The
KINGBIRD
New York State
Ornithological
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Vol. 58 No. 3
September 2008
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NEW YORK STATE ORM ITIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, INC,
2007-2008 Officers
President
William Ostrander, 80 Westmont
Ave., Elmira, NY' 14905
Vice-President
Catena Puoth, 22 Brothers Rd..
Poughquag, NY 12570
Corresponding Secretary
Timothy H Baird. 242 E, State St.,
Salamanca, NY 14779
Recording Secretary
Brenda Best, 5611 Irish Ridge Rd..
Durhamville, NY 13054-4112
John Confer
Jane Graves
I'reasurer
William B Reeve.s, 19 Brian Lane.
East Nonhpon, MY 117.31 -3810
Kathryn Schneider
Robert Adamo
Andrew Mason
Robert Mauceli
Directors (Term Expiration Dates)
2008
2008
2008
2009
2009
2009
continued on inside back cover
^KINGBIRD
PUBLICATtON OF THE NEW YORK STATE ORNrrHOLOGlCAi ASSOCiATlON, (HC,
Volume 58 No. 3_September 2008
pp. 213-308
CONTENTS
The New York State Museum Bird Collection:
A Resource for Educators and Ornithologists
Jeremy J. Kirchman.214
January Waterfowl Count, 2008, and Some Observations
on Long-term Trends
Bryan L. Swift.220
Spring Arrival of Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe
in the Adirondacks
Mark Gretch.230
Notes and Observations.233
Highlights of the Season — Spring 2008
Robert G. Spahn.234
Regional Reports.243
Photo Gallery.259
Standard Regional Report Abbreviations and Reporting Deadlines.307
Map of Reporting Regions.308
Editor - S. S. Mitra
Regional Reports Editor - Robert G. Spahn
Circulation Managers - Barbara Butler, Berna Lincoln
Cover Photo - Eastern Kingbird, 17 May 2005, Central Park, New York, copyright David Speiser.
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
213
THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM BIRD COLLECTION:
A RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS AND
ORNITHOLOGISTS
Jeremy J. Kirchman
Curator of Birds, New York State Museum
3140 Cultural Education Center
Aibany, NY 12230
jkirchma@mail.nysed.gov
The New York State Museum (NYSM) is the oldest state museum in the United
States, and its bird collection is one of the most historically and scientifically
important in northeastern North America. The collection comprises over 14,000
skins, skeletons, egg sets (some with nests), spread wings, taxidermy mounts,
whole anatomical specimens (alcoholics), and a small but growing collection of
frozen tissues. In terms of size, NYSM is a distant third among bird collections
in New York, behind the American Museum of Natural History (the world’s
largest, at well over one million specimens) and Cornell University’s Museum
of Vertebrates (ca. 50,000 specimens), but is near the top of all museums with
respect to specimens from the state of New York. Beginning in September 2006,
when I became curator of the collection, I have endeavored to establish an
electronic database of our current holdings, with an ultimate goal of making our
collection searchable on the internet. This database now comprises a total of
10,600 specimens, representing our holdings of skins (including spread wings),
mounts, skeletons, and alcoholics through the year 2006. Our extensive egg/nest
collection has not yet been incorporated into the database. In this paper I briefly
describe the NYSM bird collection, highlighting its geographical coverage,
historic importance, and value to New York’s ornithologists and educators. I
conclude with some thoughts on my goals for future growth and maintenance of
the bird collection, and provide information for those wishing to use this public
resource in their own teaching and research.
The Value of Bird Specimens
New York State Museum bird specimens are a permanent, public archive of
avian diversity in New York State and beyond. Each specimen documents the
occurrence of a species at a particular time and place, and is also an
irreplaceable source of plumage, anatomical and life-history data. Salvaging and
responsibly collecting birds remains an essential research method for studying
the biology, ecology, systematics, and genetics of wild birds, and a well curated
museum collection has great scientific utility and legacy (Remsen 1995, Suarez
and Tsutsui 2004, Winker 2004).
214
The Kingbird 200% September; 58 (3)
Bird specimens and the data recorded on their tags are used by
ornithologists to document changing bird distributions and to study a wide
variety of patterns including feather replacement, diet, age structure,
reproductive condition, seasonal movements, geographic variation, and
comparative anatomy. Skeleton specimens are necessary for identification of
fossil bones from paleontological and archeological sites (Reitz and Wing
1999). Skins serve as independently verifiable vouchers of record for published
taxonomic revisions, and are indispensable in studies of avian systematics
(Peterson et al. 2007). Skins are also important vouchers of hybrid phenotypes,
documenting the occurrence and movement of hybrid zones, and of
geographical phenotypes in studies of population genetics and species
boundaries (Reudink et ah 2007). Egg sets were important in establishing the
link between pesticide exposure and eggshell thinning in raptors (Ratcliffe
1967), and are now being used to document earlier laying dates in migratory
species in correlation with global warming trends. Skins, skeletons and eggs are
also sources of tissues that are now routinely used in biochemical analyses of
DNA and stable isotopes (Mundy et al. 1997, Rocque and Winker 2005, Lee and
Prys-Jones 2008). As these examples make clear, technological and theoretical
advances continually result in new research questions that can be answered by
museum specimens, questions that could not have been imagined by the
naturalists who collected and prepared the specimens so long ago.
In addition to their many research uses, NYSM bird specimens are a
valuable resource for educators teaching courses in ornithology, vertebrate
zoology, and evolution. Skins and taxidermy mounts are good complements to
field-based courses that teach species identification. Skins and skeletons are
valuable demonstration material for teaching adaptations for flight, feeding
adaptations, functional morphology, and vertebrate homologies.
