were recently finished. Three of the nests had 3 eggs and the other five were empty, indicating that they were just recently finished and in some cases egg laying had not occurred. Also, red-wings normally have a clutch of from 3-5 eggs, 4 being nor¬ mal (Bent, 1958). This leads one to think that perhaps an interrup¬ tion had occurred and all eggs had not been layed. Bent (1958) states 73 that the nest takes six days to complete, and gives a good description of it. Little more can be said concerning nesting since it has just be¬ gun and substantiated data cannot be collected and relied upon. FEEDING BEHAVIOR The food of the red-wing is primarily composed of seeds of weed and farm crops (Martin, Zim and Nelson, 1951) such as ragweed, bristlegrass, corn, oats, wild rice, smartweed, wheat, dock, panic grass, timothy and paspalum. The animal portion of the diet is al¬ most exclusively insects, but this provides only a small percentage that fluctuates with the conditions of the particular environment. Young, as has been mentioned, are fed almost entirely on insects from the area surrounding the nest. These may be weevils, caterpil¬ lars, beetles, grubs, cankerworms, grasshoppers and ants with an occasional meal of snails, crustaceans and spiders. Prior to hatching of the young, adults are known to feed in the upland meadows on the previously mentioned plant and animal foods. One interesting aspect of this behavior that was recorded throughout the study period shows that the males and females ob¬ served within the territories on the marsh do not normally feed there during the territorial phase. In the literature investigated, no mention is made of this beyond the fact that they leave the marsh to feed in the uplands. From observations, it appears that males and females during the selection and establishment of the territories and prior to the hatching of young, rarely, if ever, feed on the foods available in the marsh. It is not known whether this behavior changes with the hatching of the young. Do the adults then feed there along with feeding the young? Or do the males still move off to the uplands to feed? Allen (1914) writes that at this point both remain on the marsh which would indicate that feeding must be continued there. Feeder behavior as observed is still unclear. A test feeder was lo¬ cated on the marsh within a well-defined territory. Males of adjacent territories were quickly drawn to it, but were reluctant to attempt feeding although sporadic use was observed. The resident male of the territory at first flew up close and seemed uncertain of the reason for the series of intrusions. He would display and call, intimidating the other males until they were forced off to some distance. This male was seen to fly to the feeder, call, and perhaps eat a few seeds. His feeding was rare though he would often fly off to the north presum¬ ably to feed there. Is there some sort of inhibition that does not al¬ low the birds to feed on the marsh until some future date? And if 74 this is true, what has been the selective advantage of such behavior? Still it is not known whether this bird was specifically defending a feeding area, or just protecting the territory in which the feeder was located. More work is definitely necessary in order to clarify this point. In a backyard feeder, where in previous years many red-wing males and females were known to feed throughout the day, only one of each was seen. Still this does not explain whether the bird in this instance was defending the feeder itself or the territory in which the feeder was located. In conclusion then it appears that many questions have been raised in this current study. Though one study of this nature is not nearly enough to put forth conclusive data, the observations herein do indi¬ cate that much more observation is necessary in order to more fully understand the curious behavior of this species. Further, what may be of significant value is the effect of loss of prime habitat. The intrusion in many wetland areas of the giant reed grass Phragmites communis, effectively replacing such valuable wild¬ life plants as cattail and Spctrtina alterntflora, can have at this point only unknown long-term consequences for the red-wings as well as all other organisms which depend upon the native vegetation directly or indirectly for their niche requirements. Continued study for long periods will tell what the effect will be. The relationship of prime to secondary habitat as related to this intrusion is an interesting point. If it can be effectively established as to the influence on natality and vitality of the species, it may be possible to comment on the future of this species in a time when our wetland areas are diminishing rapidly in extent and quality. What will be attempted from this point will be a correlation of natality rates for the two habitats. This may indicate to a small extent where the species is at this point and give inferences as to the effect of deteriorating habitat. Box D , Mecklenburg, New York 14863 75 BIBLIOGRAPHY Allen, A. A. The Red-winged Blackbird: A Study in the Ecology of a Cattail Marsh, Proc. Linnaean Soc. of N.Y. 1914. Bent, A. C. Life Histories of North American Blackbirds, Orioles, Tanagers and Allies, Dover Publications Inc., N.Y. 1958. Black, J. A. Personal Communication, 1974. Burk, C. J. The North Carolina Banks: A Floristic Interpretation, Dept, of Botany, Smith College, Northampton, Mass. 1961. Martin, A. C., Zim, H. S., Nelson, A. L., American Wildlife and Plants: A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits, Dover Publications Inc. N.Y. 1961. Smith, D. G. The Red Badge of Rivalry, Natural History, The American Museum of Natural History, N.Y. 1973. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Barry Devine was born 1947 in New York City and grew up on Long Island. This study of the Red-winged Blackbird was carried out while he was a student at Suffolk County Community College. He is a recent graduate of Cornell Uni¬ versity Agricultural and Life Sciences College and is at present engaged in gradu¬ ate work at the University of Rhode Island, where his special field is estuar¬ ine ecology. 76 NEW YORK STATE WATERFOWL COUNT, JANUARY 1975 Douglas M. Auer Unseasonably mild temperatures may have affected the results of the annual waterfowl count held 11-19 January. Another factor may have been high winds on the larger lakes during the count period, reducing observer visibility. The total count was 225,900 individuals, or a reduction of 1.4% from 1974. By way of comparison, the aerial survey conducted by the New York State Department of Environ¬ mental Conservation during the same period rose 2.6% over last year. Apparently, the warm weather kept some diving ducks in Canada which might account for a decrease in the scaup count of 21%. Other significant decreases were in Redhead, Bufflehead, and Oldsquaw. Noteworthy changes which might be termed peculiar were found in Region No. 1 where the Common Merganser count fell by more than 10,000 birds, or an astounding 76%, and in Region No. 3 where the Canada Goose total rose almost 10,000, for a remarkable in¬ crease of 583%. Long Island (Region No. 10) reported the lowest count ever, despite greater numbers of Canada Goose and Brant. The scaup total which sometimes accounts for half of that region’s ducks was off the same 20% shown in the rest of the state. The table that follows is for those species only that tallied over one thousand individuals in the ground survey. For the sake of compari¬ son, the table also shows the results for the same species as compiled during the aerial survey. It is offered without comment. Upstate Long Island Aerial Ground Aerial Ground Canada Goose 4,363 12,978 4,881 7,561 Brant 0 0 24,045 16,305 Mallard 2,807 9,135 3,467 9,844 Black 6,270 3,200 12,756 16,535 Wigeon 80 174 530 2,039 Redhead 7,970 6,559 15 99 Canvasback 7,435 8,788 1,500 10,766 Scaup 14,980 5,729 59,332 70,426 Goldeneye 2,132 7,946 320 2,886 Bufflehead 80 768 2,627 2,965 Oldsquaw 110 554 800 1,717 77 Upstate Long Island Aerial Scoter (all species) 0 Mergansers (all species) 15,387 Coot 895 Totals 62,509 Ground Aerial Ground 217 1,618 8,584 8,255 6,705 2,432 1,461 530 1,582 65,754 119,126 153,741 I would like to thank all people who participated. The regional organizers were: Region 1—Dr. Allen M. Reckhew Region 6—Robert C. Walker Region 2—Walter Listman Region 7—John Peterson Region 3—Douglas Auer Region 8—Guy Bartlett Region 4—Leslie E. Bemont Region 9—Paul Grattan Region 5—Dr. Fritz G. Scheider Region 10—Stephen B. Dempsey 220 Devon Road, Ithaca , New York 14850 (Editor’s Note—The waterfowl census was first established by the New York State Department of Conservation in 1949. It was done, and is still being done by that agency, as an aerial survey. In 1955, the Federation took its first annual waterfowl count to augment and supplement the count taken by the New York State Department of Conservation. It was, of course, done as a ground survey. The census is taken at the time in January when duck movement is at a minimum and usually the smaller bodies of water frozen, forcing the ducks into larger bodies of water in concentrated num¬ bers, thus making the count easier. The result of this census, along with much other data gathered by state and federal agencies both on the breeding grounds and the Atlantic flyway, is used to determine open seasons, lengths of seasons, and bag limits. Actually the census result is probably the least scientific and the least important factor in these decisions. The sportsman has a tendency to read too much into the bare annual winter inventory figures as taken by the combined efforts of New York State and the Federation.) 78 GROUND SURVEY - JANUARY 1975 FEDERATION OF NEW YORK STATE BIRD CLUBS Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TOTAL Common Loon 1 8 1 7 3 202 222 Red-throated Loon 1 22 20 43 Red-necked Grebe 1 2 3 Horned Grebe 8 6 219 4 1 2 516 756 Pied-billed Grebe 26 2 19 87 134 Mute Swan 4 12 642 658 Whistling Swan 21 1 3 10 35 Canada Goose 35 159 11,479 126 151 400 628 7,561 20,574 Brant 16,305 16,305 Snow Goose 8 8 Blue Goose 1 1 2 Mallard 780 2,004 3,175 231 1,422 90 3 99 1,331 9,844 18,979 Black Duck 349 251 1,646 105 175 151 37 306 180 16,535 19,735 Mallard x Black 5 4 9 18 Gadwall 118 3 7 1 10 848 987 Pintail 12 5 3 1 400 421 Green-winged Teal 1 2 410 413 Blue-winged Teal 2 30 32 American Wigeon 171 1 1 1 2,039 2,213 European Wigeon 1 1 1 2 3 4 oo o Shoveler Wood Duck Redhead Ring-necked Duck Canvasback Scaup, all Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Oldsquaw Harlequin Common Eider King Eider White-winged Scoter Surf Scoter Common Scoter Scoter (spp) Ruddy Duck Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Coot Unidentified TOTAL 1 1 3 140 17 6,398 1 5 19 4,713 178 2,107 2,676 871 873 4,369 1,289 747 228 169 305 123 83 81 1 200 2 1 6 3 17 3,158 69 173 83 23 19 8 187 963 43 236 16,984 5,582 28,510 2 16 10 2 493 5 6 7 8 9 10 TOTAL 192 192 1 4 53 63 2 2 99 6,658 1 2 81 96 205 13 1,270 507 10,766 19,554 1,232 37 15 23 70,428 76,157 572 227 725 1 2,886 10,832 21 1 30 14 2,965 3,733 154 112 1 1,717 2,271 1 8 8 2 3 15 20 6 5 4,517 4,728 1 1 687 689 1 776 780 2,387 2,387 394 348 742 7 2 34 129 198 625 3,920 18 15 32 63 8,083 20 1 2,240 2,386 14 289 1,582 3,043 4 1,000 346 1,631 4,451 4,956 2,135 1,431 3,555 157,770 225,900 AERIAL SURVEY - JANUARY 1975 NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Upstate Long Island Totals Mute Swan 25 695 720 Whistling Swan 2 0 2 Canada Goose 4,363 4,881 9,224 Brant 0 24,045 24,045 Mallard 2,807 3,467 6,274 Black Duck 6,270 12,756 19,026 Gadwall 0 10 10 Pintail 0 26 26 Green-winged Teal 0 210 210 Shoveler 0 126 126 American Wigeon 80 530 610 Redhead 7,970 15 7,985 Canvasback 7,435 1,500 8,935 Scaup (all species) 14,980 59,332 74,312 Common Goldeneye 2,131 320 2,451 Bufflehead 80 2,627 2,707 Oldsquaw 110 800 910 Scoters (all species) 0 1,618 1,618 Ruddy Duck 80 0 80 Mergansers (all species) 15,387 6,705 22,092 Coot 895 530 1,425 Totals 62,615 120,193 182,808 81 REVIEW OF "BIRDS OF NEW YORK STATE" 1974. Doubleday/Natural History Press 655 pp. $29.95 John Bull’s Birds of New York State is the latest in a recent nation¬ wide rash of state bird books. New Yorkers may take pride in this, the first statewide treatment of New York birds since Eaton’s 1910 and 1914 works. The format of the volume closely follows that of Bull’s previous book, Birds of the New York [City] Area. The reader is provided with an introduction covering past ornithological history, outstanding birding areas, a very brief discussion of conservation problems, a breakdown of the avifauna into its regional components, and a defense of the author’s unorthodox treatment of taxonomy, followed by the major portion of the text, devoted to discussions of species that are known to have occurred in New York. The greatest value of a regional bird book is in the stimulation and direction it gives to future field researchers. It is in this area that Birds of New York State excels. Not only are many gaps in our knowledge of the state’s avifauna specifically delineated but the format of the species discussions should induce many readers either to make additional records public or to conduct appropriate re¬ search. Species accounts include remarks on range, status, occur¬ rence (including coastal and inland maxima and extreme dates), breeding records, banding returns, and remarks (sometimes not en¬ tirely lucid) on the species’ taxonomy. [Why does Mourning War¬ bler precede Connecticut Warbler in the text?] Of particular interest are a number of maps detailing breeding locations of species with limited breeding ranges in New York. These breeding localities appear to be historical rather than current (e.g., Common Terns no longer breed near Ithaca) although this point is frequently not clear in the text. Considerably more work on breeding distributions is needed and encouraged by the author (and this reviewer). A considerable amount of space and cost could have been saved and detail enhanced if the breeding maps encompassed only those portions of the state where a particular species occurs (e.g.. Roseate Terns, Willets, etc. nest only on Long Island). Another series of maps show banding locations and points of recovery for a few species, mostly waterfowl. As would be expected in any work of this size, a few typograph¬ ical errors were found but this reviewer found the volume generally extremely readable. Idiosyncrasies of the author that may be irksome to some readers include his coining of new common names (e.g., 82 Common Turkey?) while many of us are still struggling with the AOU’s new appellations, and his inconsistent reference citation for¬ mat. The book’s bibliography appears to consist primarily of cited literature rather than being an inclusive, up-to-date listing of state literature. Photographs in the book appear to have been carefully selected but in some cases are not particularly functional. Eight color plates by New York artists depicting typical avifauna at some of the out¬ standing birding areas in New York are very good. However, I doubt that the portrait of a Thayer’s Gull in Plate VIII is adequate to re¬ solve currently existing identification problems centering around this “new” species. A ninth plate of Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers and their hybrids seems out of place and is somewhat mis¬ leading in that it states that parental types show little variation, hardly the case in most areas in central New York where “pure” specimens are rare. In summary, Birds of New York State is interesting and provoca¬ tive reading and promises to be an essential, though expensive, addi¬ tion to all active Northeastern ornithologist’s libraries. My compli¬ ments to the author on a job well done and well worth the wait. —Douglas Kibbe 83 HURRICANES AND NEW YORK STATE BIRDS John b. Belknap Any list of New York State birds includes a number of species classified as “accidental” or “casual” or perhaps called “stragglers.” This indicates that they have been reliably recorded only once or twice, or at most a half-dozen times. A number of these have come to us as a result of West Indies hurricanes, usually pelagic birds nor¬ mally found in southern waters. Although the term “hurricane” was not used in this connection until about one hundred years ago, some remarks on birds made by DeWitt Clinton in 1814 are of interest: “There are some that stay with us the whole year — several that visit us occasionally or acci¬ dentally, which are driven by storms on our coast. Strange birds are frequently seen in the vicinity of the ocean after a storm.” Not many years later, in August 1831 a Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), no doubt our oldest extant specimen of a hurricane blown bird, was found on Long Island. The normal “hurricane sea¬ son” comes in late summer and autumn, roughly the months of August, September and October. It was in the 1870’s that a definite association with this type of storm and the finding of West Indies or Caribbean strays was estab¬ lished. The tropical storm of Sept. 18, 1876, which passed inland over the state, left an immature White-tailed Tropic-bird (Phaethon lepturus) in Orleans County, our first record for this species. Both 1876 and 1878 were hurricane years and Sooty Terns (Sternafus cata) were recorded in the state in September of both of these years. The Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata), rare even in the West Indies, is on the New York State list as a result of five speci¬ mens, three of them brought by late August hurricanes. Our only known specimen of the Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is from Long Island, a bird found dead on August 30, 1917, one more victim of a tropical storm. New York State has the distinction of having the only record of the South Trinidad Petrel (Pterodroma arminjoniana) known for North America. This was a hurricane blown waif found near Caro¬ line Center, Tompkins County, after the storm of August 22, 1933. As occasionally happens, this storm veered inland, passing over the central part of the state. 