Collection History
On April 15, 1836, New York governor William Marcy signed legislation that
established the Geological and Natural History Survey, and appointed the first
official staff, including one zoologist, James E. DeKay. This act realized the
long-held goal of Governor DeWittt Clinton for a formal program to survey the
State’s geological and biological resources. In 1843 the legislature established
the State Cabinet of Natural History as a repository for the resulting collections
of specimens. Following DeKay’s work on the original Survey, work in zoology
lapsed for several decades. Many of DeKay’s successors prepared small
numbers of bird specimens, but most collection growth has been through the
acquisition of private and academic collections. A plot of the cumulative number
of specimens that have reliable dates (Fig. 1), shows periods of sharp growth
that can easily be linked to important individual collections. Most were acquired
decades after the collecting was done, so the trajectories in Figure 1 do not
represent the actual temporal pattern of growth of the NYSM collection.
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
215
Figure 1. Growth of the NYS Museum bird collection from 1836 to 2006.
Important collections of bird skins from the early period from about 1870 to
1900 include those of Clinton Hart Merriam, J. E. Benedict, and the larger
collections of Eugene P. Bicknell (380 birds, mostly from Bronx County), James
H. Miller (335 birds from Lewis County), and C. C. Young (250 birds from the
New York City area). Nearly all of the early growth in the skeleton collection is
from the acquisition of the R. W. Shufeldt collection (250 skeletons from New
Mexico and other western states). Most specimens from the 1920s and 1930s are
from the huge Roy Latham collection, comprising over 1300 skins and mounts
from Suffolk County. The growth in skin specimens between 1948 and 1971, is
due to the two large collections of Steven W. Eaton of St. Bonaventure
University, and William C. Dilger of Cornell University. The Eaton collection of
over 1100 specimens includes skins, skeletons, and many specimens retaining a
skin plus partial skeleton, primarily from Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties.
Dilger collected nearly 500 birds throughout the State of New York. The growth
in the skeleton collection that begins in the 1940s is due to the Eaton collection
and to substantial contributions by J. C. Jones and E. J. Greenberg, both of
whom collected mostly in Albany County.
Historically, a NYSM Curator of Zoology was responsible for all zoological
specimens except insects. In the last few decades, the responsibility has been
divided among multiple curators. In 2006, the position of Curator of Birds was
established for the first time. Although some NYSM staff scientists were
ornithologists, including Ralph S, Palmer (1942-1978), Edgar M. Reilly (1955-
1983), and David W. Steadman (1985-1995), bird collecting and salvage by
NYSM employees was minimal. Important exceptions are Dayton Stoner (1932-
1944); Paul F. Conner (1960-1985), who collected a series of spread wings and
tails; Steadman, who prepared and traded for many hundreds of skeletons; and
Roland W. Kays (1995-2006, now NYSM Curator of Mammals), who
contributed a small number of skeletons and alcoholics and who established the
collection of frozen tissues for genetic analyses.
Geographic Coverage
Of the 10,600 databased specimens, 9483 have reliable locality data. Most
specimens lacking locality data are taxidermy mounts formerly on exhibition at
216
The Kingbird 200% September; 58 (3)
NYSM and elsewhere. The vast majority of the bird collection (78%) is from the
state of New York (Figure 2a), placing us third among all museums behind
AMNH (ca. 20,000 from NY) and Cornell (ca. 14,500). The Buffalo Museum of
Science (ca. 5000), the Smithsonian (ca. 4400), Harvard’s Museum of
Comparative Zoology (ca. 3400) and Chicago’s Field Museum (ca. 1800) also
have substantial holdings of birds from New York. The NYSM collection also
includes specimens from 47 U.S. states and 39 foreign countries (Figure 2a).
Geographic coverage within New York is highly variable (Figure 2b), with
many counties represented by fewer than 20 total specimens of all species.
Areas with the best representation include Albany and surrounding counties
(representing the work of many collectors over the last 170 years), Southwestern
NY (Eaton collection), Tompkins County (Dilger and others), Tug Hill Plateau
(Miller collection), the New York City region (Bicknell, Young and others), and
Suffolk County (Latham collection). Many important ecogeographic regions are
badly under-represented, and all areas except for the capital region are
completely lacking in data-rich “modem specimens” that include frozen tissues.
A, r ef by « eeuRtry
TO ■'
Afiscm @4
Casitorrtass.' "....... 2 ,'’ ’
. —^—~
MaWKSwasa 153 —
'.VasKngtofl ISi'
St
C.JfVS'iSa 6?
of by NY wscnty
Figure 2. Geographic coverage of the New York State Museum bird collection, showing
A) the number of specimens from states and countries represented by at least 60
specimens, and B) numbers of specimens from each county in New York.
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
217
21®* Century Practices and Goals
Collected over the course of nearly two centuries of research and exhibition, the
NYSM collection records the rich diversity, complex biogeography, and change
over time in New York’s populations of birds. It is our policy to foster use of the
collections consistent with their preservation for the use of future generations.
Scientists and educators wishing to use the collection need only contact the
Curator and arrange a visit. Loans of specimens for research or education are
made only to accredited research or educational institutions, not to individuals.
Research loan requests are evaluated on the merits of the purposed research,
with requests for destructive sampling, including consumptive sampling of
frozen tissues, considered in light of the potential to compromise future
analyses. Guidelines for loan requests can be found at:
www.nysm.nysed.gov/research_collections/collections/biology/omithology/loan.html.
My mandate as Curator of Birds is to continue to document New York’s avian
diversity through continued collection and preparation of specimens, and to
insure that the collection is maintained for continued use by researchers and
educators. I hold state and federal permits for the continued collection and
salvage of birds, and will accept salvaged birds donated by citizens as long as
they are in good overall condition, have been kept frozen, and have accurate
date and locality data. The modem specimens we prepare are data-rich,
documenting patterns of feather replacement and wear, fat deposition, stomach
contents, skull ossification, size of the bursa of fabricius, size and condition of
gonads, colors of parts that may fade (iris, tarsi and toes, bill), mass, cause of
death (if known), and presence of parasites. We endeavor to make the most of
each bird by preparing a skin, spread-wing, partial skeleton, stomach contents
(in alcohol), and a tissue sample (frozen at -SO^C) from a single bird.
My primary goals for the bird collection are to make it a comprehensive
sample of the bird life of New York State, and to make it more useful to the
research community. To achieve these goals I have identified the following
priorities for the collection in coming years: (1) Fill in geographic gaps within
New York. Nearly every species has gaps throughout the state, and some regions
are gaps for all species (Figure 2b). (2) Obtain vouchered tissue samples from
every NY species. This would be an invaluable genetics resource for
ornithologists interested in conservation, ecology and evolution of New York
birds. (3) Catalog the egg and nest collection. This large and historically
important collection is not yet searchable electronically. (4) Make the collection
available on the internet by fully integrating with existing distributed databases
such as ORNIS. These tasks will take many years to complete. I welcome New
York’s birders and other Kingbird readers to volunteer to prepare specimens or
work in the collection, donate salvaged birds, or donate other resources in
support of these important endeavors.
218
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank Joe Bopp, Paul Gallery, and Ellen Stevens for their help editing the
database of NYSM birds. Thanks to Roland Kays for assistance with the map in
Figure 2, and to Bob Daniels, Roland Kays, and an anonymous reviewer for
comments on the manuscript. A special debt of gratitude is owed to all those
who have contributed specimens to the NYSM bird collection, and to the NYSM
Curators who have assembled and maintained this public treasure.
LITERATURE CITED
Lee, P. L. M., and R. P. Prys-Jones. 2008. Extracting DNA from museum bird
eggs, and whole genome amplification of archive DNA. Molecular Ecology
Resources 8:551-560.
Mundy, N. I., P. Unitt, and D. S. Woodruff. 1997. Skin from feet of museum
specimens as a nondestructive source of DNA for avian genotyping. Auk
114:126-129.
Peterson, A. T., R. G. Moyle, A. S. Nyari, M. B. Robbins, R. T. Brumfield, and
J. V. Remsen. 2007. The need for proper vouchering in phylogenetic studies
of birds. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45:1042-1044.
Ratcliffe D. A. 1967. Decrease in eggshell weight in certain birds of prey.
Nature 215: 208-210.
Reitz, E.J., and E.S. Wing. 1999. Zooarchaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Remsen, J.V. 1995. The importance of continued collecting of bird specimens to
ornithology and conservation. Bird Conservation International 5:145-180.
Reudink, M. W., S. G. Mech, S. P. Mullen, and R. L. Curry. 2007. Structure and
dynamics of the hybrid zone between Black-capped Chickadee {Poecile
atricapillus) and Carolina Chickadee (P, carolinensis) in southeastern
Pennsylvania. Auk 124:463-478.
Rocque, D.A., and K. Winker. 2005. The use of bird collections in contaminant
and stable isotope studies. Auk 122:990-994.
Suarez, A. V., and N. D. Tsutsui. 2004. The value of museum collections for
research and society. BioScience 54:66-74.
Winker, K. 2004. Natural history museums in a post-biodiversity era. Bioscience
54:455-459.
The Kingbird 200d> September; 58 (3)
219
JANUARY WATERFOWL COUNT, 2008,
AND SOME OBSERVATIONS ON LONG-TERM TRENDS
Bryan L. Swift
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4750
The New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA)’s 2008 January
Waterfowl Count was held during January 12-20, 2008. Survey procedures were
described by Swift (2007), and survey coverage was generally good except for
some key areas on Long Island (e.g., Amagansett to Montauk). Additional
volunteers are needed to help cover important waterfowl wintering areas in the
future; please contact the author or a regional compiler if interested.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
National Weather Service data from Buffalo, Watertown, Albany, LaGuardia
and Islip were reviewed along with anecdotal reports from regional compilers to
characterize weather conditions as they may have affected waterfowl abundance,
distribution or observation.
Winter began early throughout New York State, with below normal
temperatures in all areas during the first three weeks of December 2007, and 18-
24" of snow recorded in Albany and Buffalo. Conditions eased off later in the
month as temperatures were above normal and precipitation lessened. January
2008 began with a few days of below normal temperatures (lows near or below
zero upstate, in the teens on Long Island), but this was followed by two solid
weeks (January 5-18) with temperatures up to 33° above normal and less than 6"
of snow at all locations. Average daily temperatures were above freezing
throughout the week prior to the waterfowl count, and high temperatures in the
60s were recorded during January 7-9 at most locations. A cold front on January
18-19 brought strong winds, colder temperatures and some snow (up to 3"
upstate) during the last days of the count period. However, January snowfall
totals were less than 1" on Long Island.
The early onset of winter probably forced many geese and dabbling ducks
out of local haunts to larger water bodies or south out of New York. At the same
time, ducks forced out of Canada or western breeding areas found plenty of open
water in New York. The mild weather prior to and during the count period made
for pleasant viewing conditions, but the lack of ice provided countless ponds and
streams for remaining waterfowl to disperse to, and in some areas (e.g., the
220
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Hudson and Mohawk Rivers) high stream flows made access and waterfowl
observation difficult.
RESULTS
The January 2008 count yielded a total of 392,624 birds, far below the record
high count of 584,389 in 2007, but still well above the long-term (1973-2007)
average of 292,379 (Table 2). Most species were at or above their long-term
averages, including Canvasback, Long-tailed Duck, Black Scoter, and
Trumpeter Swan, all of which had record high counts (Table 2). Snow Goose
and Canada Goose numbers dropped sharply from their record highs in 2007,
perhaps due to snow covering cut cornfields in western New York during
December. In contrast, counts of dabbling ducks such as Mallard and Black
Duck were higher than a year ago, as these species were forced south or frozen
out of smaller water bodies into larger areas that are routinely covered by this
survey. Two exceptions were Common Eider and Harlequin Duck; these species
had unusually low counts, probably due in part to incomplete coverage of some
key areas on the south shore of Long Island.