84 In addition to the two species of terns already mentioned, another member of this subfamily is associated with tropical storms. This is the Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) , recorded on Long Island on three occasions between 1957 and 1968. Specific data on hurri¬ cane driven birds may be found in John Bull’s recent book, “Birds of New York State.” 92 Clinton St., Gouverneur, N. Y. 13642 Editors note: The last Federation pelagic trip out of Montauk Point, Long Island, on June 7, 1975 , sighted four Manx Shearwater. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John B. Belknap is a Charter and Life Member of the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs. He has been an active field observer for some fifty years. A frequent contributor to these pages, he was on The Kingbird editorial staff for the years 1956-1969. He lives in Gouverneur, N.Y., and his special interest is in avian population and census studies. LETTERS TO THE EDITORS We are starting a new feature called “Letters to the Editors.” Letters may be of a general nature as long as they pertain to New York State ornithology, or may be of a specific nature with refer¬ ence to something that has appeared in The Kingbird. The editors reserve the right not to accept a letter for publication, or to edit a letter in accordance with space requirements. All letters received will be acknowledged. Your participation is invited. 85 NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS Boreal Owl found on Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York. On January 15, 1975, I observed an owl lying dead on Ocean Parkway near Cedar Beach, in western Suffolk County. Adjacent to the road were dense stands of Pitch Pine and Japanese Black Pine, a habitat in which Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) occur in varying numbers each winter. Believing the bird to be a Saw-whet Owl, I stopped and retrieved the specimen. Later, however, closer examination proved the bird to be a Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus). The light yellow beak, speckled forehead, and black lining of the facial discs separated this owl from its smaller relative, the Saw-whet. The specimen was in excellent condition, having suffered only a broken left wing and head injuries. The Boreal Owl is a rare winter visitant to the northern portions of New York State. There are two old specimens from northern Connecticut (Bent, 1926) and Bull (1964) mentions one recent specimen from New Jersey, found after having struck the Raritan Arsenal on November 1, 1962. The present specimen is the first record for Long Island. Identification was confirmed by John Bull of the American Museum of Natural History; the specimen is presently No. 821687 in the collection of that institution. The true status of the Boreal Owl on Long Island cannot be determined on the basis of this one specimen. Roy Latham, in more than seventy years’ experience on the Orient Peninsula, has no record for this species. He is of the opinion, however, that in light of a number of records from Rhode Island, the Boreal Owl does occur irregularly in small numbers on Long Island (Latham, pers. comm., Feb. 7,1975). Being of a nocturnal nature, however, and because of its retiring habits during the daytime, it may be overlooked. Now that it has been proven that the Boreal Owl may occur on Long Island in winter, the pine groves that are the winter haunts of the Saw-whet Owl should be checked carefully to try to determine the exact status of this northern wanderer. Ken Feustel, 22 Pond Place, Babylon, New York 11702. LITERATURE CITED Bent, A. C. 1926. Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey. Dover Publications, New York. Bull, John. 1964. Birds of the New York Area. Harper and Row, New York. For an account of earlier occurrences of the Boreal Owl in New York State, see The Kingbird , 1965, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 74-76. -Eds. Swainson’s Warbler at Forest Park, Queens Co., New York City. On May 10,1975, the author, accompanied by John Carabella and Elaine Cook, discovered a Swainson’s War¬ bler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) at Forest Park, Queens Co., New York. Alerted immediately by us, Stephen B. Dempsey, Dave Ewert, Michael Gochfeld, Michel Kleinbaum and Tom Robben subsequently observed the bird. All our observations took place in oak forest, in heavy undergrowth on the slopes of a glacial pothole. This individual was a particularly dull Swainson’s in that its crown was only slightly reddish-brown in contrast to the brown back. The creamy white eyeline, dingy white underparts and longish bill were clearly noted. As Kleinbaum observed the bird, an Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) flew at it, chipping loudly. The Swainson’s flew a short distance, and a second Ovenbird immediately began harassing it. As if this were not enough, the bird was approached too hurriedly by birders anxious for a glimpse, and it took flight and vanished altogether. The combined efforts of 86 many and the employment of tape recordings of the species’ song failed to locate it again. This record falls within the May 5-20 span of the four previous New York occurrences. Interestingly, three of these other birds were also found in the heavily-birded New York City parks. A photograph of a Swainson’s Warbler that was banded at Tobay Sanctuary, Nassau Co., New York,on May 20, 1973 appears in American Birds (1973, 27: 841); this photograph served to remove the species from the state hypothetical list. Thomas H. Davis, 9446-85th Road, Woodhaven, New York 11421 Hamit Thrush-song heard in northern part of winter range. The Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) is known to sing on its wintering grounds in the southern part of United States but no degree of singing seems ever to have been recorded along the northern limits of its wintering range. The following experiences relate to two Hermit Thrushes found near Accord, Ulster County, in southeastern New York State (between 41° N-42°N) citing in particular an instance when one of the birds broke into song. In late November, 1974, I discovered the two birds in a dense overgrown old field on the hillside in the rear of my residence. After this a weekly visit was made and I was usually met with the familiar “chuck” alarm note but I soon became aware that one of the birds would occasionally use a distinctive call note of typical Catharus quality-possibly stimu¬ lated by a disturbance such as my presence would cause. Only one of the birds appeared to be using this call note; I tried an imitation of it and received an immediate response, shortly followed by the bird coming out of the dense eover into the more open woods where I was standing, flying up into the trees and pausing momentarily to search for this other “thrush.” About the same time a Robin flew in through the tree tops and was met by the Hermit who rose in a curving upward flight that ended in brief pursuit, although no actual attack was made. The bird finally returned to its retreat and fell silent. I avoided further imitations. Whenever I visited the area only one of the thrushes exhibited this kind of restless¬ ness. I came to feel that it was always the same bird. The other was more typical of winter¬ ing Hermits—retiring and quiet except for the occasional “chuck.” About mid-December I heard one attempt at singing but the song stopped following the first few introductory notes. However, on December 30, 1974, I was suddenly surprised when the bird changed from the call note and delivered the full song three times before flying farther into the tangle and becoming silent. This was the only instance of singing that I heard although ob¬ servations were continued until mid-January, at which time I lost contact with the birds and an extended search was not initiated. Past experiences have repeatedly shown that it took a good snowfall to force any nearby Hermits out of their dense coverts to join the other birds coming and going about my resi¬ dence where a feeder was in use. Once out they would soon discover the fruits of the Boston Ivy and Honeysuckle vines covering the house plus a nearby Holly tree, and would seek this fare almost daily, and avoiding the bird feeder, as long as snow blanketed their regular grounds. This year, the winter so far had been moderate and fairly open. My expectations were rewarded for on February 9th, following a succession of light snowfalls, two Hermit Thrushes appeared in my yard where they fed on the previously mentioned fruits. In the very limited time spent in watching the birds I heard no notes but one of the birds was ob¬ viously more restless than the other. They disappeared after about two weeks, following the return of more open and continued moderate weather. Fred N. Hough, Accord, N.Y. 12404 87 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WINTER SEASON Robert W. Smart For once nearly all regions were in complete agreement about the weather conditions for the season. There was disagreement, however, on the effects of these conditions. Dr. Scheider, with his usual clini¬ cal and diagnostic mind, characterizes the season most effectively. The winter was mild and open with less than average snow except for the mountains and the snow belt of Region 5. Also of import¬ ance in many of the regions was the late freezing of the lakes and streams. In many cases there was more than normal open water throughout the winter. One obvious result of the mild winter was the large number of half-hardy species which remained in all of the regions. There were far too many to mention here but note the number of warblers away from the coast (Black and White, Cape May, chat, etc.), various spar¬ rows such as Grasshopper and Chipping, and the remarkable number of heron species wintering on the coast. Perhaps of greatest interest were the nearly universal comments on the increase of Carolina Wrens in the northern and central parts of the state. This will be a species to keep an eye on in the future. It frequently has extended its range in the northeast during a series of mild winters but is particularly susceptible to a sudden wipe-out after a severe winter. Dr. Scheider wonders if, indeed, they survived the snow and cold of March in his area. Numbers should be carefully noted for this species. Very similar conditions can affect local areas in quite different ways. The waterfowl reports show this quite clearly. Many of the regions report a poor flight with no build-up of the diving species. This was explained by the lack of ice forcing them into restricted areas where they could be observed. On the other hand, Region 6 reported that the large amount of open water resulted in many ex¬ cellent waterfowl observations with wintering birds. “One man’s meat . . . .” Another area in which there was substantial agreement was the nearly complete lack of the far-northern finches. Purple Finches and, particularly, Evening Grosbeaks made a good showing but redpolls, crossbills, siskins and Pine Grosbeaks were virtually absent. There is absolutely no correlation between finch flights and local food supply. Region 5 reported a huge cone and seed crop, which remained un¬ eaten. The decisive factor is, of course, the size of the food crop 88 much further north. If there is plenty of food near the breeding grounds, the birds do not come south. I must say that I prefer Mrs. Pitzrick’s explanation rather than prosaic facts. One finch item, however, deserves headlines. A nest of a White¬ winged Crossbill was found in Region 7 on Feb. 22. This is the first proven nest for New York state. Readers should consult John Bull’s Birds of New York State , pages 568-570, for a complete discussion of other possible nestings. Bull makes the point that the birds breed very early, long before most birders venture into the northland. The discovery of this nest shows how true this is. At this point it is not known if the nest was successful and if young were actually fledged. The winter raptor counts were quite good, with an excellent flight of Rough-legged Hawks and several good roosts of Short-eared Owls. Snowy Owls were in good numbers on the coast but very spotty inland. The coast had more wintering Merlins than ever before. This represents a continuation of a recent trend. Until the late 1950’s this species was considered very rare in winter on the coast and unknown inland. Although still rare, they are regular on the coast every winter. There were two inland reports: the March 29 report from Region 2 was probably a spring migrant but the Dec. 18 bird in Region 7 is very unusual and should be fully documented. In some areas the counts of wintering Cooper’s Hawks were nearly as great, or in one case greater, than counts of Sharp-shins. Winter accipiters should be identified with great care. Another hawk which requires careful identification before the first week of April is the Broad-wing. One was reported from Region 8 on March 19 and Region 9 reported 2 on March 9 and 1 on March 29. It is interesting to note that as late as April 19th NO Broad-wings had been reported at the famous hawk migration spot on Derby Hill. Two notes point up the opportunities that many observers are missing. Region 2 commented on the presence of two races of Horned Larks. Region 5 noted that 60% of the Rough-legs were light-phased birds. There is a great deal of information of this kind that can be ob¬ tained by more careful observations. In the good old days when listers were happily counting subspecies we always knew when the migrant Prairie Horned Larks arrived among