In general, this year’s counts seemed to reflect a return to more “normal”
winter conditions for New York State. The early winter weather may have
affected abundance and distribution of many species for the remainder of the
season, even though we experienced a third consecutive January with very mild
weather.
SOME LONG-TERM TRENDS
Winter waterfowl counts are of limited value for year-to-year population
monitoring because they are influenced so much by weather conditions and
because they are affected by annual variation in coverage. However, inspection
of long-term data can reveal some interesting trends. For this year’s report, I
selected four species for such analysis. I invite others to do the same, using data
available from the NYSOA website.
Tundra Swan - Tundra Swan was an uncommon species on the January
Waterfowl Count until the mid 1990s. Before 1992, no more than 100 birds had
been reported statewide. A high count of 199 Tundra Swans occurred in 1995,
but that record has been topped several times, with the current high count of
1,773 observed in 2007 (Fig. 1). NYSOA Regions 1, 3 and 6 have accounted for
most of the growing total count in recent years. The eastern population of
Tundra Swans increased only slightly over the past 30 years (USFWS 2008), so
we may be seeing a northward shift in winter range for this species, just one
consequence of climate change and milder winters in eastern North America.
The Kingbird 200% September; 58 (3)
221
Canvasback - The record high count of 25,718 canvasbacks in January 2008
followed a record high continental breeding population estimate for the species
in spring 2007 (USFWS 2008). However, Canvasback counts have declined
steadily on Long Island (NYSOA Region 10), to record lows of less than 500
birds in 2007 and 2008 (Fig. 2). This may reflect losses of submerged aquatic
vegetation, a critical food source for Canvasbacks, in Long Island coastal
waters. Overall, Canvasback numbers tend to fluctuate a great deal on both
surveys, but both suggest a relatively stable population over the long-term (Fig.
3).
Scaup - Total numbers of Greater, Lesser and unidentified scaup counted in
New York fluctuate considerably from year to year, but average counts for each
decade suggest a gradual decline over time: 1970s (69,772); 1980s (46,733);
1990s (41,741); and 2000s (34,463). This trend in winter scaup counts has
generally followed the pattern for continental scaup breeding population
estimates (Fig. 4). However, as total numbers declined, there has also been a
shift in distribution from Long Island to the Great Lakes regions of upstate New
York (Fig. 5). This shift was likely a response to recent invasion of the Great
Lakes by zebra mussels {Dreissena polymorpha); this species is now a major
component of scaup diets in that region (Custer and Custer 1996, Petrie and
Schummer 2002).
Hooded Merganser - Prior to 1985, statewide January counts of Hooded
Merganser never exceeded 400 birds, but counts since 2000 have exceeded
1,400 birds in every year but one (Fig. 6). Winter counts of Hooded Merganser
reflect the growing breeding population of this species in New York, as
documented by the Breeding Bird Atlas (McGowan and Corwin 2008).
Although Long Island still accounts for most of the Hooded Mergansers counted
during winter, significant numbers now occur in many upstate regions, where
breeding has become more widespread.
FUTURE COUNTS
The January Waterfowl Count (JWC) is a valuable long-term population
monitoring program for waterfowl and other waterbirds wintering in New York
State. I invite all bird clubs and birders in New York to join in this important
and enjoyable activity. For those who like to plan ahead, the count period begins
on the Saturday prior to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, which is the 3*^^
Monday in January. The dates for the next two years are as follows:
2009 - January 17-25 (target date - Sunday, January 18), and
2010 - January 16-24 (target date - Sunday, January 17).
222
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
For more information about the JWC, please visit the NYSOA web site at:
http://www.nybirds.org/ProjWaterfowl.htm
http://www.birds.comell.edu/fnysbc/wfc_compilers.htm
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank everyone who participated in the 2008 count, and for enduring
harsh winter weather that is typical of this time of year. A special thanks to the
following Regional Compilers who coordinated the efforts of all those
volunteers this year:
Region
Compiler
Region
Compiler
1
Jim Landau
6
Jerry LeTendre
2
Greg Hartenstein
7
John M. C. Peterson
3
Mike Morgan
8
Bryan Swift
4
Gail Kirch
9
Tracey Shimer
5
Marge Rusk
10
Ronald & Jean Bourque
LITERATURE CITED
Custer, C. M. and T. W. Custer. 1996. Food habits of diving ducks in the Great
Lakes after the zebra mussel invasion. Journal of Field Ornithology 67:86-
99.
McGowan, K. J. and K. Corwin. 2008, The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in
New York State. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, N.Y.
Petrie, S. A. and M. L. Schummer. 2002. Waterfowl response to zebra mussels
on the lower Great Lakes. Birding 34: 346-351.
Swift, B. L. 2007. January waterfowl counts, 2005-2007, and some observations
on long-term trends. Kingbird 57:198-213.
USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2008. Waterfowl population status,
2008. U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
The Kingbird 200'^ September; 58 (3)
223
224 The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Table 1. Regional totals for the 2008 January Waterfowl Count.