the wintering Northerns. In New England this was often the first sign of spring migration. The more northerly “Black-backed” Robins have an entirely different migra¬ tion schedule from that of our resident birds. Likewise it is useful to know such information as the numbers of the three color forms of 89 the Harrier, the ratio of adults to immature eagles (as given in Region 9) etc. These details add much that is of value to the records. The list of rare and unusual birds is delightfully long and will be obvious from a reading of the records. Eared Grebes turned up in three regions, King Eider on three lakeside regions, Black-backed Three-toed Woodpeckers in four regions and Northern Three-toed in three regions. Note the record of a Chipping Sparrow in Region 2. It will be interesting to learn if it molts into adult plumage in the spring. The Raven and Fish Crow are remarkable in Region 3 and were well documented. The chat in the same region was noted with commendable caution. Region 5 produced another Hawk Owl and Region 7 came through with 50 Bohemian Waxwings. The coast had its usual group of regular rarities such as Lesser Black-backed Gull and Tufted Duck. Really outstanding in that region, however, was the Boreal Owl that was picked up dead in a pine grove on Jones Beach. Two birds stand out above all others, however, and must be con¬ sidered as co-winners of the BOTS (Bird of the Season) award. A light-phase Northern Fulmar was observed just east of Oswego in Region 5. This is the first live individual seen inland and the second record for the region. It is interesting that the very dead individual found nearby in 1971 constitutes the only specimen for the state. The other winner was the first state record for Mountain Bluebird. It was found at Coxsackie in Region 8 and seen and photographed by a great many people. What a fine way to enliven the long winter season. Millbrook School , Millbrook, N.Y. 12545 REGION 1 - NIAGARA FRONTIER Vivian Mills PrrzRiCK It was a kingfisher—oops, halcyon— winter, mild for the third consecutive year. With above normal temperatures in Dec. through Feb., Mar. seemed more severe than the actual .4°F. below average. The Niagara River was ice free with no ice bridge at the Falls until Feb. 11, and Lake Erie reached only 33° Mar. 28. Although the Genesee River had re¬ mained mostly open all winter, at the close of the period upland lakes were still icebound. Snow accumulation was minimal, even with 6 inches above average in the snow belt. 90 A rather poor Snowy Owl showing, scarcity of northern finches, fewer waterfowl, hut more species attempting to winter and continued expansion of “half-hardies” were char¬ acteristic. The gull population explosion may he paralleling that of humans with the in¬ crease of waste. However, a more pleasant notion is that they, too, took advantage of the open winter. Rarities include: Eared Grebe, Harlequin Duck, King Eider, Goshawk, Purple Sandpiper, Red Phalarope, Black-headed Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Monk Parakeet, Barn Owl, Black-hacked Three-toed Woodpecker, Dickcissel and Harris’ Sparrow. Contributors: Robert Andrle, Elizabeth Brooks, Doris Burton, Lou Burton, Donald Clark, Stephen Eaton, Helen Graves, Auretta Hampton, Doris Hurlburt, Rhea Keople (RhK), Robert Keople, Douglas Kibbe, Virginia Macauley, Harold Mitchell, Michael Pitzrick, Raymond Pitzrick, Vivian Pitzrick, Robert Place (Alfred Coop. Weather Data), Lillian Simons, Robert Sundell, and Observers: Harold Axtell, Rachel Axtell (RaA), Thomas Bourne, Harriette Klabunde, Walter Klabunde, Flora Elderkin, Alice McKale, Willard McKale, John Morse, Frances Rew, Joseph F. Thill. Abbreviations: BOS-Buffalo Ornithological Society; Cem.-Cemetery; Christmas C.- Census Dec. 28; NWR-National Wildlife Refuge; T/-Town or Township of; WMA-Wild- life Management Area; Waterfowl C.-NYSFBC Census Jan, 11-19 (lowest in 21 years). LOONS-DUCKS: Scarcity of Common Loons this year make six on Dec. 13 at Chautauqua L. (RS) and one intermittently Dec. 15-Jan. 5 at Ft. Erie, Ont., noteworthy as only reports. The rare Eared Grebe was identified Dec. 5 on the Niagara R. near Chippawa, Ont. (HA, RaA) and is probably the same bird seen there in Nov. A late Double- crested Cormorant, always an interesting treat for our Region, spent all Dec. through Jan. 12 at Niagara F., Ont. and N.Y., and appeared on the Waterfowl C. for the second time. A Black-crowned Night Heron, rare in winter, appeared Dec. 2 and Jan. 5 at Canada¬ way Cr. Sanct. (FR, Ulrich). A three weeks early migrant American Bittern returned Mar. 9 to Forest Lawn Cem. (Happ, Galbo, Ross). An unusually large concentration of 238 Whistling Swans was at Chautauqua L. Dec. 21 (RS) with 45 still there on Jan. 8 (FE), and widespread migration beginning in late Feb. brought reports of up to 165 birds Mar. 6 at Randolph (FE) and 160, Mar. 16 on Chautau¬ qua L. (RS). A remarkably late Canada Goose was seen on the same lake Dec. 30 (FR), but wintering birds were unusually few, only 500 at Iroquois NWR (JM). By Mar. 27 a gradual build-up of migrant Canadas at Wildlife Areas reached an estimated max. of 41,000 (6,000 more than last year) (JM et al). Dunkirk Harbor was favored with a visit on Dec. 5,6 and 11 by a late Brant, seldom here in winter (Benton et al). A very late Snow Goose was at the Iroquois NWR in Jan. and Feb. (Thompson, JM, Rebovich) and migration numbers in Mar. were exceptionally low. Of dabbling ducks on the Waterfowl C., 780 Mallard and 349 American Black Duck were designated as “very low,” with 118 Gadwall, “highest.” Individual Green-winged Teals tried to winter, one appearing past the usual date on the Waterfowl C., where it was rated “low,” and other singles being seen Jan. 26 at Forest Lawn Cem. (AM, WM) and Feb. 1 at Niagara F., Ont. (HA). A max. of four Northern Shovelers, in general uncommon in our Region, were found Mar. 18-31 at Iroquois NWR, Tonawanda WMA and Dunkirk. Unusual in winter, the Wood Duck was listed “low” on the Waterfowl C. where only one appeared; singles were noted several times during Jan. and Feb. Although Ring-necked Ducks were reported all season, numbers were notably low, the max. being four Dec. 1-31 (HA). 9591 Canvasback and 7803 Greater Scaup on the BOS Christmas C. were the highest totals for 15 years, an encouraging sign for the declining Canvasback. 32 Lesser Scaup on the Waterfowl C. is higher than usual and, although they are fairly rare in winter, small numbers appeared all season. Why was there, except for the Waterfowl C., only one lone Common Goldeneye reported for the whole Region-the one 91 on the Allegheny R. Dec. 28 near Westons Mills (SE)? Bufflehead numbers were listed “low” with only 228 on the Waterfowl C. 123 Oldsquaws was a “very low” figure for the Waterfowl C. as was 20 on the BOS Christmas C.; two were seen Mar. 22 on Cuba L. (RK, RhK), unusual for a smaller inland lake. The male Harlequin Duck , a rarity reported in Nov. from the upper rapids at Niagara F., stayed through Dec. and on to Jan. 17 (HA et al). Considered uncommon, there were fewer King Eider this winter with only four sightings of singles: Dec. 5 on the Niagara R. near Chippawa, Ont., Jan. 1-11 at the Niagara Gorge (HA, RaA), Jan. 4 at Niagara F., Ont. (RA et al), and Feb. 7 at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. (HA, Ulrich, Herndon). Scoter numbers were unusually low but a few late Surf and Black Scoters lingered into Feb. at Niagara F. Gorge (HA) and Ft. Erie, Ont. (RA, TB). Unreported elsewhere until Mar., the Ruddy Duck appeared Dec. 21 on Chautauqua L., with a smaller than usual concentration of 140 (RS, Olson); here the late fall flocks of Hooded Mergansers numbered less than half last year’s: 223 Dec. 6 and 165 Dec. 13 (RS, Olson, FR). Although up to 12,000 Common Mergansers were on the upper Niagara R. in late Dec. (HA), only a “low” 3158 appeared on the Waterfowl C. The uncommonly large flock of 600 Red-breasted Mergansers Dec. 29 at Ft. Erie, Ont. (Wagner, Filor) is worth mention as is a single migrant Mar. 22 on Cuba L. (RK, RhK), a smaller body of water than more often chosen. HAWKS—OWLS: Turkey Vultures were unusually few, even for Mar., with the only report a single Mar. 23 at Frewsburg (FE). The rare Goshawk was seen in three areas: one after a grouse Jan. 24 in T/W. Almond (D. Zlomek), and singles Mar. 16 at Iroquois NWR (FR, Schwartz, Horbett), and Mar. 22 in T/Almond (R. Yelle). Wintering Cooper’s Hawks were surprisingly slightly more numerous than Sharp-shinned. No sharpies but two Cooper’s appeared on the BOS Christmas C. for the first time in 15 years. With the Red-shouldered Hawk becoming increasingly scarce, it was good to note two wintering: one being seen Jan. 19 in T/Newstead (AM, WM) and another Feb. 1 near Hamburg (RA et al); but exceptionally few were spotted in Mar. It was a superb winter to see Rough-legged Hawks in the Region with widespread reports every month. Both the Marsh Hawk and American Kestrel seem out of trouble so far in our area. Unusually scarce again were Ruffed Grouse and Ring-necked Pheasants, but the Wild Turkey survived the season well (SE). 1000 American Coot appeared Dec. 6 on Chautauqua L. (RS), an exceptionally high Dec. concentration. A single Killdeer, always less common in winter, was on the BOS Christmas C. and another was seen at Ft. Erie, Ont., Feb. 7 and 9 (Sommerville). Fewer than usual spring migrant American Woodcock and Common Snipe were noted, but the Purple Sandpiper, always rare, and Dunlin, rare in winter, attempted to winter here (JFT). Seven Purple Sandpipers appeared on the BOS Christmas C., the first in five years, while several late birds were seen until Dec. 28 at Niagara F., N.Y., and Erie Beach, Ont., (HA) with four still at Niagara F., Ont. on Jan. 4 (RA). Late Dunlin frequented Niagara F., Ont., between Dec. 24 and Jan. 17 with three last seen Feb. 2 at Goat Is. (RA, Schaffner et al). A Red Phalarope. exceptionally rare here, was at Ft. Niagara State Pk. on Jan. 12 (JFT, Reckhow), nearly two months past the usual dates, and is probably the same bird as appeared this year for the very first time on the Waterfowl C. To the delight of bird watchers, it was a record-smashing season for gulls. Glaucous Gulls were present all winter with a record 43 Jan. 10 on the Niagara R. (HA). The many sightings of these and high counts of up to 11 Iceland Gulls in the same area Jan. 31, continuing through Feb., are without precedent for our Region. Large numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls, mostly near the Falls, appeared through Dec. 20 when 217 broke all area records, but this figure was topped Jan. 2 by a count of 234 (HA). Another “highest 92 ever” was 14,000 Ring-billed Gulls at Dunkirk Harbor on Feb. 7 (FR). A single Black¬ headed Gull, extremely rare, was well documented Feb. 2 and again Mar. 2 at Queens- ton, Ont. (HK, WK, AM, WM, FR, RA). A Franklin’s Gull, very unusual, especially in spring, stayed at Dunkirk Harbor Feb. 9-Mar. 31 (RA etal). A marked winter concentration of 12,000 Bonaparte’s Gulls frequented the lower Niagara R. during Jan. along with three Little Gulls seen through Jan. 21 (HA). One of the latter, always unusual, was sighted at Lewiston Dec. 7, 29 and Jan. 5 (HA, AM, WM), while five more appeared Jan. 4 at Queens- ton, Ont. (RA). One to two individuals of the upstate rarity, the Black-legged Kitti- wake , possibly carry-overs from the fall period, were seen five times, Dec. 7-27 at Niagara F. (HA, RaA, Schaffner, A. Clark). Fortunately still a rarity here, a Monk Para¬ keet appeared Feb. 22 at Kenmore (Wilcove). The only occurrence of the scarce Barn Owl was one Jan. 1 ,at Welland, Ont. (HA, Lancaster, Benham). A low showing of Snowy Owls tallied four on the regional Christmas C. with about 16 on the Lake Plains for the season. Only four Barred Owls and two reports of about 13 Long-eared Owls are unusually low figures, but Short-eared Owls, in general uncommon, were slightly more plentiful. On one of the six sightings (very few) of Saw- whet Owls, an individual was netted Jan. 10 in T/Yates (DK). GOATSUCKERS-STARLINGS: A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, attempting to winter, was seen at Wilson Cem. Jan. 26 (Wagner), Imagine the excitement when the uncommon Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker showed up three times in late Jan. at Tillinghast PL, Buffalo (Wilcove et al), and also at Hamburg Jan. 28 and Feb. 14 (TB). The Buffalo bird may be the same as seen there in Nov. A probably very unwise Tree Swallow appeared a week early. Mar. 16, at Iroquois NWR (FR et al). Of the Tufted Titmouse, wintering birds were noted at more feeders, but an exceptionally low 14 were reported on the Regional Christmas C. Except for an out¬ standing concentration of seven in mid-winter at Alfred (Klingensmith), the Red-breasted Nuthatch made a poor showing this year. Carolina Wrens appeared in twice as many loca¬ tions as last year, but even more surprising were the 15 (!) areas, over twice last year’s unusual number, reporting wintering Mockingbirds. A single Catbird, appearing on the Allegany Co. Christmas C., was exceptional for the season, as were two Brown Thrashers at feeders, one at Scio all winter (VM) and the other on Rose Hill Rd., Ont., on Feb. 10 (HA, RaA). Although there were more than usual American Robins wintering, other thrushes as well as Golden-crowned Kinglets were scarce. A late Ruby-crowned Kinglet at an Alfred feeder Dec. 26 (Finlays) was an exciting winter rarity, as was another still later on Feb. 11 and 12 at Dufferin Is., Ont. (HA). Northern Shrikes were unusually prevalent every month. Seldom seen here in winter, a Yellowthroat was noted Dec. 1 at Beaver Is. St. Pk (AM, WM). Count of 46 Eastern Meadowlarks on the Allegany Co. Christmas C. was more than common, but Rusty Black¬ birds were unreported until a very few Mar. migrants filtered through. “Mama, where have all the Finches gone?” “My dear, they never came. No one is going South these days: Recession is to blame.” (VP) However, the rare Dickcissel visited a feeder in Hamburg on Dec. 12 (TB). Evening Grosbeak counts were down sharply from last year; Purple Finches were unusually scarce; there were no Pine Grosbeaks; Common Redpolls tallied but nine on the Allegany Co. Christmas C. with only two other reports of small numbers; there was one lone Pine Siskin at Lewiston on Feb. 5 (HK, WK); and the only crossbills for the season were five Red on Mar. 9 at Hamburg (TB). 93 Worth noting are the two Rufous-sided Towhees, uncommon in winter, on the Regional Christmas C. as well as a male seen far from feeders in the T’s/Somerset and Yates area in Jan. (DK). Four early Savannah Sparrows were discovered Mar. 24 in Alfred (Klingen- smith), while more than usual reports of Mar. Fox Sparrows promise a good spring migra¬ tion. An extraordinary winter record was the Chipping Sparrow at a feeder in Hamburg, Jan. 15 and 25 (TB). A male Harris* Sparrow, unusually rare, came to H. Lancaster’s feeder in Welland, Ont., on Jan. 1 (HA, JFT et al). Only a few White-crowned Sparrows were noted, but at least two White-throats spent the entire season at Spring Brook (Danner) as well as in Belmont (DB, LB). Very scarce in winter, a single Swamp Sparrow was re¬ ported Feb. 1 and 12 at Scio (VP). With exceptionally few elsewhere, large flocks of Lap- land Longspurs appeared in Feb. on the L. Ontario plains with max. 400 on the 14th at Ransomville (HK, WK). In general, regional Snow Buntings were fewer this season except for unusually high counts in Allegany Co. with 863 on the Christmas C. and 500 in the Cuba area Feb. 6 (RK, RhK). Thanks, once more, to Doris and Lou Burton, as consultants, and to all the other faithful observers who furnished background for this report. Amity Lake, Belmont, New York 14813 (Phone: 716-268-5301) REGION 2-GENESEE Richard T. O’Hara In some respects this winter was like the last. Up to March 31 snowfall and temperature were somewhat below normal. There was seldom, much snow on the ground and never much ice on Lake Ontario. Major bays and ponds finally froze in mid-January but were open again in late February. There were no extended periods of severe cold. It was a rather light, open winter in the region; a good representation of bird populations was noted. Our two Christmas Counts produced very high totals of species and individuals. Most of the diving ducks and northern finches were scarce, but many hardy migrants lingered into January or even later. Of the northern finches, only Evening Grosbeaks, goldfinches and small numbers of Purple Finches were present most of the season, but a few Pine Grosbeaks, siskins, redpolls and a single White-winged Crossbill appeared in late winter. Spring migration began with a mild week in late February, when large flocks of Canada Geese moved in with smaller numbers of Whistling Swans, migrant ducks, blackbirds, Killdeer and other early migrants. Positive Trends: (1) Strong flight of swans, geese and early migrant ducks. (2) good numbers of Canvasbacks and Redheads on Can L and SB. (3) concentrations of Red-tailed, Rough-legged Hawks and Short-eared Owls, especially on WL. (4) a second Gyrfalcon, this one white-unprecedented here. (5) apparent good survival of Carolina Wrens, bluebirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers. (6) good variety of sparrows and good numbers of Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and longspurs. Negative Trends: (1) Low numbers of wintering Greater Scaup, Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers. (2) few accipiters except in Webster. (3) no strong March hawk movements; only small numbers of Red-tailed, Cooper’s arid especially Red¬ shouldered. (4) scarcity of migrants in late March; very few woodcock, phoebes, Tree Swallows and bluebirds. (5) no Long-eared Owls and only one Saw-whet Owl. (6) poor appearance by finches, especially Pine Grosbeaks, siskins, redpolls and crossbills. 94 Rarities: Harlequin Duck, King Eider, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Gyrfalcon, Black-headed Gull, Barred Owl, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chipping Sparrow. Observers: K, Bomlander, Kay Brugler, Hugh Butler, Michael Carlson, Julie Claffey, Joyce and Jack Connor, Jerry Czech, Robert and Frank Dobson, Norm Henderson, Ian Johnson, Alan Kemnitzer, Ray Ludwig, Gerhard Lenbuer, Warren Lloyd, John Madden, Joseph McNett, Richard T. O’Hara, Steve O’Hara, Neil Prosser, Jean Skelly, Robert Spahn, Ann Stear, Dan Tetlow, Michael Tetlow, Thomas Tetlow, Robert Thomas, Dave Tremmel, Paul Weld. Abbreviations: BB-Braddocks Bay; Can L-Canandaigua Lake; CB-Charlotte Beach; CoL-Conesus Lake; DPk-Durand Park; HL-Hawk Lookout, Brad. Bay; IBO-Irondequoit Bay Outlet; LLCC-Little Lakes Christmas Count; mob-many observers; MP-Mendon Ponds; RCC-Rochester Christmas Count; RP-Round Pond; SB-Sodus Bay; WL-West Lakeshore. LOONS-DUCKS: Common Loon reported both CC; total of 8 but none since. Red- throated Loon, one Mar. 29 at WL. Red-necked Grebe twice, Dec. 15 (RCC) and Feb. 1 (CB) (RL & NH). Horned and Pied-billed Grebes in good numbers after mid-Mar.; a few of each wintered. At least one Great Blue Heron wintered at WL; 5 reported Dec. 15 (RCC). Region’s first wintering flock of Whistling Swans, 21 at SB in early Jan.; two flocks to¬ talling 29 over Chili Feb. 28 (JS); species present in good numbers during Mar. Flight of 7800 Canada Geese (JS), A single Snow Goose (blue morph) at BB Jan. 12-24 (NP et al.). The following duck numbers attest to open winter: Mallard, .650 on Dec. 15 (RCC); Black Duck, 380 on Dec. 29 (LLCC); Gadwall, 17 migrants on Mar. 9 at BB; Pintail, 1 on Feb. 1 at BB; Green-w. Teal, 4 on Dec. 15 (RCC); Am. Wigeon, 1 on Jan. 12 at Brighton; No. Shoveler, 2 on Dec. 15 (RCC); Wood Duck, 1 on Jan. 15 at Brighton. By late Mar. good numbers of Mallards, Blacks, Pintails, and wigeons at BB and other areas. Diving ducks in below normal numbers all winter on Lake Ontario, this including our commonest species- Gr. Scaup, Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Oldsquaw, Common and Red-br. Mergansers. RCC pro¬ duced the last large counts of all these species until late February. Redheads and Canvas- backs common at Can L and SB. Most unusual were two Harlequin Ducks at IBO “eariy Feb.” (Jos, Me). A King Eider at BB Dec. 6-14 (NH etal.). Single Surf Scoters on three oc¬ casions. Two Ruddy Ducks Mar. 25 at BB were first of the year (NH). Twenty-three Hooded Mergansers on LLCC Dec. 29 is a high count. HAWKS-OWLS: First Turkey Vulture noted Mar. 30 at HL. At least 7 Goshawks pre¬ sent all winter at Webster (JC), and others elsewhere; 7 migrants at BB on Mar. 18. Sharp- shinned and Cooper’s Hawks were in about the same number as last year, about a dozen of each. Hawk flights were light; weather conditions were never right for a large flight. Among the best records were: Red-tailed, 40 on Mar. 23 at WL; Red-shouldered, 3 (poor) on Mar. 18 at WL; Rough-legged, 32+ on Mar. 16 at WL; Bald Eagle, imm. on Mar. 23 at Chase Rd., ad- on Mar. 23 at HL; Peregrine Falcon, 1 on Mar. 2 at WL; Merlin, 1 on Mar. 29 at WL. A white Gyrfalcon, the second of the winter, was well-described and seen close up on Mar. 23 at Summerville, apparently following a flock of Canada Geese off the lake although mak¬ ing no effort to catch one (JS). Thirty-five Killdeer on Feb. 22 were early compared to other years. First Woodcock re¬ ported Mar. 21, and first Common Snipe on Mar. 22. A single Greater Yellowlegs on Mar. 22 at RP. Latest reports last fall for shorebirds were: Purple Sandpiper, 1 on Dec. 4 at BB; Dunlin, 1 on Dec. 24 at BB; Sanderling, 1 on Dec. 1 at IBO. White-winged gulls were again scattered and uncommon, esp. Iceland Gull. Latest Black¬ headed Gull on Dec. 6 at CB (AK). At IBO 500+ Bonaparte’s Gulls still present Dec. 30; a few remained until at least Feb. 2. Latest Little Gull reported Dec. 29- 95 Mourning Doves again common all winter. Counts of Screech Owls on two CC’s were 32 and 24, and of Great Horned Owl 25 and 9. A few Snowy Owls present all winter, latest on Mar. 16 at Chili. A Barred Owl noted on Mar. 16 at Oak Orchard, in Region 1 (RS), and one recorded Dec. 29 near Honeoye Lake (LLCC). No reports of Long-eared Owls. Short-eared Owls common at Point Breeze, up to 31 in a single flock; species also noted in Webster and Chili in late Feb. and early Mar. A single Saw-whet Owl at HL Mar. 30- 31 (mob.) GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Plenty of open water produced high count of 13 Belted Kingfishers on Dec. 15 (RCC). Flickers were common. Red-bellied Woodpeckers continued to increase; totals of 29 and 28 on CCs. At least two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers wintered. Eastern Phoebes were late, with 1st on Mar. 29; so far, very scarce. Homed Larks present in good numbers all winter; many appeared to be northern race. First Tree Swallows at BB on Mar. 18 (TT). Red-breasted Nuthatches much more common than last winter. A Winter Wren in Penfield Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 (RT). Tufted Titmice and Carolina Wrens doing well. Mockingbirds have declined in Webster area. A Brown Thrasher on Dec. 15 (RCC). A Catbird recorded Jan. 1-11 in Brighton (JC). Hermit Thrush at Ironde- quoit on Dec. 20 (AS) and on LLCC on Dec. 29. A few E. Bluebirds apparently wintered successfully south of Rochester; 3 at Honeoye Lake Jan. 7-9 (JS) and two near Can L on Feb. 8 (RO). A Ruby-crowned Kinglet wintered in Pittsford (KB). Cedar Waxwings peaked at 500+ in DPk on Jan. 5 (J&JC). CC totals of Northern Shrike were 6 and 12; also 5 on Dec. 27 (M&TT). Early Loggerhead Shrike at DPk on Feb. 28 (PW et al.J. Careful estimate of Starling roost near Rochester 265,000, probably low and including a few cowbirds, red-wings and grackles (GL etal). VIREOS-WARBLERS: Yellow-rumped Warblers wintered in record numbers at MP, with best count 30 on Jan. 25 (GOS); three also reported at Cedar Springs in Feb. (JS). BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: Meadowlarks very scarce this winter, after two noted on Dec. 29 (LLCC). Hundreds of migrant Red-winged Blackbirds in late Feb.; 90 at Lavonia on Feb. 23 (JM). First Rusty Blackbirds were three on Mar. 29 (KB & MC). RCC total of Car¬ dinals 320, not a new high. Evening Grosbeaks common south of Rochester but scarce on lake plain. A few Purple Finches noted, mostly in or near DPk (NP & NM). Common Red¬ polls only two or three times in late Feb. and early Mar., one bird each time (PW & NM). No reports of Pine Siskins until 2 in DPk on Mar. 17 (PW); none since. Am. Goldfinches wide¬ spread in small numbers. Only crossbill was one White-winged near DPk on Mar. 22 (NM & DT). Only Rufous-sided Towhee was one on Dec. 29 (LLCC). On LLCC Tree Sparrows outnumbered Dark-eyed Juncos by 15 to 1 (934 to 69), but on RCC by only 2 to 1 (627 to 353); possibly the result of more feeders near city. Three Field Sparrows on Dec. 29 (LLCC). One or two White-crowned Sparrows at feeders with many White-throated Spar¬ rows. Fox Sparrow at Brighton until at least Dec. 29 (HB). Chipping Sparrow at same feeder as last year; the bird with an unusual white wing marking, showed a central crown stripe and very little color on the crown; the rump was gray, but it was possibly a Chipping- Clay-colored hybrid; the bird was banded and was still present in early April (R & SO). Swamp Sparrows unreported after Dec.; an apparent decline in last decade. Song Sparrows also low, even in late Mar. Lapland Longspurs very common at WL, with 60 noted regularly (NH et al .); smaller numbers elsewhere. Snow Buntings well distributed; high count 1200 at Penfield on Dec. 27 (MD & TT). 265 Carling Rd., Rochester, New York 14610 96 REGION 3 - FINGER LAKES W. E. BENNING Temperatures, December thru February, were appreciably warmer and snowfall lighter than normal. March was colder but with little snow. There was only one-third the normal number of below-zero nights. The mild and open winter probably explains the lack of birds at feeders except after the infrequent snowfalls. Late February warmed up enough to produce a small hawk flight. Red-tails and a possible Sharp-shinned, at Elmira on the 21st. The next day Canada and Snow Geese, ducks, and icterids poured into the region. Killdeer came along with an early Woodcock and Savannah Sparrow and a very early Phoebe. The mild weather may also explain the several widely distributed Ruby-crowned Kinglet reports, and the Carolina Wren build up no doubt aided by the weather. But where were the normal overwintering icterids? Several observers mentioned their absence until the February 22 push. And where were the winter finches? Nonexistent, except for Evening Grosbeaks and a few late period Purple Finches. On the plus side the Snow Geese continue to increase at MNWR. Arriving early on February 22 they mushroomed to an unheard of 8,000 birds by mid-March. I note the May 1959 Kingbird mentions 7 Snows and 1 Blue, a 1000% increase! Rarities include Raven, Fish Crow and Grasshopper Sparrow. We were saddened by the death of Prof. Frank Guthrie, our long time area compiler from Keuka Park. We shall miss him and his excellent reports. Abbreviations: CC-Christmas Count preceded by E for Elmira (Dec. 18), G for Geneva (Dec. 28), I for Ithaca (Jan. 1) and M for Montezuma (Jan. 1); Co-County; Cay-Cayuga; L-Lake; MNWR-Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge; WFC-Federation Waterfowl Count; SAD-Seneca Army Depot; Sen-Seneca. Contributors and area compilers: JB-Jack Brubaker, Watkins Glen; WEB-W. E. Ben- ning; PD-Paul DuBowy; JG—James Gibson; RG-Robert Gustafson, MNWR; WH—Wilifred Howell; MJ-Morgan Jones, SAD; RSJ-Richard and Sally Jorgensen; EK-Elaine Kibbe, Ithaca; TR-Thomas Riley; JW-Jayson Walker, Waterloo; JWa-Jeffrey Walters; MW-Mary Welles, Elmira. LOONS-DUCKS: The following table shows the March peak figures for waterfowl at MNWR and the Jan. 12 WFC figures. Last year’s counts are in parenthesis. MNWR WFC Common Loon Horned Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Whistling Swan Canada Goose Snow Goose Mallard Black Duck Gadwall Pintail Green-winged Teal Blue-winged Teal American Wigeon Shoveler 8 8 219 ( 94) 26 ( 29) 18 ( 8) 75,000 (50,000) 8,000 ( 500) 3,000 ( 6,000) 2.500 ( 6,500) 400 ( 100) 3.500 ( 7,000) 500 ( 800) 400 ( 100) 150 ( 400) 11,479 (1,680) 3,175 (2,996) 1,646 (1,027) 3 ( 14) 5 (4) 2 ( 16) 50 ( 1,000) 97 MNWR WFC Wood Dude 300 ( 100) 3 ( 2) Redhead 30 ( 10) 6,398 (7,424) Ring-necked Duck 20 ( 400) 19 ( 8) Cahvasback 5 2,107 (1,459) Greater Scaup 598 (1,063) Lesser Scaup 15 ( 80) 51 ( 427) Scaup sp. 224 Common Goldeneye 50 747 ( 705) Bufflehead 10 305 ( 316) Oldsquaw 81 ( 22) White-winged Scoter ( 1) Common Scoter 1 Ruddy Duck 10 Hooded Merganser 40 ( 100) 17 ( 22) Common Merganser 200 ( 100) 173 ( 219) Red-breasted Merganser 2 19 ( 5) Coot 350 ( 20) 963 ( 772) Whistling Swan: 2 Jan. 2 Ithaca (JG); 1 Feb. 20 Farley’s Point Cay. L. (PD). Canada Goose: arrived early, Feb. 20 at Watkins, Feb. 22 Elmira and MNWR and Feb. 23 at Niles; estimate of 100,000 in mid-March on north end'of Cay. L. (RSJ); such enormous numbers force them to travel long distances to feed as 5500 Mar. 24 feeding at Phelps 20 miles away (BH). Gadwall: an unprecedented 225 plus stayed on at the north end of Cay. L. into early Jan. HAWKS-OWLS: Goshawk: 3 reports from Lansing, Caroline, Ithaca; 2 GCC. Sharp- shinned Hawk: singles at Ithaca, Odessa, Phelps, Seneca Falls, Waterloo; several along east side of Cay. L. and at Elmira. Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 Jan. 19 Connecticut Hill; 1 Mar. 14 and 2 Mar. 27 Ithaca; 1 Mar. 15 MNWR; 1 Mar. 28 Treman State Park. Rough-legged Hawk: excellent flight early in period diminishing after Jan.; many dark-phase birds. Bald Eagle: 1 Jan. 26 Ithaca (P. Trail). Marsh Hawk: wintering birds at King Ferry (2); Canoga, Union Springs, Watts Rd. quarry Sen. Co. (2); migrants in Mar. at MNWR, Niles and 4 at Elmira. Virginia Rail: Dec. 28 Ithaca (T. Howe). Killdeer: wintered at Elmira, Ithaca (2), Myers Point (2); early migrants 1 Feb. 22 Clifton Springs (JWa), 1 Feb. 23 Seneca Falls (RSJ). American Woodcock: 1 Feb. 23 Etna (Jim and Judy Stewart) 2 weeks early. Common Snipe: 1 GCC. Dunlin: 1 Jan. 1 and a few mid-Mar. at Ithaca no confirming details. Glaucous Gull: 1 Jan. 12 Ithaca (PD) . Iceland Gull: 1 ICC no report filed. Great Black- backed Gull: 12 Jan. 2 Ithaca; 40 MCC. Bonaparte’s Gull: 3 Mar. 24 Elmira. Bam Owl: 1 Dec. 6 Burdett appeared ill and died the next day. Snowy Owl: 1 Dec. 19 Caton; 1 Dec. 21 to Feb. 1 Elmira; a bird resembling this one was seen at the same spot Mar. 25-26. Short¬ eared Owl: present all winter; reached maximums in mid-Feb. of 15 at Watts quarry Sen. Co. 20 at King Ferry and 3 at Sampson State Park; 1-3 in Dec. Ebnira. GOATSUCKERS-STARLINGS: Red-headed Woodpecker: 2 wintered Reeds Creek Sen. Co. (BH). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1 Feb. 7 Ithaca (J. Cook). Phoebe: immature Dec. 20-31 Elmira (Carl Wood); 1 Feb. 23 Ithaca (J. Van Dyk) month early. Common Raven: 1 Mar. 28 Treman State Park (JG) field note to be published; 2 Mar. 31 Monterey (JB) see Kingbird XXIV no. 4 p. 193. Fish Crow : 1 Mar. 1 Ithaca (C. Muffin & L. Hahn) see field note Kingbird XXIV no. 3 p. 124. Tufted Titmouse: becoming more firmly estab¬ lished in the northern part of the region as it has been in the southern part for some years; 10 reports north of Rts. 5 & 20. Red-breasted Nuthatch: reported only from Elmira, 98 Ithaca, Watkins and Newfield. Winter Wren: 3 Watkins Glen Christmas Count; 1 Feb. 2 & 16 Reeders Creek Sen. Co. (BH); 1 Clifton Springs Dec. 21 (J Wa). Carolina Wren: recent mild winters have allowed this bird to build up again; reports of over 25 birds received from all parts of the region. Mockingbird: 8 reports (20 plus birds) well distributed over the region. Gray Catbird: 1 Jan. 24-28 Clyde (WEB) ; 1 Feb. 7 Ithaca (Bill Hamilton). Brown Thrasher: 1 early Jan. at feeder in Elmira (C. Burke). Hermit Thrush: 1 Dec. 28 Elmira (M. Smith fide MW) % 1 GCC". Eastern Bluebird: reports in Dec. of 10 birds at Burdett, Watkins Marsh, Clyde; 1 Jan. 5 Newfield; migrants in Mar. at Mecklenburg, Treman State Park, Stanley. Ruby- crowned Kinglet: 1 wintered near Trumansburg at P. Joseph’s feeder, 1 GCC; 1 Jan. 2 Big Flats; 1 Feb. 14 Ithaca. Water Pipit: 1 Mar. 17 Ithaca (JG) early; 6 Horseheads Mar. 25 (WH). Northern Shrike: 3 GCC; 2 MCC; 1 ICC. VIREOS-WARBLERS: Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle): 12 GCC; 10 ICC. Common Yellowthroat: 1 ICC. Yellow-breasted Chat: one reported in Howard Utter’s door- yard west of Geneva on Feb. 2 and 3. Oral and written verification appears credible but, in the absence of a good photograph or specimen, it will have to remain unconfirmed. BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: Icterids arrived a week early in all parts of the region coming between Feb. 22 and 26. Evening Grosbeak: widespread and continuing to the end of the period; “hundreds” south of Ithaca (JG). Purple Finch: the few reports were all after Feb. 8. House Finch: increasing at Elmira and Ithaca; 1 Mar. 16 and 2 Mar. 18 Odessa at B. Strath’s feeder. Pine Grosbeak: 1 report of a bird at Elmira. Common Redpoll: 1 Cen¬ tral Cayuga Christmas Count. Pine Siskin: only report is 1 Feb. 9 Ithaca. Red Crossbill: 1 ECC; male Feb. 15 Elmira. Savannah Sparrow: 1 Feb. 22 Ithaca (K. Rosenberg). Grasshopper Sparrow : 1 Dec. 28 Town of Seneca Dump near Flint (R. Foxall & K. Bond) . Field Sparrow: 2 reports Dec. Watkins Marsh; 2 GCC; 4 ICC; 1 wintered at Ithaca feeder. White-crowned Sparrow: 2 ICC. White-throated Sparrow: the trend toward more overwintering birds continues. Fox Sparrow: 2 MCC; 1 Jan. 14 at Elmira feeder. Swamp Sparrow: 15 Watkins Glen Christmas Count; 1 Jan. 5 Owasco (TR); 4 MCC. Song Sparrow: 100 in a 1 acre plot Mar. 22 Ithaca (PD) is indicative of the flood of this species that came in at that time. Lapland Longspur 2 GCC; 2 ICC. Snow Bunting: 9 reports of flocks of 70-500 birds were all before Jan. 8 except 400 Feb. 16 King Ferry. R.D. 2, Clyde, N.Y. 14433 REGION 4 - SUSQUEHANNA Leslie E. Bemont It was a mild winter with some rather erratic temperature variations. The highest temper¬ ature recorded was 62°F. Jan. 11. The low of -5°F. came 10 days later. Whether in response to the generally mild temperatures or not, wintering Mourning Doves, Tufted Titmice, Carolina Wrens, Mockingbirds, cowbirds and White-throated Spar¬ rows were up in numbers. There were even Dec. bluebirds and a Catbird lasted until at least mid-Jan. However winter Red-winged Blackbirds were down and robins, meadowlarks, grackles and towhees were little if any better than average. Except for Evening Grosbeaks and goldfinches, winter finches were a disaster; no crossbills or Pine Grosbeaks at all and 99 only enough siskins and redpolls to spoil the clean sheet. It was a banner year for Rough¬ legged Hawks and Red-tailed Hawk numbers stayed up, but Northern Shrikes were barely represented and there was only one Snowy Owl. Screech and Barred Owls continue to increase and, wonder of wonders, the effort to reestablish turkeys in the wild is really succeeding. For rarities there was one, and possibly two more. Golden Eagles and a Dickcissel. Abbreviations: Bing-Binghamton; BCC-Bing. Christmas Census; OCC-Oneonta Christ¬ mas Census; TCC-Tioga Christmas Census (unpublished); WFC-Waterfowl Census; WP- Whitney Point. Contributors: Cutler & Jeanette Baldwin; Jean Barnes; William Bartlett (WB); Les Bemont (LB); Alvin Carpenter; Anne Casselberry; Mildred Clark; Gail Corderman (GC); Anna & Marilyn Davis (A, MD); Warren & Louise Dean (W, LD); Mary Dobinsky (MD); Sadie Dorber; Claire Gottschall; Virginia Hamwey; Elva Hawken; Lena Hevey; Claude Howard; S. Hume; Paul Kalka; Richard Kaskan; Jackie Keeler; Cindy Kirch (CK); Rudolf & Ingeborg Klenke (R, IK); Margaret Layton; Arthur Levy; Florence Linaberry; Paul McCoy; Faith McKrell; Harriet Marsi (HM); Jan Marsi; Rick Marsi (RM); Robert Maxon; Mary Ann Middleton; Robert Pantle (RP); Mrs. Rogers; Dave Rossi; Robert & Jeanne Saunders (R, JS); Robert Schumann (RS); Mary Sheffield (MS); Kevin Shreeve (KS); Sherlie Telford (ST); Mrs. VanDusen; Frances & Ed Vermilya; Elizabeth Washburn; Ruth White; Evelyn Williams; Kathryn Wilson; Irene Wright; The Kulls; R. B. Bennett (RB). LOONS-DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 Jan. 11 Oneonta, WFC; Mar. 29 WP. Pied-billed Grebe: 1 Jan. 5 Greene; Mar. 21 and 22 WP. Great Blue Heron: 1 Dec. 22 Unadilla; Dec. 31 and Jan. 12 Owego; 1 Jan. 5 Greene; 4 late Feb. records; migrants Mar. 29. Canada Goose: 125 Jan. 11 Glimmerglass State Park, WFC, there since Nov.-several wintering singles elsewhere; Feb. 1 Owego and Feb. 21 Endwell, migrants. Snow Goose: 3 Mar. 9 and Mar. 15 WP (A, MD); 2 blue morphs Mar. 17 WP (RM, HM). Mallard: 7 OCC; 26 BCC. Black Duck: 95 BCC. Pintail: 3 Mar. 1 WP; 4 Mar. 25 Portlandville. Green-winged Teal: 2 Mar. 25 Port- landville. Blue-winged Teal: 2 Mar. 25 Bortlandville. American Wigeon: 2 Mar. 2 WP; next report Mar. 24. Wood Duck: 4 Mar. 24 Oneonta, no others. Ring-necked Duck: Mar. 22 WP and Chenango Forks; common, as usual. Canvasback: Mar. 1 WP, Chenango Forks and Owego; also 2 Mar. 8 Portlandville. Lesser Scaup: 2 Jan. 11 Cooperstown, WFC. Scaup (SP?): 2 BCC. Common Goldeneye: 15 TCC and 16 WFC represent the usual small wintering population; more common after Mar. 9. Bufflehead: Mar. 21 WP. Oldsquaw: 2 Mar. 22 and 5 Mar. 29 WP. Hooded Merganser: Mar. 9 WP; no more until Mar. 22 but common there¬ after. Common Merganser: 10 WFC; the usual small, dispersed winter population; more common after Mar. 1. Red-breasted Merganser: Mar. 25 WP. HAWKS-OWLS: Goshawk: 1 BCC (MS); 1 Jan. 5 Oneonta (MD); the Bing, bird seen in Jan. and Feb. Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 at Apalachin all winter; 2 Bing, and 1 Portlandville report. Cooper’s Hawk: 2 TCC; also Dec. 3 and 4 Owego. Red-tailed Hawk: 20 OCC; 12 BCC; 7 TCC; quite common all winter. Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 OCC; 1 other Dec. and 1 Jan.-Feb. report from Owego. Rough-legged Hawk: 10 OCC; 6 BCC; 1 to 9 on nearly all field trips during the winter; last date Mar. 16. Golden Eagle: 1 immature Jan. 4 Candor (TS, fide RP), perched and flying roughly 500 yards from the Telford house almost all morning; 2 Feb. 11 in Candor area (KS), “watched for 15 minutes,” no other details. Marsh Hawk: Mar. 7 Vestal; 6 more reported before Mar. 31. American Kestrel: 9 OCC; 19 BCC; 9 TCC. Ruffed Grouse: 2 OCC; 4 BCC; 1 TCC. Bob-white: 5 OCC. Ring-necked Pheasant: 9 BCC. Turkey: 4 OCC; 1 TCC; also reported at Greene, Portlandville and Vestal. Killdeer: 1 Jan. 3 and Feb. 27 Delhi; 10 Mar. 1 Portlandville. American Woodcock: Feb. 24 Bing. (R, JS); next report Max. 9. Herring Gull: 8 BCC. Ring-billed Gull: 3 BCC; 7 Mar. 8 Endwell, migrants. Bonaparte’s Gull: Max. 25 WP. Rock Dove: 473 BCC; 90 TCC, Mourning Dove: 35 OCC; 66 BCC; 23 TCC; numerous flocks-44 Jan. 25 Oneonta area, the best 100 single count. Screech Owl: 6 BCC; regular Jan. and Feb. reports in Bing, area; 1 Feb. 17 Delhi. Horned Owl: 29 BCC. Snowy Owl: 1 Dec. 11 Bing. (HM), the only one. Barred Owl: 2 BCC; 3 Jan. 4 Greene. GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Belted Kingfisher: 1 OCC; 10 BCC; 2 TCC. Common Flicker: 9 BCC, unusually large number; Mar. 1 Bing, and Chenango Forks. Pileated Wood¬ pecker: 2 BCC; 2 TCC; 5 other scattered reports. Hairy Woodpecker: 37 OCC; 27 BCC; 29 TCC. Downy Woodpecker: 46 OCC; 58 BCC; 47 TCC. Eastern Phoebe: Mar. 29 Che¬ nango Forks. Horned Lark: 7 scattered reports all winter, max. 30 Mar. 4 Delhi. Tree Swallow: 2 Mar. 26 Portlandville. Blue Jay: 433 OCC; 279 BCC; 204 TCC. Common Crow: 179 OCC; 212 BCC; 157 TCC. Black-capped Chickadee: 418 OCC; 358 BCC; 163 TCC. Tufted Titmouse: 2 OCC; 13 BCC; 36 TCC. White-breasted Nuthatch: 71 OCC; 59 BCC; 36 TCC. Red-breasted Nuthatch: 5 OCC; 10 BCC; 1 TCC. Brown Creeper: 3 OCC; 16 BCC; 1 TCC. Winter Wren: 2 BCC. Carolina Wren: 1 OCC; 4 BCC; 3 TCC; scattered reports con¬ tinued all winter. Mockingbird: 1 OCC; 13 BCC; 1 TCC; also 1 all winter at Delhi. Gray Catbird: Jan. 12 Vestal, actually seen frequently before that (RS). Robin: 3 BCC; 3 TCC; scattered Jan. and Feb. records; migrants Mar. 4. Eastern Bluebird: 3 Dec. 28 Owego (RB); 1 Mar. 22 North Colesville, in Broome County, (R, IK). Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1 OCC; 22 BCC; 4 TCC; 33 Jan. 5 Greene. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: wintering birds at Vestal, Chenango Forks and Owego. Cedar Waxwing: 48 BCC. Northern Shrike: Dec. 22 Candor; 1 Feb. 1 Portlandville. Starling: 442 OCC; 5423 BCC; 352 TCC. VIREOS-WARBLERS: Yellow-rumped Warbler: Dec. 2 Owego (W, LD). BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: House Sparrow: 947 OCC; 641 BCC; 432 TCC. Eastern Meadowlark: 3 Feb. 15 Portlandville; migrants Mar. 22. Red-winged Blackbird: 2 TCC; very few wintering birds; 1 Feb. 20 Delhi; large numbers from Mar. 1. Common Grackle: 2 BCQ 5 TCC; scattered reports all winter; migrants Feb. 27. Brown-headed Cowbird: 18 BCC; 56 TCC; regular reports all winter; migrants Mar. 8. Cardinal: 33 OCC; 118 BCC; 62 TCC. Dickcissel: 1 Feb. 25 Bing. (HM, RM). Evening Grosbeak: 596 OCC; 286 BCC; 112 TCC; good numbers everywhere all period. Purple Finch: 16 OCC; 6 TCC; scattered reports of small numbers from the beginning of the period, increasing numbers from Feb. 17 and in substantial numbers at almost all feeders from Mar. 15. House Finch: 1 OCC; 75 BCC; fairly frequent but irregular reports from the Oneonta area all season, the best count 6 Jan. 1 (MD); a Bing, feeder had them daily, the best count 12 Jan. 20 (CK); at Endwell, but not the primary station there for them in the past, only 1 or 2 at a time and not regularly (LB); in Vestal absent until Mar. 30, although regularly present there last fall (GC). Common Redpoll: 12 OCC; 1 Jan. 5 Greene; no others. Pine Siskin: 1 OCC; no others. American Goldfinch: 259 OCC; 111 BCC; 81 TCC. Rufous-sided Towhee: 1 Jan. 5 Greene (WB). Savannah Sparrow: Mar. 22 WP. Dark-eyed Junco: 65 OCC; 129 BCC; 68 TCC; more win¬ tering than usual. Tree Sparrow: 175 OCC; 319 BCC; 105 TCC. Chipping Sparrow: Mar. 24 Oneonta. Field Sparrow: 3 BCC; 2 TCC; no others. White-crowned Sparrow: 1 OCC; no others. White-throated Sparrow: 4 OCC; 39 BCC; small flocks of 6 to 9 at some feeders and most feeders attracting 1 or 2 where the norm is 1 or 2 at only a few feeders. Fox Sparrow: 1 TCC; migrants Mar. 22. Swamp Sparrow: 1 Feb. 22 Portlandville. Song Sparrow: 4 OCC; 20 BCC; 1 TCC; small numbers all winter, as usual; in full migration Mar. 22. Snow Bunting: 30 or more Dec. 28 Meredith, near Delhi; 120 Jan. 5 Greene. 710 University Ave., Endwell, N.Y. 13760 101 REGION 5 - ONEIDA LAKE BASIN Fritz Scheider Winter was like a filter cigarette-long, white, and mild, mild, mild—and like that pack¬ aged carcinogen went on to produce a malignant March and even metastases of winter in April. The somewhat reduced snowfall of December thru February was augmented by heavy snow in the latter half of March and, though Oneida Lake opened from its icy bondage on March 23 (a record early date), it froze again in early April, chilling evidence of the severity of the cold of that time. Conversely, the lack of icing-up in early winter coupled with the December-early January waterfowl hunting season precluded waterfowl concentrations, and the usual Greater Scaup-Common Goldeneye aggregates on the Oswego River and at Oswego Harbor never developed. A fantastic spruce cone crop and heavy seed crops, especially Box Elder and White Ash, went almost totally unused as virtually no winter finches invaded. The only winter fringillid to appear in numbers was the Evening Grosbeak which ignored native foods, only to promptly descend on the local feeder largesse and by early February everyone was reporting these fat feasting flocks foraging for feeder fodder. The numerous wild berries sustained large numbers of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings and these spedes fared (pun in¬ tended) very well thru the winter. The array of half-hardies served as ample testimony to the mildness of the winter but the March snow and cold may have done in many of these individuals and may have a significant impact on the area’s Carolina Wren numbers (q.v.). Positives for the winter include 1) a variety, though not in numbers, of half-hardy water- fowl; 2) an excellent Rough-legged Hawk incursion; 3) good numbers but no concentrations of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls; 4) a modest flight of Snowy Owls; 5) increasing numbers of wintering Common Flicker and continued spread of Red-bellied Woodpecker; 6) Carolina Wren expansion and, less so, of Tufted Titmouse; 7) an impressive array of half-hardies; 8) a very large population of wintering American Robin; 9) late but large Evening Gros¬ beak invasion; and 10) excellent counts of wintering half-hardy sparrows. Negatives for the winter are 1) reduced numbers of the regular wintering waterfowl with a drop in counts of even the local welfare state Mallards; 2) a very poor Goshawk winter; 3) continued decline in Ring-necked Pheasant; 4) no incursion of Red-breasted Nuthatch; 5) minimal numbers of wintering Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, and Pine Grosbeak despite superb local seed and cone crops; and 6) with few exceptions reduced numbers of wintering Horned Lark and Snow Bunting. Rarities for the winter-Eared Grebe, Northern Fulmar, Whistling and Mute Swans, Barrow’s Goldeneye, King Eider, Hawk Owl, Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker, and Northern Three-toed Woodpecker. Abbreviations: LOL-Lake Ontario littoral; WFC-New York State Waterfowl Census Jan. 11-19,1975; DH-Derby Hill; max.-Maximum (a). My thanks to Bill Brosseau, Gene Huggins, and Jean Propst in the compilation of this report. LOONS-DUCKS: Eared Grebe: one Dec. 14-26 Onondaga L. (B. Brosseau, FGS, mob) is the sixth record in nine years but the third from Onondaga L. Northern Fulmar: light phase bird Dec. 19 just east of Oswego (D. W. Crumb, P. A. DeBenedictis, FGS) is second regional report and the first record of a live individual (details on file). Double-crested Cor¬ morant: an imm. Feb. 14-Mar. 10 at Oswego Harbor is only the third wintering record in 21 years. Great Blue Heron: winter numbers up-total of seven, about double the usual number. 