SPECIES
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total
Goose, White-fronted
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
Snow/Ross'
0
0
10711
35
1610
0
0
0
4551
26
16,933
Canada/Cackling
4,930
6553
62776
2945
6735
2868
24
2445
18290
29695
137,261
Brant
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
14514
14,515
Swan, Mute
20
277
7
2
5
6
0
54
283
965
1,619
Trumpeter
0
2
24
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
26
Tundra
32
0
871
0
86
347
0
0
0
2
1,338
Wood Duck
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
16
21
39
Gadwall
50
1
254
0
0
27
0
0
123
1235
1,690
Wigeon, Eurasian
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
7
American
15
0
69
0
2
1
0
0
56
1003
1,146
Am. Black Duck
126
191
6404
211
147
126
41
129
396
7566
15,337
Mallard
4443
2131
23610
1,180
2,350
1006
775
1040
3726
8567
48,828
Mallard X Black
0
14
5
0
0
1
0
0
5
50
75
Blue-winged Teal
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Northern Shoveler
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
344
347
Northern Pintail
27
0
137
0
11
0
1
0
5
87
268
Green-winged Teal
1
7
2
0
1
0
0
0
4
161
176
Canvasback
12655
0
11656
1
2
0
0
303
603
498
25,718
Redhead
47
214
7350
19
194
8502
0
0
20
23
16,369
Ring-necked Duck
1
5
232
3
19
3
1
11
220
439
934
Tufted Duck
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Scaup, Greater
6060
828
550
0
940
4476
11
0
173
8286
21,324
Lesser
295
153
173
4
200
0
0
0
285
1647
2,757
not to species
24
100
2
0
300
495
1
125
215
1090
2,352
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Eider, King
0
1
0
Common
0
0
0
Harlequin Duck
1
0
0
Scoter, Surf
10
3
0
White-winged
178
1217
0
Black
0
5
0
not to species
0
0
0
Long-tailed Duck
366
584
0
Bufflehead
3368
225
204
Goldeneye, Common
3750
2984
1184
Barrow's
0
1
0
Merganser, Hooded
134
15
90
Common
1699
105
204
Red-breasted
574
3189
25
Ruddy Duck
3
0
28
Loon, Red-throated
3
43
0
Common
7
12
10
Grebe, Pied-billed
7
3
18
Homed
25
316
13
Red-necked
4
3
0
Eared
0
0
0
Cormorant, D.-crested
94
10
4
Great
0
0
0
American Coot
118
305
1223
UNIDENTIFIED
26
28
3
TOTAL OF ABOVE
39,093
19,525
127,841
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
698
14
0
0
3
0
0
0
100
0
0
0
658
547
3
5
229
394
88
50
1,107
2432
4163
0
0
1
0
51
41
4
34
566
2,121
2081
723
1
325
95
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
7
0
4
1
0
1
11
0
67
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
18
1
0
0
0
0
0
53
19
0
0
0
0
172
0
129
17,947
23,600
5,942
0
0
1
5
0
0
19
19
0
0
0
1
0
0
761
774
0
0
493
2,600
0
3
12578
12,589
0
25
1337
1,462
0
28
11382
13,568
0
180
3209
7,902
225
183
1026
17,104
0
0
2
4
27
345
1569
2,310
994
1,988
75
10,556
0
25
2675
6,910
0
123
3341
3,496
0
1
395
442
0
7
137
188
0
2
57
92
0
1
185
619
0
2
2
12
0
0
0
0
0
1
70
198
0
7
64
71
0
190
489
2,397
11
1
3
244
5,364
32,087
116,096 392,624
226 The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Table 2. Comparison of 2008 January waterfowl counts in New York State to previous years.
SPECIES
2008
2007
Long-term ( 1973-2007)
Count
% diff
Average
% diff Minimum
Maximum
Goose, White-fronted
2
26
-92%
1
100%
0
26
Snow/Ross’
16,933
107,683
-84%
3,426
394%
1
107,683
Canada/Cackling
137,261
236,741
-42%
87,024
58%
5
236,741
Brant
14,515
17,235
-16%
15,169
-4%
6
31,592
Swan, Mute
1,619
1,979
-18%
1,325
22%
7
2,296
Trumpeter
26
14
86%
2
1200%
0
14
Tundra
1,338
1,160
15%
198
576%
0
1,773
Wood Duek
39
28
39%
38
3%
9
108
Gadwall
1,690
1,707
-1%
1,035
63%
11
2,900
Wigeon, Eurasian
7
5
40%
3
133%
0
10
American
1,146
1,642
-30%
1,600
-28%
13
3,207
Am. Black Duck
15,337
8,912
72%
18,326
-16%
14
27,734
Mallard
48,828
31,395
56%
33,896
44%
15
60,527
Mallard X Black
75
41
83%
62
21%
0
379
Blue-winged Teal
0
0
??
3
-100%
0
32
Northern Shoveler
347
756
-54%
285
22%
18
797
Northern Pintail
268
73
267%
200
34%
19
421
Green-winged Teal
176
501
-65%
276
-36%
20
614
Canvasback
25,718
14,103
82%
11,136
131%
21
24,584
Redhead
16,369
5,566
194%
8,527
92%
22
20,615
Ring-necked Duck
934
1,438
-35%
574
63%
23
2,234
Tufted Duck
0
0
n/a
1
-100%
0
5
Scaup, Greater
21,324
43,819
-51%
27,732
-23%
0
57,995
Lesser
2,757
7,778
-65%
1,307
111%
0
7,778
not to species
2,352
3,105
-24%
18,300
-87%
27
108,669
Eider, King
5
2
150%
6
-17%
0
29
Common
19
2,680
-99%
1,117
-98%
0
18,095
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Harlequin Duck
Scoter, Surf
White-winged
Black
not to species
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Goldeneye, Common
Barrow's
Merganser, Hooded
Common
Red-breasted
Ruddy Duck
Loon, Red-throated
Common
Grebe, Pied-billed
Homed
Red-necked
Eared
Cormorant, D.-crested
Great
American Coot
UNIDENTIFIED
TOTAL OF ABOVE
1
0
774
6,968
2,600
3,938
12,589
4,592
1,462
12,463
13,568
12,040
7,902
8,419
17,104
14,899
4
2
2,310
2,448
10,556
8,763
6,910
6,768
3,496
5,872
442
927
188
358
92
92
619
236
12
10
0
1
198
401
71
50
2,397
4,220
244
2,533
392,624
584,389
??
-89%
-34%
174%
- 88 %
13%
- 6 %
15%
100 %
- 6 %
20 %
2%
-40%
-52%
-47%
0%
162%
20 %
- 100 %
-51%
42%
-43%
-90%
-33%
6
-83%
3,173
-76%
7,408
-65%
1,020
1134%
2,357
-38%
4,655
191%)
6,422
23%
12,702
35%
2
100%
789
193%
10,981
-4%
4,605
50%
2,320
51%
81
446%
196
-4%
81
14%
361
71%
4
200%
0
??
149
33%
170
-58%
2,056
17%
1,269
-81%
292,379
34%
0
15
31
13,749
32
22,525
10
4,940
0
16,940
35
13,071
36
10,025
37
20,932
0
8
39
2,448
40
29,809
41
8,058
36
8,834
0
927
32
628
21
210
49
756
0
14
0
3
0
401
0
575
55
4,406
0
5,675
129,907
584,389
2000
Figure 1. Total number of Tundra Swans counted in New York State during January, 1973-
2008.
Figure 2. Total number of Canvasbacks counted in New York State during January, 1973-2008.
Figure 3. Total number of Canvasbacks counted in New York State during January, 1973-2008,
versus the prior year continental breeding population estimate (source: USFWS 2008).
228
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
120000
10000
/ / / / / / /
Figure 4. Total counts of scaup (Greater, Lesser and unidentified to species, combined) in New
York State during January, 1973-2008, versus the prior year continental breeding population
estimate (source: USFWS 2008).
Figure 5. Total counts of scaup (Greater, Lesser and unidentified to species, combined) in New
York State during January, 1973-2008.
Figure 6. Total counts of Hooded Merganser during January in New York State, 1973-2008.
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
229
SPRING ARRIVAL OF TREE SWALLOW AND EASTERN
PHOEBE IN THE ADIRONDACKS
Mark G retch
300 Lanoca Avenue Apt. 24
Laurinburg, NC 28352
mgre56@yahoo.com
In the Winter 1987 issue of The Kingbird, editor Robert Spahn announced “a
more systematie approach to reporting spring and fall arrival and departure
dates.” Every year since, tables of arrival and departure dates have been
compiled and published in The Kingbird. He goes on to say, “No one will know
if arrival and departure dates are useful until substantial sets of consistently
gathered data are compiled.” And... “ there are many questions that can be posed
from these data: Is New York State large enough that the direction of migratory
movement can be inferred from arrival and departure dates... and are there
regular patterns of arrival and departure within a region, and if so with what
factors might they be correlated?”
For 12 years (from 1993 to 2004) I kept a meticulous record of dates for
many spring biological phenomena including the flowering of coltsfoot, the first
appearance of wood frogs in my pond, surfacing of ants from their winter
hermitage, appearance of the first butterfly, the last snow, and the spring arrival
of the Tree Swallow (Jachycineta bicolor) and Eastern Pheobe (Sayornis
phoebe).
My initial (and naive) intention was to define the arrival of spring in
biological terms, at my location in the Adirondack Mountains. But this coming
of spring is an extraordinarily complex phenomenon and can’t be accurately
defined by any one or even an array of biological events.
So I decided to focus on the arrival dates of the two species of birds, using
my data sets as well as the corresponding arrival dates for the same years for
each of the ten Regions in NY State. I wanted to see whether these data sets
could be fit together seamlessly using Hopkins’ Bioclimatic Law (Scott). This
principle states that spring advances northward at about one degree latitude (69
miles) in four days, and it advances up mountains at about 100 feet per day
(Kudish 1975).
First I compared my sets of data for the two species to see whether there
was rank order correlation between them (Table 1). I used sets of ten data points
for the comparison (1993-2002). Data for 2004 were incomplete and I treated
one data point as an outlier (apparent arrival of Tree Swallow on 16 May, 2003).
With n =10 and a = 0.05, the critieal value of rg is 0.648. Since the test statistic
= 0.890 exceeds the critieal value, it appears that there is a positive correlation
230
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
between the arrival dates of the Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe at my study
site (Triola 1992). The site is at an elevation of 990’ above sea level in the Town
of Elizabethtown, Essex County. This correlation suggests that the arrivals of
these two insectivorous species are responding to some of the same factors,
which could include weather patterns, temperature, length of day, availability of
food, and others.
I chose Regions 7 and 9 to make arrival date comparisons since they
represented the extreme ends (north and south) of New York’s mainland. Using
data from the spring arrival tables published in The Kingbird 1992 and
2005,1 determined that the mean arrival date in Region 9 for the Eastern Pheobe
was 16 March, and for the Tree Swallow 20 March . For Region 7 by
comparison, the mean arrival dates were 29 March for the Eastern Phoebe, and 1
April for the Tree Swallow (Table 2).
Using maps I determined that the distance between the southern end of
Region 9, and the southern end of Region 7 is about 234 miles. I made the
assumption that birds first appear in the southern end of each Region as they
migrate northward in spring. Using the equivalent of one degree latitude equals
69 miles and using Hopkins’ Bioclimatic Law, I then determined that there
should theoretically be about 13.6 days difference in the appearance of birds
between the two Regions. How does the theory compare with the actual? For
each species, the observed difference in arrival dates was very close to the
predicted difference, deviating by less than one day in each case (Table 2). So
the rule of thumb that springs advances one degree of latitude every four days is
a good one for these two species.
Next, in order to include my data in the comparisons, I would need to see
how well the other part of Hopkins’ Bioclimatic Law worked—^where spring
advances to higher elevations at a rate of 100 feet per day. Applying this law, I
calculated that Eastern Phoebe should arrive on 8 April, which corresponds well
with the observed mean (8 April) and median (7 April). In the case of Tree
Swallow, however, observed arrival at higher elevations (mean =18 April;
median = 16 April) is almost a week later than predicted (11 April).
In conclusion, to answer Robert Spahn’s questions cited above, yes, New
York State is large enough that the direction of migratory movement can be
inferred from observed arrival dates for some species. And further, for some
species (e.g., Eastern Phoebe) the rates of migratory movement, both in latitude
and elevation, appear to be well predicted by Hopkins’ Bioclimatic Law. The
question of which specific factor(s) are actually influencing the rates of these
migratory movements is another matter altogether.