102 Winter duck counts, all spectacularly low, are as follows-Canada Goose 151 WFC, Mallard 1422 WFC, Black Duck 175 WFC, Gadwall 13, Redhead 11 (ridiculously low), Canvasback 49, Greater Scaup 1228 WFC, Lesser Scaup 8 (very low), Common Goldeneye 572 WFC, Bufflehead 90 (very low), Oldsquaw 154 WFC, White-winged Scoter 3 (lowest in ten years), Common Merganser 625 WFC, Red-breasted Merganser 170 (early Dec. birds). Half-hardy ducks for the winter include four Pintail, two Blue-winged Teal, one American Wigeon, one Northern Shoveler, and three Wood Duck; of the last the only Jan. bird was an injured male at Oneida (L. Schultz). Rare waterfowl for the season are an imm. Whistling Swan Fair Haven Beach State Park Jan. 12-18 (M. S. Rusk), and a Mute Swan Mar 22-Apr. 20 Selkirk Shores State Park (first record in five years), two Barrow’s Goldeneye Mar. 30 Dempster Beach and Pleasant Point, and a female King Eider Feb. 15-Mar. 29 LOL. HAWKS-OWLS: Goshawk: total of five for entire winter (excluding DH Feb.migrants)- a miserable season. Rough-legged Hawk: an extremely heavy incursion along LOL with a max. of 54 (60% light phse.) Mar. 1 Richland and Mexico Townships. Harrier: total of four for winter, very low for such an open winter. Ring-necked Pheasant: local Christmas Count tallies six-15/count-very scarce and going fast. Killdeer: winter max. seven DeWitt Jan. 4; spring max. only 48 Mar. 18 DH. Glaucous Gull: max. ten Feb. 2 Oswego River axis; a good flight but no concentration because of the mild winter weather. Iceland Gull: max. eight, less common than the Glau¬ cous, and similarly no concentrations developed. Great Black-backed Gull: counts 100-175/ day along Oswego River axis and Oswego Harbor, somewhat less than the previous winter max., probably again a function of the very mild winter. Mourning Dove: high tallies in Dec. and early Jan. (100-150/day); most late Jan. and Feb. tallies strikingly lower, a pattern matched in some measure by feeder tallies. Snowy Owl: total of 15 birds for period, primarily from the Oswego area and Onon¬ daga L.; however only one Mar. bird reported. Hawk Owl: one present at North Gage, Oneida County Dec. 20 (E. VanDresar) thru the period; the second bird in two years; though two birds were never seen at once, there may have been two birds involved (M. Stooks). CAPRIMULGIDS-SHRIKES: Common Flicker: count of 18-20/Christmas Count with a whopping max. of 86 on the Syracuse Christmas Count Dec. 14. Red-bellied Woodpecker: has expanded east along the south shore of Oneida L. to the wooded swamps between Bridgeport and Lakeport. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker : a most accommodating female present at Oneida Jan. 14-Mar. 15 (P. R. Paquette, D. W. Ackley), the only winter report away from the Adirondack s. Northern Three-toed Woodpecker : a female at Mari¬ etta, Otisco L. Dec. 29 (D. Muir, mob) was not seen there thereafter despite repeated checking. Tufted Titmouse: increasing numbers of reports-three at Marietta, two at S. Onondaga, one at Pleasant Point on L. Ontario with most other established stations persisting. Red¬ breasted Nuthatch: abundant in the Adirondacks (51 on the Old Forge Christmas Count Dec. 15); however, extremely scarce (one-three/day only) away from that sittine bastion. Carolina Wren: expanding explosively in the area-at least 25 different birds recorded, mainly from the protected valleys along the Onondaga Escarpment and creek bottoms and wooded hillsides along L. Ontario. Half-hardies were in unprecedented numbers (an ex¬ pression of the mild winter and good food crops) including a Brown Thrasher (Clockville Jan. 28), a Gray Catbird (Oswego Mar. 11), three Hermit Thrushes, two Long-billed Marsh Wrens at Fox Ridge (G. A. Smith), six Ruby-crowned Kinglets, ten Yellow-rumped Warb¬ lers, and three Yellowthroats (of the last, one per three winters is more usual!). 103 American Robin: wintered by the hundreds in the valleys south of Syracuse; counts of 200-600/day were regularly reported at S. Onondaga, Marietta, and Camillus with smaller numbers in protected woods about Fair Haven and south of Oswego. Northern Shrike: 12 individuals in Dec., 12 in Jan., 10 in Feb., and 10 in Mar.-a fair flight with no impressive Mar. return flight. ICTERIDS—SPARROWS: Eastern Meadowlark: winter max. 48 (high) Skaneateles Christmas Count Dec. 29; many lesser counts from farmlands south of Oneida L. and the wind-cleared fields around Pompey. Evening Grosbeak: moderate numbers thru Dec. followed by an invasion of these sun¬ flower seed pigs in Oneida and Oswego Counties in late Jan. and early Feb.—counts there in the hundreds/day and in some areas (Rome, Westmoreland, Verona) more common than House Sparrows or Starlings; Burtt’s feeder survey showed the highest Mar. tally ever- 2350 individuals. Pine Grosbeak: small numbers (one-four/day) in northern Herkimer County in Dec.; unreported elsewhere. Purple Finch: only small numbers on the various Christmas Counts; however, Adirondack tallies considerably better-30-35/day thru season. House Finch: increasing numbers at Syracuse with winter max. 31. Pine Siskin: incredibly scarce-only four reports totalling less than 20 birds for the entire winter. Rufous-sided Towhee: total of five wintering birds, mostly males and mostly feeder sustained. Wintering sparrow numbers seemed to parallel the better numbers of the numer¬ ous half-hardies, to wit, White-throated Sparrow max. 77, Swamp Sparrow max. 17, and Song Sparrow max. 80, all from the Syracuse Christmas Count Dec. 14; numerous smaller counts of these species thru winter with Song Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow re¬ ported from Westmoreland and North Gage, areas properly considered “snowbelt country” and most inhospitable to half-hardy sparrows. Field Sparrow: total of 11 individuals for season with max. six Oneida Christmas Count Dec. 28. Tree Sparrow: abundant thru winter with some stellar Christmas Count numbers-992 Oneida, 707 Syracuse, 612 Skaneateles, 379 Howland’s Island sector; however, only 31 on the Old Forge Christmas Count where winter living, even for a Tree Sparrow, is tough. Snow Bunting: max. 3000 Mar. 8 Vernon (P & S Peebles); much smaller numbers in most areas with only small flocks (6-20/day) re¬ ported, a pattern especially evident on the various Christmas Counts. 114 Rockland Drive, North Syracuse, N.Y. 13212 REGION 6 - ST. LAWRENCE Lee B. Chamberlaine Winter of 1974-75 was another relatively mild one. Snow depths were minimal on the Lake Plain and temperatures were not extremely low. Tug Hill and the Adirondack portions of the Region experienced more snow and lower temperatures with extremes in both coming in February and particularly in March. Tug Hill snow depths were still 30+ inches and Adirondack 20+ inches at the end of reporting period. Large bodies of water remained open late into the winter and accounted for many ex¬ cellent waterfowl observations with wintering birds. High Microtus populations and relatively open snow conditions resulted in many good observations of hawks and Snowy Owls. Some winter finches and Evening Grosbeaks in particular were very abundant the latter half of the winter. However, redpolls. Pine Siskins, both crossbills and Pine Grosbeaks were scarce. 104 Observers: TLC-Tom L. & Cathy Carrolan; LBC-Lee B. Chamberlaine; FAC-Frank A. Clinch; DCG-David C. Gordon; RCW-Robert C. & June Walker; JAV-Joannes A. VanRiet; mob-Many observers. Abbreviations: BRB-Black River Bay; CP-Campbells Point; CV-Cape Vincent; DH- Dry Hill; ED-Eldorado; FD-Fort Drum; FL-Fishers Landing; HH-Henderson Harbor; HP-Henderson Pond; PP-Pillar Point; PTP-Point Peninsula; RB-Ray’s Bay; RMPD-Robt. Moses Power Dam; RMSP—Robt. Moses State Park; SB-Sherwin’s Bay; SH-Sackets Har¬ bor; SLR-St. Lawrence River; SNP-Snowshoe Point; SS-Sulphur Springs; TP-Thompson Park; Wl-Wellesley Island. Descriptive Abbreviations: ICC-International Christmas Count-Dec. 21 center at Customs on Wellesley Island; WCC-Watertown Christmas Count-Dec. 14 center near Brownville; ad-adult; fem-female; imm-immature; mal-male; Rd-road. LOONS-DUCKS: Horned Grebe: 3 Dec. 7; 4 WCC. Great Blue Heron: 1 Jan. 1-14 near Great Bend (Willis Danks). Whistling Swan: 6 Dec. 14 CV (Tom Brown); 3 Jan. 19 SLR (Richard I. Brouse). Canada Goose: 535 WCC; 400 Jan. 12 Adams Cove; 4000+ Mar. 23 HP (LBC). Snow Goose: 1 Dec. 21 HH (LBC). Mallard: 276 WCC. Black Duck: 40 WCC; 260 Feb. 1. Gadwall: 2 Mar. 3 (JAV). Pintail: 30+ Mar. 23 HP. Green-winged Teal: 1 WCC-BRB. Blue-winged Teal: 1 Dec. 22 (JAV); 1 Jan. 17 HH (TLC). American Wigeon: 3 Dec. 1 PP; 3 Dec. 30 RMPD, Northern Shoveler: 2 Dec. 13 (JAV) unusual. Redhead: 18+ Dec. 21 HH; 20+ Mar. 17 HH (LBC). Ring-necked Duck: 2 Dec. 15; 2 Jan. 18; 1 Mar. 2. Canvasback: 3500+ Dec. 14 CV (Tom Brown); 6 Feb. 1 FL (TLC); 100 Mar. 2 (JAV); 20+ Mar. 17 HH (LBC); other observations of lesser numbers thru period. Greater Scaup: 6000 SB (RCW); 4000+ WCC-BRB; 200+ Mar. 17 HH. Common Golden¬ eye: 280 Dec. 22; 350 Feb. 1 SLR; 300+ Mar. 17 HH. Bufflehead: 7 WCC; 1 Mar. 2. Old squaw: 300+ Dec. 21 SNP (LBC); 50+ Jan. 18 SNP; 20+ Mar. 17 SNP. Surf Scoter : 1 Dec. 7 SH (RCW); 1 WCC; 1 Jan. 12 PTP (RCW). Common Scoter: 3 Dec. 7 RB (RCW); 1 Dec. 21 HH (LBC). Hooded Merganser: 1 ad malPTP Dec. 28 (TLC); 1 all winter RMPD (JAV). Common Merganser: 22 WCC; 98 ICC; 3800 Jan. 14. Red-breasted Mergan¬ ser: 4 maximum all winter (JAV). HAWKS-OWLS: Goshawk: 1 WCC; 1 Dec. 22 Norfolk (JAV); 1 imm. Dec. 28 near CV (TLC); 1 ad Jan. 25-30 DH; 1 imm. Jan. 26 DH; 1 ad fern Feb.9 TP (TLC); a good year. Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 WCC; 1 Feb. 23 Watertown (TLC); 2 Mar. 20 near Henderson (TLC). Cooper’s Hawk: 1 Feb. 23 SS Rd (TLC); 1 Mar. 20 Henderson (TLC). Red-tailed Hawk: 14 WCC; 6 Dec. 28 PP (TLC); 8 Feb. 25 between Henderson and Watertown (TLC). Rough-legged Hawk: 25 WCC; maximum 35(5 dark phase) Dec. 28 PTP (TLC);_54 Feb. 1 PTP (TLC); 48 Feb. 17 PTP; an excellent year. Harrier: 10 Dec. 1 PTP (RCW); 5 Feb. 1 PTP (TLC); 2 Mar. 21 RMPD (JAV); more than past 3 years. American Kestrel: 15 WCC; many wintered on Lake Plain. Ruffed Grouse: 8 WCC; numbers up. Ring-necked Pheasant: very few resident birds left (LBC). Gray Partridge: 1 covey Dec. 5 (JAV); 6 Dec. 21 Alex Bay; 6 Dec. 28 CV; 7 Dec. 28 PTP; 5 Feb. 17 PTP; 3 Mar. 3 SS; numbers still very low. Coot: 1 Dec. 28 PTP (TLC). Glaucous Gull: 1 (2nd yr. bird) Dec. 30 near RMPD (TLC); 12 (3 ad 3 2nd yr. 6 1st winter) Dec. 30 RMPD (TLC) (JAV); 1 Jan. 18 HH (RCW); 7 Feb. 1 RMPD (JAV). Iceland Gull: 3 (1 ad 2-2nd yr.) Dec. 30 RMPD (TLC); 3 Feb. 1 RMPD (JAV). Great Black-backed Gull: 5 Dec. 21 HH; 2 Dec. 22 SH; 66 Dec. 30 RMPD (TLC); 29 Jan. 12 PTP; 400 Feb. 1 RMPD (JAV); 5 Mar. 20 HH (TLC). Ring-billed Gull: 1 WCC; 10 Jan. 12 PTP; 200 Jan. 18 HH; 1 Feb. 1 (JAV); returning RMPD Mar. 3. Mourning Dove: 4 Dec. 12 SB; 14 WCC; 9 ICC; not as many wintering in Henderson area 105 as in previous winters (LBC). Screech Owl: 1 WCC. Great Horned Owl: 2 WCC. Snowy Owl: maximum6 Dec. 28 PTP; 5 Jan. 4 PTP; 6 Feb. 17 PTP; numerous other individual sightings. Short-eared Owl: 7 Jan. 4 PTP; 1 Jan. 18 SS Rd; 6 Feb. 17 PTP all (RCW); 3 Feb. 17 PTP other than previous citation (FAQ* Saw-whet Owl: 1 found injured Mar. 26 Pamelia Center died next day (LBC). GOATSUCKERS-STARLINGS: Belted Kingfisher: 1 WCC; 1 ICC; 1 Jan. 30 CP; 1 Feb. 17 DH. Common Flicker: 2 WCC; 1 Dec. 22 SH (TLC). Pileated Woodpecker: 1 WCC; 2 ICC; 1 Jan. 1. Red-headed Woodpecker : 1 imm. early Dec.-Feb. 15 at feeder in Watertown probably eating sunflower seed (FAC) (DCG). Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker : 1 fern Jan. 3 FD (DCG); 1 fem Jan. 28 & 30 DH (RCW); 1 fern Feb. 2 Cagwin Rd (RCW). Horned Lark: 30 ICC; 30 Feb. 12 SS. Crow: 81 WCC; more than usual wintered on Lake Plain. Red-breasted Nuthatch: 4 WCC. Brown Creeper: 2 WCC; 9 ICC. Carolina Wren: Dec. 15 thru Feb. 1 Watertown feeder (mob). Mockingbird : 1 all winter RB (Mrs. Barr); 1 Mar. 13 Brownville Game Farm feeding on apples-still there end of period (LBC). Robin: more wintering than in previous years (LBC). Hamit Thrush : 1 Jan. 28 DH in flocks of robins (RCW). Eastern Bluebirds: 4 mal ICC-WI. Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1 Feb. 12 DH. Bohemian Waxwing: 50 Mar. 22 near RMSP (JAV). Cedar Waxwing: 90 WCC; 100 Jan. 18 DH; 275 Mar. 22 (JAV). Northern Shrike:seenthru period about half imm. VIREOS-WARBLERS: Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1 Jan. 11 & Feb. 22 RMPD (JAV). BLACKBIRDS-SPARROWS: Eastern Meadowlark: 4 ICC; 2 Dec. 28 near Chaumont; 6 Feb. 17 SS Rd; 1 Mar. 27 (JAV). Red-winged Blackbird: 1 WCC; 4 ICC; 1 Mar. 1 near Cranberry L. (LBC); 100+ Mar. 7. Northern Oriole: 1 ICC-WI. Common Grackle: 3 Dec. 1 SB (RW); 5 WCC. Brown-headed Cowbird: 6 WCC. Cardinal: 15 WCC. Evening Grosbeak: 69 WCC; fewer than usual ’til Jan.; 1000 banded to Mar. 18 (FAC); 485 banded in 6 day period Feb.-Mar. (124 Mar. 3) then ran out of bands (FAC). Purple Finch: 15 WCC; 20+ Feb. 17 Henderson-many banded (LBC). Pine Gros¬ beak: 1 Dec. 22; 2 Feb. 1 Indian Pt; 4 Feb. 28; 10 Mar. 1. Common Redpoll: 1 WCC; 53 Mar. 27 RMSP (JAV); very few this winter. Pine Siskin: 20+Feb. 16 Raymondville (JAV); only report for period. Am. Goldfinch: 28 WCC; more winter observations than usual. Rufous-sided Towhee: 1 Feb. 12 HH village along road in flock of Evening Grosbeaks (LBC). Dark-eyed Junco: 1 WCC; 16 ICC. Tree Sparrows: 47 WCC; 151 ICC. White-throated Sparrow: 10 WCC. Song Sparrow: 4 WCC; 10 ICC. Lapland Longspur: 2 Dec. 21 RMSP (JAV); 3 Dec. 21 ICC-Alex Bay (RCW). Snow Bunting: maximum 300 Feb. 1 PTP (TLC). Box 139, Henderson, N.Y. 13650 Telephone 315-938-5326 REGION 7 — ADIRONDACK-CHAMPLAIN Theodore d. mack This was a mild winter for the most part. Snow depth was within reason. Temperatures were often mild enough to provide pleasant ice fishing, beaver trapping, cross country ski¬ ing, or birding days. An exception was February 26th with 45 mph winds all day combined with blinding snow. March was cool with a 24.8 mean temperature. As usual the Champlain Valley had some open water. 106 Observers: DA-Deborah Anson; T A-Teresa Anson; TB-Tom Barber; JB-Jean Beck; JAB-Jonathan A. Beck; RB-Ray Bender; GC-Geoffrey Carleton; GTC-Greenleaf T. Chase; JC-Janet Cooper; AG-August Gabel; HiPkAu—High Peaks Audubon Society; FH- Freda Howard; MK-Dr. Marguerite Kingsbury; RL—Richard Lawrence; PM-Phoebe Mac- Dougal; M&RMc-Margaret and Robert McKinney; BM-Betsy MacMillan; JM-John MacMillan; MM-Marion Mason; NM-Norman Mason; EP-Elizabeth Peterson; JP-John Peterson; GR-Gary Randorf; JR-Jerry Rosenbrand; JS-John Seaman; CS-Carole Slatkin; PT-Pat Tabor. Abbreviations: Bul-Bulwagga Bay, LC; CPt-Crown Point; ECBC-E’town Christmas Bird Count; Es-Essex; E’town-Elizabethtown; FCBC-Essex Co., N.Y. part of Ferrisburg, Vt. Christmas Bird Count; IndL-Indian L; L—Lake; LC-Lake Champlain; LP-Lake Placid; Mal-Malone; NWBay—North West Bay, LC; NYSWC-New York State Waterfowl Count; PS-Paul Smiths; PortH-Port Henry; R-River; SarL-Saranac L; SchL-Schroon L; Sev- Several; TL-Tupper L; Wes—Westport; Wha-Whaflons Bay, LC; Ti-Ticonderoga. LOONS-DUCKS: Common Loon: max 5 FCBC; 1 to Jan. 28 NWBay (TB). Red-necked Grebe: 1 Dec. 14 FCBC. Horned Grebe: max 22 Jan. 12 NYSWC; 1 to Feb. 9 Es (DA, TA, JP, PT). Pied-billed Grebe: 1 Mar. 22 Wha (GC); 1 Mar. 29 Es (JP). Canada Goose: a few entire period LC; 60 Dec. 14 FCBC; first migrants Mar. 15 Wes (FH). Mallard: max 35 Feb. 14 Ti (BM). American Wigeon: 2 Es Mar. 15 (JP). Wood Duck: 2 mid-Feb. Ti (BM, JM). Ring-necked Duck: 3 Dec. 14 FCBC. Canvasback: 1270 Jan. 12 NYSWC; perhaps these winter on LC in similar numbers each year but were not seen by birders previously. All three scoters seen during period. Common Merganser: max 110 Jan. NWBay (HiPkAu). Red¬ breasted Merganser: 1 Dec. 14 FCBC. HAWKS-OWLS: Turkey Vulture: 2 Mar. 28 CPt (HiPkAu). Goshawk: reports from all areas including PS and IndL. Sharp-shinned Hawk: sev reports; MK saw one with a small bird at her feeder Jan. 9 SarL. Cooper’s Hawk: 1 Jan. 2 Blue Ridge (TB). Red-tailed Hawk: sev wintered LC (HiPkAu). Broad-winged Hawk: first Mar. 29 LC (Sherry & Wm. Peterson). Bald Eagle: 1 immature Feb. 9 Wha (HiPkAu). Merlin: 1 Dec. 18 Es (JP); 1 Jan. 19 Wes (JP, PT). Kestrel: sev wintered LC (HiPkAu). Killdeer: 1 Mar. 1 Es (JR, CS). American Woodcock: first 1 Mar. 25 Es (JP). Mourning Dove: max 12 Es all winter (PM). Common Tern: 2 Mar. 30 Es (EP). Barn Owl: 1 stunned by car Dec. 14 FCBC (JP); this is not a bird normal to this region. GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Belted Kingfisher: 1 until Jan. 17 NWBay (JP), Red¬ headed Woodpecker: 1 Mar. 21 TL (RM); this bird is both out of season and rare; noted that entire head was red. Hairy Woodpecker: 5 Dec. 14 FCBC; 17 Dec. 28 ECBC. Downy Woodpecker: 55 Dec. 28 ECBC. Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker: 2 Feb. 28 Rainbow L near PS (TM); 1 Mar. 22 Moriah (HiPkAu); an uncommon bird. Northern Three-toed Woodpecker: 1 Jan. 13 Es (JP); 1 female Feb. 28 L Clear (GTC); a rare bird. Horned Lark: a few wintered LC; first migrants 3 Feb. 23 McColloms (TM); 3 Feb. 23 Mai (TM). Blue Jay: 105 Feb. 28 IndL(M&RMc). Common Raven: 2 all winter Cascade L (many); 2 Jan. 11 PS (TM); 1 Feb. 1 Saranac Inn (TM). Common Crow: all winter LC; 70 Jan. 17 LP dump (GC); only at approach of spring do they begin to travel about in interior areas of deep woods; first 1 Feb. 22 PS (TM); 2 Mar. 4 TL (RM). Brown Creeper: 9 Dec. 28 ECBC. Winter Wren: 1 Feb. 20 Es (JP, PT). Carolina Wren: 1 Dec. 21-28 Es (MM); 1 Dec. 26 E’town (RL). Mockingbird: 2 Ti (JC). Brown Thrasher: 1 Jan. 17-24 E’town (GC, RL). American Robin: wintered LC with up to 30 in a flock; 1 Feb. 27 LP (JS); 2 Mar. 4 Gabriels (JS). Eastern Bluebird: 1 Feb. 16 Ti (BM, JM). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1 Feb. at feeder Wes (AG). Bohemian Waxwing: 50 Mar. 23 Keene (GR); “stockier and the cinnamon undertail coverts and white wing markings” noted. Cedar Waxwing: max 130 Dec. 11 Port H (GC); some all winter LC. Northern Shrike: many from Mai to LC. VIREOS-SPARROWS: Black-and-white Warbler: 1 Dec. 17 Wes killed at a window and 107 eaten by a cat (AG). Cape May Warbler: 1 adult male Dec. 9-11 at suet feeder Moriah (TB, GC, AG); two other reports with no details; bird should be in Bahamas for winter; there are at least two other Northeast Dec. records. Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1 Dec. 23-31 Wes (JC). Ovenbird: 1 Dec. 21-24 eating seed Wes (GC, FH, NM); 1 singing Mar. 30 Es (JP). Eastern Meadowlark: 1 Dec. 31 Wes (TB). Cardinal: 28 on John Peterson’s Essex Co. census; 2 SarL Feb. 18 (MK); 1 Feb. 28 IndL (M&RMc). Purple Finch: commonest winter bird at PS; flocks of 50 to 100 could be seen in deep woods most places as well as along roads from Mai to Es. House Finch: 2 Dec. 14 FCBC; carefully identified making second Essex Co. record. Pine Grosbeak: from 2 to 12 could be seen most days Dec. thru period; max 26 Mar. 1 IndL (R&MMc). Common Redpoll: went elsewhere this year. Pine Siskin: common this winter; active nest found 30 feet up on black spruce limb Mar. 29 Chubb R (Phil Warren). Red Crossbill: not reported. White-winged Crossbill: a few in black spruce areas; 20 singing males Jan. 20-Feb. 1 Chubb R (TB, NM, JP, PT); first state nesting record here on Feb. 22 when a nest was being built (DA, Pat & Wm. Casselman, JP, PT). Dark-eyed Junco: all areas had wintering birds this year; 13 Jan. SarL (MK); 30 Feb. IndL (M&RMc). Tree Sparrow: 117 Dec. 28 ECBC. A sampling of most spaiiow species lingered on or wintered LC including 1 Field Sparrow Dec. 19 Es (JP). Snow Bunting: up to 300 LC. P.O. Box 125, Paul Smiths, New York 12970 REGION 8 - HUDSON-MOHAWK Gladys Snell The winter season in our area was relatively mild with the snowfall less than normal in all months except February. The mean temperatures for December, January and February were above normal with March falling—2.7 degrees from normal. The most exciting sighting was the Mountain Bluebird found on December 20 at Cox- sackie, which is the first verified N.Y. State record for this bird. It was seen by hundreds of Northeastern United States birders and a detailed write-up and photograph will be pub¬ lished in The Kingbird . Other uncommon sightings were: Iceland Gull, Short-eared Owls, Varied Thrush, and Northern Oriole. “The most noticeably scarce birds were: chickadees, nuthatches, and winter finches except Evening Grosbeaks and Purple and House Finches. The most noticeably numerous were: robins, Evening Grosbeaks, and Purple and House Finches.” (RPY) Through our “Dial-A-Bird” (377-9600), reports were received of a wintering Towhee and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in late January. We welcome all reports from any birder in our area. Abbreviations: ADBC-Alan DeVoe Bird Club; DMA-Douglass M. Allen; CC-Christmas Count; Col Co-Columbia County; RPG-R. P. Guthrie; HMBC-Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club; HR-Hudson River; LH-Lower Hudson region of the Tri-city area; JL-Jenny Lake; MR-Mohawk River; NWW-Niskayuna Wide Waters; TP-throughout period; RL-Round Lake; SCR-Stony Creek Reservoir; fs-first reported sighting; SL-Saratoga Lake; TCA-Tri- city Area; TCC—Troy Christmas Count; VFWM—Vischer’s Ferry Wildlife Management Area; RPY-Robert P. Yunick. LOON-DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 Mar. 22 LH (HMBC). Red-necked Grebe: 1 Dec. 1 108 SL. Horned Grebe: 1 Dec. 1 and 1 Mar. 30 SL. Pied-billed Grebe: 2 Mar. 22 LH (HMBC), Mar. 23 Cones Pond Col Co (ADBC), 1 Mar. 27 Niska Isle. Great Blue Heron: 1 Mar. 29 Coxsackie, Canada Goose: 230 TCC (HMBC), 250 Col Co CC (ADBC), throughout area after Mar. 6. Brant: only report 2 Col Co CC (ADBC). Snow Goose: 45 Mar. 22 LH (HMBC), 1 Mar. 15 NWW. Mallard and Black Duck: numerous TP in TCA and Col Co. Pintail: fs 3 Mar. 1 NWW, Mar. 6 Col Co (ADBC). Green-winged Teal: 10 Mar. 22 VFWM, 12 Mar. 22 and 4 on 27 NWW, Mar. 29 HR Col Co (ADBC). Blue-winged Teal: 5 Mar. 22 LH (HMBC), thru Mar. HR Col Co (ADBC). American Wigeon: few TP. Wood Duck: fs Mar. 8 Col Co (ADBC), few in TCA after Mar. 25. Redhead: fs Mar. 9 HR Coxsackie, Mar. 22 LH (HMBC) and HR Col Co (ADBC). Ring-necked Duck; fs 4 Feb. 26 HR Coeymans, thru Mar. all areas. Canvasback: thru Feb. and Mar. all areas. Lesser and Greater Scaup: several thru: Mar. in all areas. Common Goldeneye: 1 TCC (HMBC), several sightings in Feb., numerous during Mar. Bufflehead: 1 TCC (HMBC), many sightings in Mar. Oldsquaw: 1 Mar. 19 Lock 6, 1 Lock 7. White-winged Scoter: 12 Dec. 1 SL. Hooded Merganser: fs Mar. 13 SCR, Mar. 23 Col Co (ADBC), a few in TCA thru Mar. Common Merganser: 53 CC (HMBC), Feb. 28 thru Mar. in TRC, after Mar. 23 Col Co (ADBC). Red-breasted Merganser: 2 Mar. 22 LH (HMBC), 3 Mar. 23 NWW, 12 on Mar.30 Fish Creek. HAWKS-OWLS: Turkey Vulture: 3 Mar. 24 Catskill, 1 on 29 New Baltimore. Goshawk: 4 CC TCA and Col Co, few thru Feb. and Mar. Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 CC (HMBC), few thru period. Cooper’s Hawk: Jan.-Feb. Col Co (ADBC), 1 Mar. 29 Coxsackie. Red-tailed Hawk: TP. Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 Mar. 10, 3 on 29 Greenwich and New Baltimore, 1 Mar. 28 SCR. Broad-wing^ Hawk: 1 Mar. 19 Niska Isle. Rough-legged Hawk: 12 CC (HMBC and ADBC), TP. Marsh Hawk: a few TP Coxsackie, New Baltimore, Col Co. Kestrel: 54 CC (HMBC), 22 CC (ADBC), occasionally TP. Ruffed Grouse: 13 CC (HMBC), 7 CC (ADBC). Ring-necked Pheasant: few TP. American Coot: 10 Dec. 1 SL. Killdeer: 1 TP. American Woodcock: 1 Feb. 25 SCR, 2 Mar. 17 New Baltimore. Common Snipe: few LH (AMBC) and Col Co (ADBC) Jan.-Mar. Iceland Gull: 2 Schenectady CC Lock 7 (HMBC). Great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls: TP all areas. Rock Dove: 2262 CC (HMBC). Mourning Dove: TP all areas. Screech and Great Horned Owls: TP all areas. Barred Owl: 1 Jan. 30 Altamont, 1 heard in Jan. Col Co (ADBC), 1 Mar. 7 Malta. Short-eared Owl: 28 Feb. 12 Coxsackie roost, 15 scattered Feb. 17 Coxsackie, Saw-whet Owl: 1 Jan. 10 Mariarville, 1 Mar. 12 Malta. GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Belted Kingfisher: 5 CC (HMBC), 4 CC (ADBC), few TP. Common Flicker and Pileated Woodpecker: TP. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 1 female Dec. 26, 29 Voorheesville. Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 CC Schenectady (HMBC). Yellow- bellied Sapsucker: 1 Troy CC (HMBC). Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers: TP. Eastern Phoebe: 1 Mar. 24 Catskill. Horned Lark: 706 CC (HMBC), Dec. and Jan. only Col Co (ADBC), 100 plus Feb. 2 and 150 on Feb. 15 Coxsackie, 75 Britton and Brookwood Roads. Tree Swallow: few TP. Blue Jay and Black-capped Chickadee: TP. Tufted Titmouse and White-breasted Nuthatch: a few TP. Red-breasted Nuthatch: 11 CC (HMBC), 5 CC (ADBC), 2 banded in Dec. 14 in Jan. 11 in Feb. 13 in Mar. JL (RPY). Brown Creeper: 17 CC (HMBC), 2 CC (ADBC), 2 TP E. Greenbush, 1 Mar. 17 New Baltimore. Winter Wren: 1 TCC (HMBC), 1 Feb. 12 and Mar. 24 Catskill, Feb. 28 Col Co (ADBC). Carolina Wren: 1 Dec. 29 Voorheesville, occasionally TP Loudonville, 1 Mar. 17 Selkirk, 2 wintered at feeder in Scotia (Jim Underwood fide DMA). Mockingbird: TP TCA and Col Co. Catbird: 1 Feb. 19 Selkirk. Brown Thrasher: 2 CC (HMBC), wintering at feeder Chatam Center (ADBC). Robin: numerous reports all areas, large flocks during Jan. Varied Thrush : 1 adult male last half of Jan. and first half of Feb. Slingerlands. Hermit Thrush: 2 Feb. 12 Athens, 1 Feb, 15 Coxsackie. Eastern Bluebird: 1 Jan. 22 Miller Rd., a pair Feb. 15 Coi Co (ADBC). Mountain Bluebird : 1 Jan. 12 thru 20 and Mar. 2 Coxsackie (RPG and hundreds of N.E.U.S. birders). Golden-crowned Kinglet: 3 CC (HMBC), Dec. 1 and 30 and in Jan. Col Co (ADBC). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1 TCC (HMBC), 1 thru late Jan. Voorheesville (fide RPY). Water Pipit: Dec. 1 Col Co (ADBC). Cedar Waxwing: 485 CC (HMBC), 14 CC 109 (ADBC), numerous during Dec. few in Mar. Northern Shrike: 1 CC (HMBC), 1 Jan. 22 Farm to Market Rd. Migrant Shrike: 1 Dec. 20 Green Co CC. Starling: TP. VIREO-WARBLER: Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1 CC (HMBC). Pine Warbler: 1 Dec. 17 Muitzeskfll Col Co (ADBC). Common Yellowthroat: 1 CC (HMBC). BLACKBIRD-SPARROW: House Sparrow: TP, Eastern Meadowlark: 17 CC (HMBC), TP Col Co (ADBC). Red-winged Blackbird: 15 CC (HMBC), intermittent TP. Northern Oriole: 1 CC and until Jan. 18 (HMBC). Common Grackle: 15 CC (HMBC), 3 CC Col Co (ADBC), few TP. Brown-headed Cowbird: 272 CC (HMBC), 23 CC (ADBQ, few TP. Cardinal: 274 CC (HMBC), 62 CC (ADBC), few scattered thru region TP. Evening Grosbeak: Numerous thru region TP. Purple Finch: numerous thru area, “Best invasion in 10 years in Schenectady” (RPY), banded 278 in March. House Finch: numerous thru area, “Most numerous winter number since first appeared in this area in 1964,” banded 7 in Dec., 23 in Jan., 14 in Feb., 22 in Mar. (RPY). Pine Grosbeak: 12 Dec. 14 CC (ADBC), 6 Dec. 24 RL, 2 Mar. 14 near Corinth. Common Redpoll: fewer than usual this year, 2 left Latham in mid-Jan., 18 Feb. 12 Delmar. Pine Siskin: uncommon south of Adirondacks, 2 Feb. 2 JL, increased there in Feb. and Mar. (RPY). Goldfinch: numerous TP. White-winged Crossbill: 1 at feeder Feb. 23 and 25 Loudonvflle. Rufous-sided Towhee: wintered Nov. thru mid- Feb. New Salem (FIDE RPY). Savannah Sparrow: 1 Feb. 14 Coxsackie. Dark-eyed Junco: numerous thru area TP. Tree Sparrow: few thru area TP. Field Sparrow: wintered at feeders E. Greenbush and Schenectady, 1 CC (HMBC). White-crowned Sparrow: 1 CC (HMBC), 1 Jan. 12, 26, 27, Feb. 2, 26 Loudonvflle. White-throated Sparrow: 185 CC (HMBQ, 27 CC (ADBC), numerous thru area TP. Swamp Sparrow: 4 CC (HMBC), 1 Feb. 15 Coeymans. Song Sparrow: 82 CC (HMBC), 18 CC (ADBC), few TP. Lapland Longspur: 5 TCC (HMBC), 1 Feb. 12, 4 on 15, 12 on 17 Coxsackie. Snow Bunting: 16TCC (HMBC), Jan. Col Co (ADBC), 7 Feb. 12,100 plus on Feb. 17 Coxsackie, 151 North Toll St., Scotia, N.Y. 12302 REGION 9 - HUDSON-DELAWARE EDWARD D. TREACY This winter will go down as the mildest on record. Temperatures rarely went below freezing much less below zero. The Hudson River never froze through the region, and only rarely did it have flow ice on it from farther up stream. Fred Hough summed up the season well when he wrote, “There was no excessive snowfall. . . and a pattern of extended fall weather followed by a winter of light snow . . . ending with a March which remained stable enough to pass without major storms, cold spells or outbreaks of warm spring weather.” In fact, the unspring-like weather persisted through most of April. The warmness of the season must have been primarily responsible for the number of migrants and summer residents lingering well past their usual departure dates. In the N. Y. Times of Feb. 16, an article reporting the winter flocking of from 6,000 to 12,000 American Robins near Bloomingdale, N. J. received considerable notoriety. We had a similar phenomenon near New Paltz in mid-January when Selden Spencer and several others reported from 30,000 to more than 50,000 entering a spruce grove to roost at night. On Jan. 16, Mr. Spencer counted about 20 per second entering the grove over a period of one-half hour, making a total of 36,000 for the time period. Winter finches failed to show except for a few cases, possibly indicating mild weather in their home territories. With the exception of the Icterids and Turkey Vulture, most return- 110 mg migrants failed to appear on time; and the period was at least a week behind schedule at the close. Observers cited: GB-Gene Brown; MB-Marty Borko; JD-Jeff Davis; RFD-Robert F. Deed; JF-Jim Fiedler; FH-Fred Hough; TH-Thelma Haight; AJ-Alice Jones; JMK-Jim & Mary Key; ABM-A1 & Barbara Merritt; EP-Eleanor Pink; RP-Robert Pyle; WTS-Wil- liam & Trixie Strauss; MVW-Marion VanWagner; RCC-Rockland Audubon Christmas Count, Dec. 28, 1974; WBC-Waterman Bird Club; WCC-Waterman Bird Club Christmas Count, Dec. 28,1974. LOONS-DUCKS: Common Loon: 1 on WCC, first since 1963. Red-throated Loon: 1 Feb. 2 Piermont Pier (RFD). Horned Grebe: only report 1 Jan. 12 Sylvan Lake, Dutch. Great Blue Heron: a few wintered, most back by late Mar. American Bittern: 1 Mar. 15 Iona Is. Canada Goose: exc. winter numbers, most residents back by late Feb. Migrant flights thru Mar. Max. 1,500 Mar. 17 Amenia (WTS). RCC had 552 a new high for a species first reported in 1964. Snow Goose: 1 Jan. 26 Amenia (WTS). Mallard: numbers reached new highs thru season. Black Duck: much lower than the latter species. Gadwall: 10 Mar. 5 Rockland L was quite high (GB). Pintail: Max 10 Mar. 29 Hudson River at Dutch. Blue¬ winged Teal: 3 Mar. 16 Vanderburgh Cove, early. Shoveler: always rare. 1 Mar. 1 Morgan L. Poughkeepsie (AJ). Wood Duck: WBC reports 28 dur. Mar. Max. 15 Mar. 30 Stissing (TH). Canvasback: better than 200 spent most of season on Hudson off Cornwall. Oldsquaw: 27 Dec. 28 Ashokan Res. (Ruth Craig). Hooded Merganser: 4 Dec. 30 Dover; 4 Mar. 18 Netherwood. Max 12 Mar. 22 Rhinecliff. Red-breasted Merganser: more winter reports than usual. 45 Dec. 1 Hudson off Ulster (RP). 1 Mar. 22 Rockland L (GB). 3 Mar. 29 Rondout Res. (MB). HAWKS-OWLS: Turkey Vulture: first Feb. 25 Bear Mt. inc. steadily from that date. Goshawk: A few more than usual. 3 Mar. reports from Dutch, 2 in Dec.; 1 on RCC was 4th time for that count. Red-tailed Hawk: many reports from all areas. An albino has been observed near Verbank for about the last 15 years. New nest trimmed with pine boughs observed Feb. 6 in Dutch early (MVW). Broad-winged Hawk: 3 very early birds: 2 Mar. 9 along Rt. 84 in Oran (ABM), and 1 Mar. 29 Pleasant Valley, Dutch (MVW). Rough-legged Hawk: an excellent season, more than usual. Golden Eagle: 2 observed vie of Stissing and Pine Plains, N.E. Dutch on and off Dec. thru Mar. 1 wintered same vie about 4 yrs. ago (mob). Bald Eagle: only 1 report from the Hudson Valley where 20 years ago there would have been dozens. Wintering numbers in Sull continue high. Probably the highest in N.E.U.S. First 3 at Rio Res. Dec. 15. Inc. to 16 (10 as & 6 imm) by Jan. 19. Last report 2 same place Mar. 24 (MB). Single adults at Rondout Res. &Basher kill thru season. Marsh Hawk: 2 Jan. 12 Galeville Airport. Inc. to 5 by end of season. Kestrel: 19 on WCC, avg 10. Ring-necked Pheasant: only 3 on WCC which had 146 in 1961. Turkey: 8 Jan. 11 Dover Plains, Max. 20 Jan. 4 Sackett Lk. Sull. and 15 Jan. 30 Forestburg, Sull. Virginia Rail: 2 dur. Dec. & Jan. near Stissing, Dutch (TH). Common Gallinule: 1 Dec. thru Jan. 29, Pleasant Valley (mob). First winter record for Dutch. Ring-billed Gull: 68 on WCC, avg 8. Bonaparte’s Gull: second time on RCC: 4 in 1972,110 this year. Snowy Owl: only report 1 on Mearns Christmas Count and Goudy Christmas Count at Newburgh. Probably the same bird. Barred Owl: heard at Kripplebush toward end of season, but not as frequently as last season (FH). Short-eared Owl: 8 dur. Jan. Galesville Airport, Wallkill. Saw-whet Owl: 1 killed by car in Dutch dur. Mar. was only report (AJ). GOATSUCKERS-STARLING: Belted Kingfisher: good numbers due to open winter. Flicker: record Christmas counts. WCC had 24, avg 6. RCC had 28 which topped previous record set in 1952. Red-bellied Woodpecker: more than ever before. 