The Kingbird 20^% September; 58 (3)
231
Table 1. Spring arrival dates 1993-2004 of Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe at
Hurricane Mountain Road, Elizabethtown, Essex County.
Year
Tree Swallow
E. Phoebe
1993
19 Apr
16 Apr
1994
23 Apr
05 Apr
1995
18 Apr
08 Apr
1996
03 May
19 Apr
1997
16 Apr
03 Apr
1998
16 Apr
11 Apr
1999
15 Apr
31 Mar
2000
15 Apr
02 Apr
2001
15 Apr
19 Apr
2001
15 Apr
19 Apr
2002
13 Apr
31 Mar
2003
16 May
04 Apr
2004
16 Apr
Mean
18 Apr
08 Apr
Median
16 Apr
07 Apr
Table 2. Mean spring arrival dates of Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe for
Kingbird Regions 7 (Adirondack-Champlain) and 9 (Hudson-Delaware).
Tree Swallow
Eastern Phoebe
Region 7 (Adirondack-Champlain)
01 Apr
29 Mar
Region 9 (Hudson-Delaware)
20 Mar
16 Mar
Expected Difference (days)
13.6
13.6
Observed Difference (days)
12
13
LITERATURE CITED
Kudish, Michael. 1975. Paul Smith’s Flora. Paul Smith’s College. Saranac Lake,
New York, p. 3.
Scott, Gregory K. Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine-Phenology
http://www.wnrmagazine.com/misc/pheno.htm
Spahn, Robert. 1987. Editorial: Regional Boundaries and Migration Dates.
Kingbird31{\)\9-2A.
Triola, Mario F. 1992. Elementary Statistics 5*^ ed. Addison-Wesley Publishing
Company, pp. 624-626.
232
The Kingbird 200?> September; 58 (3)
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
AT LEAST 12 COMMON EIDER NESTS
ON SOUTH DUMPLING ISLAND, SUFFOLK COUNTY
On 15 May 2008, I visited South Dumpling Island, Town of Southold, Suffolk
Co., with Project Oceanology. During this annual assessment of breeding
waterbirds, we saw approximately 50 Common Eider and found 12 nests with
between two and five eggs each (Fig. D, p. 262). No hatched young were present
yet. There were certainly additional nests present, as we did not actively search
all areas of Phragmites and other flora resembling those where the observed
nests were hidden. I believe that this is the highest number that we have found.
We follow the same procedure each year so I think we are seeing a genuine
increase in eider nests despite a decrease in island vegetation each year.
Double-crested Cormorant nest numbers are increasing, while Great Egret,
Snowy Egret, and Black-crowned Night-Heron nests seem to be in decline.
Great Egrets are nesting on the ground more than in the past. No Glossy Ibis
were present. There were two pairs of nesting American Oystercatchers on
nearby Flat Hammock Island.
Glenn Williams, 221 Pequot Ave, Mystic CT 06355.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE AT BASHAKILL, SULLIVAN COUNTY
On 25 May 2008, at 10:25AM, I discovered an adult Mississippi Kite at the
Bashakill WMA, Sullivan County, while birding with Bob May and Bobby
Rosetti. The bird was soaring in the distance, to the northeast from a small field
north of the main parking lot. Although distant, the distinctive shape and gray
color were visible to all three of us. I called Arie Gilbert and John Haas to let
them know, but only got voicemail. Remarkably, about an hour later Bob May
spotted it from the bridge on Haven Road soaring against the hills to the
northeast. We lost it for a minute, relocated it, and managed to get our scopes on
it. After a couple of minutes it became tough to scope because it soared almost
directly over our heads heading southwest. John Haas’ crew and Arie’s group
arrived just in time to see it soar across the road at close range, and they snapped
off a couple of photos (Fig. D, p. 262). This time the white secondary patch on
the upperwing along with the short outermost primary could be clearly seen, and
the reduced white on the head indicated an adult female. We later learned that
another Mississippi Kite was seen earlier that day in Manhattan and another at
Derby Hill at the same time—a great day for those lucky few who were at the
right place at the right time.
David Klauber, 7 Julian St., Hicksville, NY 11801, davehawkowl@msn.com
The Kingbird 200% September; 58 (3)
233
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON—SPRING 2008
Robert G. Spahn
716 High Tower Way, Webster, NY 14580
rspahn@prodigy.net
Spring is typically one of the easier seasons to summarize. Winter is ending, so
we have the departure of the winter visitors. Then everyone is excited about
warming temperatures and the arrival of spring migrants and lots of records are
submitted. The regional highlights summarize the observations of birds that are
eagerly awaited and tracked annually across the State. Often there are surprises,
as rarities appear and special behaviors are noted. This spring also presented an
opportunity to look at some issues around data, historical and new, relating to
record dates and high counts, as there were many of each this spring.
This spring saw a relatively uniform weather picture across most of the
State, with only Regions 9 and 10 less variable and extreme than the others.
Early March brought a warm shot to some Regions, but also the last of the
winter’s snowfall for most of the State, and then cold temperatures for much of
the month. In most Regions ponds and lakes remained frozen until early April,
then ice out came quickly and a bit early. March also saw an ice storm in Region
7, with power outages in the Adirondacks and some distress for birds in the area.
April began cool but then switched to a touch of summer for a few days to two
weeks, with the month’s average temperatures 5-7° above normal in all but
Regions 9 and 10. This brought many early passerine arrivals across the State.
May then shifted back to cool, 2-3° below normal all across the state. This
resulted in late arrival dates for some of the normally later-arriving species.
Precipitation was above normal in all regions in March and moderately below in
nearly all for April and May.