4th time on RCC since 1970. Sapsucker: Rare in winter, 1 Mar. 26 New Hamburg; 1 Feb. 4-Mar. 15 Cornwall. Phoebe: 1 Feb. 8 Amenia, very early (WTS). florned Lark: 17 on RCC was first since 1967. Crow: 3,000 at Poughkeepsie roost reduced to 1,500 at end of period (AJ). Fish Crow: wintered at usual spots in Dutch. 7 on WCC at Poughkeepsie. Red-breasted Nut- 111 hatch: not common but a few were in the Town of Denning, Ulst. in mid-season. Brown Creeper: one of a few species with a below normal count. Carolina Wren: came thru the period in excellent numbers. RCC had highest count since 1960. Mockingbird: highest counts this year were on RCC with 74. Last year’s record count was 49. 65 on WCC beat previous high of 46 in 1973. Catbird: thru region in larger numbers than ever before. Brown Thrasher: always rare in winter, 1 Dec. 15 Forestburgh (Ed McBride). Robin: RCC was surprisingly low, but all other counts up. (see introductory remarks). Hermit Thrush: 2 winter reports: RCC had 6. Eastern Bluebird: WBC had 22 reports dur. Feb. Cedar Waxwing: 192 on WCC avg 30. Northern Shrike: only report 1 Amenia Dec. 12 (WTS). Loggerhead Shrike: 1 Mar. 29 Cruger’s Is. Dutch (mob). Starling: tremendous inc. in Dutch. 5,000 on WCC was 3,000 more than avg. VIREOS-SPARROWS: Black-and-white Warbler : 1 Dec. 20 Red Oaks Mill, Dutch (JMK). Cape May Warbler : 1 Dec. 4 Vassar Campus feeding in Scotch Pine. Yellow-rumped Warbler: reported every month from Dutch. Also wintered in better numbers than usual in Ulst. Pine Warbler : New to RCC. 1 at Stony Pt. Battleground (Nancy Single). Yellow- throat: 1 Dec. 13 Amenia (WTS). Icterids: more winter records than usual due to mild season: Red-winged Blackbird: very heavy influx from Feb. 20 on. 450 on RCC was new record. Rusty Blackbird: only 1 on WCC but 53 on RCC. 5 were at Stissing Feb. 17. Common Grackle: flocks of several hundred persisted at Highland Falls thru Dec. Major influx last week of Feb. thru last week of season. Cardinal: 107 on RCC was low for that count. Indigo Bunting: 1 male in molt coming to feeder at New Windsor Feb. 12-Mar. 31 (Paul Jeheber). Dickcissel: only 1 report Jan. 5-12 Pleasant Valley (EP, JD). Purple Finch: better than usual, at most feeders in Dutch. House Finch: record numbers on Christmas Counts. RCC had 139, prev. high 92 in 1971, first reported 1962. WCC had 94, prev. record 68 in 1973, first reported 1965. Pine Grosbeak: 3 Nov. 18 Cochecton (AJ). 1 on RCC were the only reports. Common Redpoll: 2 Mar. 14 East Park (Tom Gilbert) were the only ones reported. Pine Siskin: only a few; 10 Mar. 30 Stissing was all for Dutch. 25 Jan. 24 Welch Lk. 7 Nov. 18 Cochecton. Rufous-sided Towhee: usual few wintering. Savannah Sparrow: prev. record on RCC was 29 in 1972. This year 50,46 of which were at West Nyack Dump (Eric Single). Field Sparrow: 75 on RCC, prev. high 43 in 1972. White-crowned Sparrow: 1 Dec. 11-13 at feeder in Dover; 1 Dec. 1 Amenia (WTS). Fox Sparrow: 3 reports all Dutch; 1 Dec. 2 thru Jan. Snow Bunting: Max 300 Dec. 29 Amenia., well reported thru region dur. period. Spring reports due June 5. Summer reports due Sept. 1. Pellwood Lake, Highland Falls, New York 10928 REGION 10 — MARINE Hugh d. Me Guinness With a Ross’ Gull to the north, a Yellow-nosed Albatross to the south, and Gyrfalcons in every direction, there is little wonder that regional reporters termed this season every¬ thing from “catastrophic” to “the epitome of boredom .’’But come on fellows, it wasn’t all that bad! So what if seabirds were minimal; so what if half-hardies were low despite good conditions, and winter finches were less than casual; so what if most of the rarities were fall leftovers, or repeats from last winter; so what if the one truly outstanding record was found as a road-kill; there were still plenty of interesting occurrences. Admittedly, some may be a little sublime, but certainly none are too far-fetched to be appreciated by the aver- 112 age bird watcher. Read on-I’ll show you! The fall left rather slowly. December and half of January were once again mild, al¬ though a little less so than in recent years. The upshot of this was smaller numbers of many species whose winter populations are proportional to the mildness of the season, as indicated by their Christmas Bird Count (CBC) indices: e.g. Black-bellied Plover (73 counts: 417; 74 counts 241); Brown Creeper (54; 35); Long-billed Marsh Wren (13,7); Robin (2050; 965); Hermit Thrush (63; 42); Red-winged Blackbird (5015; 1543); Rusty Blackbird (463; 70); Common Grackle (318; 94); Brown-headed Cowbird (954; 651); Sharp-tailed Sparrow (44; 13); Seaside Sparrow (31; 11); and Field Sparrow (389; 287). Notable exceptions to this were seen in the indices of herons, certain puddle ducks. Red- bellied Woodpecker, Winter and Carolina Wrens, all mimids, Water Pipit, and Rufous-sided Towhee. However, except for the Winter Wren, mimids, and pipit, each of these can be ex¬ plained in as part of an overall range expansion trend, or increased coverage on CBCs. Con¬ tinuing with the weather, it seems latter January and February reverted to the good-ole- days when winters were cold. Snowfall seemed almost average, for a change-although never lasting for very long-and continued through the period, intermittently into April. And finally, after seemingly interminable delays, March ended, and, despite its occasional hints of forthcoming spring, continued its reign as Region 10’s month of languor. Plusses for the season include: 1) higher numbers of Homed Grebe after last year’s poor numbers; 2) higher CBC indices for every heron recorded; 3) puddle ducks like Gadwall, Pintail, American Wigeon, and both teal with higher numbers on CBCs and the Waterfowl Census (WFC); 4) Canvasback and Redhead higher on CBC and WFC; 5) good numbers of hawks including Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Harrier, Bald Eagle, and Merlin; 6) large winter populations of Killdeer, Purple Sandpiper, and Dunlin; 7) tre¬ mendous flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls with a good number of Little Gulls mixed in, on the northbound migration; 8) a good year for Snowy and Short-eared Owl, and a Barred Owl on Long Island; 9) continued expansion of Red-bellied Woodpecker in the area; 10) high numbers of White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows on CBCs. Minuses are: 1) low numbers of Ring-necked Duck and both eiders, and slight decreases in Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, and Oldsquaw; 2) Cooper’s Hawk re¬ mains scarce; 3) Red-breasted Nuthatch very low for at least second year in a row (even missed on Montauk, and Smithtown CBCs); 4) all icterids low on CBCs (see data in second paragraph); 5) Winter finches-what a mess!: Pine Grosbeak and redpoll-absent; cross¬ bills—5 token birds on CBCs; siskin and Purple Finch—absurd; and Evening Grosbeak—few and widely scattered; 6) amazingly low numbers of common winter fringillids like junco, Tree and Fox Sparrow. There is little doubt as to the outstanding rarity of the season: a Boreal Owl found dead along Ocean Parkway, on the Jones strip. Other rarities include Eared Grebe, Tufted Duck, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Abbreviations: CBC—Christmas Bird Count; JBWR—Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge; WFC— Waterfowl Census. Observers and Contributors: JTA-James T. Ash; JAB-John A. Black; BC-Barbara Connolly; JDC-Joe DiCostanzo; THD-Thomas H. Davis; SBD-Steve B. Dempsey; WF- Walter Friton; AJL-Anthony J. Lauro; BL-Brooke Lauro; DL-David Larsen; GSR-Gilbert S. Raynor; JJR—John J. Ruscica; BS—Barbara Spencer; mob—many observers. Sub-regional Compilers: Thomas W. Burke; Fran File; Ralph Cioffi; Lore J. Schore. LOONS—MERGANSERS: Red-necked Grebe: only three reports. Eared Grebe: thru Dec. 7 Great Kills, S.I. (mob). Great Cormorant: some rather interesting Long Island Sound reports; 35-40 Feb. 14 Pelham Bay Pk (JDC)—stayed all winter; 20+ wintered at Rye (TWB); 20+ Dec. 7 Sand’s Pt (BS); also of note 325 Montauk CBC—mainly from 113 Gardiner’s I. Double-crested Cormorant: many widely scattered reports, with 20 on all CBCs. Green Heron: 6 on CBCs, 2 on both Bronx and Central Suffolk count; one bird re¬ mained thru Jan. 25 at JBWR (A Passero); these are excellent numbers for a bird quite rare in winter. Great Egret: 14 on 4 CBCs as compared with none on last year’s CBCs; 8-10 thru Jan. 12 JBWR (JDC); 1 thru Jan. Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area (J Browne); Snowy Egret: 74 CBCs had 22, compared to 14 on 73 CBCs; 6 thru Feb. 2, and 1 thru Feb. 22 JBWR (JDC); 2 thru Jan. 11 Tobay (R. Kelly); 4 thru Jan. Oceanside MNSA (J. Browne); one Mar. 1 Montauk (AJL, GSR)-probably a very early arrival. Little Blue Heron: 11 found on 3 CBCs (Captree, Montauk, S. Nassau) new for each count; imm thru Dec. 7 JBWR; imm Dec. 14 Montauk (AJL, BL); 8 imm Dec. 15 Oak Beach (mob); 2 imm thru Dec. 28 Tobay and at least one, same locale, thru Jan. 22 (US, W. Baumann); an imm Mar. 2 JBWR (THD)-probably a locally wintering bird; these are unprecedented winter numbers, are possibly the third local winter record, and by far the latest occurrence. Yellow-crowned Night Heron: 2 on CBCs, both well seen; 1 imm Smithtown CBC (R Smolker); 1 imm Dec. 28 Jones (S Nassau CBC) (mob); also an adult thru Jan. 4 Southaven Co. Pk (JAB); these are the 8th thru 10th state occurrences. Whistling Swan: 13 Dec. 7 Georgica Pd (GSR); after this 12-15 were present thru mid- March on eastern LI from Shinnecock to Hook Pd; at the latter location 12 were present daily until the freeze in early Feb. Brant: sizeable increases on both this year’s CBCs (74: 24, 997; 73: 16, 358) and WFC (74: 16, 305; 73: 12,251) however both of these are still low counts; e.g. the two counts which cover Jamaica Bay recorded a total of 900+ birds, in an area whose winter population is at least five to ten thousand; S Nassau reports 21,700. Black Duck: a good increase on CBCs, this despite the apparent paucity at JBWR’s west pond, i.e. only 133 reported on Brooklyn CBC. Green-winged Teal: very large increase in CBC index (73: 417; 74: 735), and this seems to be due to Staten Island finding its teal; 300 in 74 as compared to 6 in 73. Blue-winged Teal: 4 Dec. 31 Tobay (BS); unprecedented winter numbers at Lawrence, 30 Jan. 12 (R Sloss); 22 Jan. 18 (R. Kelly). European Wigeon: drakes wintered at Halsey Pd; Fort Pd; and Hook Pd (1-2). Wood Duck: 20 N. Nassau CBC-excellent winter number. Ring-necked Duck: CBC number down (255; 108), and caused comment from GSR compiler of Central Suffolk CBC where last year’s 197 dropped to 31. Tufted Duck: pair Dec. 8—Jan. 18 (J. Machado). Harlequin Duck: notable only in its absence for the first winter in recent years. Common Eider: two years ago it looked like the days of eider as a rarity were gone, as upwards of a thousand birds could be seen at Montauk Pt; obviously this conclusion was hastily drawn as shown by this winter’s statistics: max 3 wintered Montauk Pt; female Dec. 14 Hither Hills; female Dec. 14 Gardiner’s I; 1 Orient CBC. King Eider: fared slightly better than Common: up to 16 wintered Montauk Pt (mob) including 2 adult males; only other reports Mar. 1 Shinn Inlet (GSR). Hooded Merganser: 100+ Dec. 1 Hempstead L State Pk (SBD); otherwise generally lower, as evidenced by both CBCs and WFC; especially low was Captree CBC from last year’s national high, 260 to 120 this year. Common Merganser: excellent numbers at Hempstead LSP, where 40+ wintered (SBD), in contrast to central LI where GSR commented on its scarcity and Central Suffolk CBC missed it for the first time ever; also 14 Jan. 18 Montauk (GSR). VULTURES—OWLS: Turkey Vulture: Dec. 29 Lawrence (E. Levine et. al.J. Goshawk: a better than average winter, although not nearly as good as the preceding two winters; 4 on CBCs, Watermill, N Nassau-2, and Bronx; thru Dec. 9 JBWR (JDC et. al .); Dec. 14 Water¬ mill (JDO-(this was bird on CBC), and what was probably the same bird, an adult seen in the Sagaponack to Halsey Pd area thru Feb. 9 (JTA); Jan. 5-Feb. 9 Muttontown Pres., and Jan. 6-10 Brookville (both BQ-probably N Nassau’s birds; Jan. 12 thru month end Jones (R. Kelly). Cooper’s Hawk: early Jan.-Mar. 1 Muttontown Pres, and Jan. 17 Brookville (both BQ; two reports on CBCs. Red-shouldered Hawk: 9 on CBCs as compared with last 114 year’s 4; of interest is the return of the pair that nested unsuccessfully, due to an apparent vandalism, in Bronx Pk. This year the birds have nested further south within the confines of the Bronx Zoo, and so should be well protected. Rough-legged Hawk: GSR reports a “scarcity,” and little wonder as more and more Long Island habitat suffers from human encroachment; in general, however, it was a rather good winter for Rough-legs, especially on Staten and Gardiner’s Islands where 13 and 12, respectively, were recorded on CBCs. Bald Eagle: what a relief to finally have this bird wintering in the region, after an absence of a couple of years; imm Dec. 14 Gardiner’s I (B&J Trimble et. a/.); imm Dec. 7-Feb. 8 Quogue (GSR, L Wilcox); ad & imm Dec. 26, imm remained thru early Mar. Mastic- Southaven (GSR et. ah). Merlin: 13 reported on CBCs-even if this number should be taken with a• grain of salt, this bird continues to prove itself a regular, although rare winter resi¬ dent; also Feb. 15-Mar. 16 Tobay (AJL, R. Kelly); Jan. 2 Upton (DL). Peregrine Falcon: on Cent Suffolk and Orient CBC; Jan. 24 Columbia Univ. (Warburton). Ruffed Grouse: Dec. 14 Hither Hills S P (JDC); nice to know this bird is still to be looked for in this locale. King Rail: thru period at Tobay (mob). Killdeer: this year’s CBC index (969) almost triples last year’s (363). Common Snipe: 24 and 19 on Cent Suffolk and Staten I CBCs are notable concentrations. Red Knot: Dec. 14 Montauk (P Polshek, M. Chamberlain); 4 Dec. 14 Shinnecock(L. Wilcox et. ah); Feb. 15 Dem Pt. F I (AJL). Mar¬ bled Godwit: Dec. 8 Shinn Inlet (THD, AJL, BL, JDC, BS)-second latest fall occurrence. Northern Phalarope: Dec. 3 Captree (WF)-latest fall occurrence by 10 days; bird was leisurely studied at up to 20 feet, all field marks noted, and was probably blown to shore by the previous day’s fierce northeaster. Iceland Gull: 12 (8 1st yr., 2 2nd yr., 2 ad) Feb. 17 Central Pk Res. (E. Mills)-new regional maxima. Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 present occasionally thru Mar. 16 Jerome Res (mob). Black-headed Gull: 7-10 individual present late Jan.-mid Mar., from Eastport to Shinn Bay (mob); also imm Jan. 26 JBWR (E. Salzman). Bonaparte’s Gull: 10,000+ from mid-Mar. thru period end Jones Inlet (mob)-same concentration noted last year at approxi¬ mately the same time. Little Gull: imm Jan. 26-Feb. 17, ad Mar. 1 Quogue (THD, GSR); ad Jan. 26 Mecox (AJL); 2 ad Feb. 16 Moriches Inlet (AJL); ad Mar. 1 Fire I Inlet (AJL); 8 (7 ad & 1 imm) Mar. 16 Jones Inlet (JJR, DL); imm Mar. 1 Shinn (GSR)-these are largest numbers in recent years. Razorbill: 9 on CBCs, including 6 at Montauk, were the only reports. Thick-billed Murre: Dec. 15 off Fire I (M Kleinbaum). Dovekie: only 2 reports. Barn Owl: 9 Orient CBC-excellent. Snowy Owl: at least 8 birds wintered in the region as follows: 2 Dec. 14 Gardiner’s I; thru Jan. 12 Rob’t Moses SP; thru Jan. 11 West End, Jones; thru Dec. 15 Tobay; thru Feb. 22 Cedar Beach; Dec. 13-Jan. 20 Moriches Inlet; thru Dec. 17 Great Kills, S I; also single reports include Jan. 15 Mecox; Dec. 26 Bay Ridge, Bkln (B. McGrath); Dec. 21 Pt Lookout; Jan. 12 Cupsogue Beach; Jan. 21 Oceanside MNSA. Barred Owl: Dec. 27 Lower Nissequogue R (W. Sabin et.