WINTER ENDING
An attempt to look at reports as a part of winter ending forces recognition of the
fact that the spring season really does have some of the same fuzzy edges as the
other seasons. Many waterfowl are mainly winter visitors over much of the State
but may also be, additionally or even only, spring and fall migrants in some
Regions and local breeders in others. Recent trends of waterfowl departing from
wintering areas earlier and migrants arriving earlier and lingering for shorter
times continued to be noted this spring. In a few Regions the cold into March
delayed arrivals a bit, but still most species pushed through by the end of April,
with lingering birds in May few. Canada and Snow geese moved heavily in late
234
The Kingbird 2^0% September; 58 (3)
March and early April. Peak Snow Goose counts were back in the eastern half of
the state, the historical norm. Lingering winter waterfowl rarities included: Pink¬
footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, and “Black” Brant in Region 10; Greater White-
fronted Goose in six Regions; at least 10 Ross’s Geese in four Regions;
Cackling Goose noted in eight Regions; more than 15 Eurasian Wigeons in five
Regions; Green-winged “Eurasian” Teal in Regions 3, 5, & 10; Barrow’s
Goldeneye in Regions 2 & 8; and special hybrids—dark morph Snow x Ross’s
Goose in Region 3 and Northern Pintail x Gadwall in Region 4. There has been
some concern over numbers of several waterfowl species, and, despite
deficiencies in the data. Am. Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal numbers seem
low and Northern Pintail produced only one sizable count noted in Region 6.
Scaup and scoter numbers were low except for good counts in Region 10.
Both regular loons saw some good counts on Lake Ontario and in Region
10, but Common Loon was flagged as very low in Region 4. An alternate
plumaged Pacific Loon was observed in Region 2 on 23 May. There was a
record high inland count for Homed Grebe and another 1000+ count for Red¬
necked Grebe, both on 27 March in Region 2, a bit early for peak counts. The
rarer Eared and Western grebes were noted only as singles in Region 10.
Continuing with another messy, overlapping group, gulls did not elicit
many special notes from the Regional editors, so we have the wintering birds
and rarities as highlights. Iceland and Glaucous gulls were noted in four Regions
each, lingering into April and early May. Thayer’s Gull was noted in Region 2
and a Slaty-backed Gull in Region 3. Laughing Gull was noted as a rarity in
Regions 1 & 5 and Franklin’s Gull in Region 2. Little Gull was found only to
the west in Regions 1, 2, & 3, and Blaek-headed only in Region 10. Bonaparte’s
Gull numbers were noted low where comments were made. Lesser Black-
backed Gull, now regular in almost every month, was found in five Regions
totaling at least 10 individuals. Great Blaek-backed Gull is of some concern due
to losses to botulism, but at least one high count was tallied in Region 1.
Looking at the typical winter visitors, we find Rough-legged Hawk noted in
all but one Region, with departure dates very late March into April except later
for Regions with spring hawk watches. There was a lone Gyrfalcon in Region 1
and a Great Gray Owl in Region 6 for a few days. Northern Shrike left at typical
late March and April dates. Bohemian Waxwing lingered in six Regions to dates
ranging from 18 March to 15 April. Am. Tree Sparrow departed over a narrower
window of 13 to 24 April. Lapland Longspur mainly exited in March and Snow
Bunting from 17 March to 15 April. After a good fall and winter for winter
finches, we saw: Pine Grosbeak gone by 7 April; Red Crossbills mostly gone by
the end of April, except for nesting in Region 4 and possibly Region 10; White¬
winged Crossbill in Regions 1, 4, & 5, with nesting in Region 4; Common
Redpoll noted in all but Region 6 and departing late March to early May; a few
notes on “Greater” Redpoll separated from other Common Redpolls in Regions
4 & 7; a few more Hoary Redpoll reports in five Regions; and Pine Siskin and
Evening Grosbeak in most Regions, with reports in several into May, typical for
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
235
both species. Matt Young in the Region 4 report discusses types of Red
Crossbill observed this spring and in 2006.
For the final winter-ending note, an ice storm in Region 7 produced a heavy
crust on deep snow, negatively impacting many species, but especially resulting
in a number of Barred Owls being brought in for rehab and later release.
SPRING MIGRATION
First a look at the major groups, often awaited with great anticipation by many
birders—^hawks, shorebirds, terns, and the various families of passerines.
The bulk of the data for hawks comes from the two major spring hawk
watches, Braddock Bay and Derby Hill. Summary data for these sites are
remarkably similar, with arrivals and peaks often on the same or close by dates.
The overall totals differ only by the differences in total for Turkey Vulture and
Broad-winged Hawk; variations among the other species are typical of those
seen regularly and wash out in the totals. Both watches show Turkey Vultures at
record high numbers for the season. Each had a rare species not recorded at the
other—Swainson’s Hawk at Braddock Bay and Mississippi Kite, a 2”^ Regional
record, at Derby Hill. Comparing this spring’s numbers at Braddock Bay to the
site’s long-term data, nearly all species were tallied at average to above numbers
relative to the past 10 years, though most were well below their peaks in the late
70s and early 80s, especially the accipiters. Red-shouldered Hawk, and Am.
Kestrel. Northern Goshawk was simply low. Looking at the rest of the hawk
data: Black Vulture was observed in seven Regions, with over 26 individuals
noted; Golden Eagle was commented on as “good” in eight Regions, with
multiple reports in nearly all; and Merlin was noted in all but Region 9, with
nesting in Regions 1, 2, 3,4, 5, and 7 and suspected in 6. Interestingly, Peregrine
Falcon was no longer reported in several Regions where the species clearly
nests; no longer noteworthy?!
Caspian, Common, and Forster’s terns were flagged as down a bit, though
they were observed in nearly all Regions except for only four Regions for
Forster’s. Caspian Tern is also noteworthy for arrival at record early dates in
four Regions and an average arrival date 11 days early relative to the 22-year
average. Black Tern remains scarce. A Least Tern in Region 3 was only the 6'^
Regional record. The rest of the tern list is typically recorded only in Region 10,
where variety and numbers were good this spring. An intriguing note from
Region 5 asks if a late May surge of 186 Sterna terns at Oneida Lake might
contain some overlooked Arctic Terns passing through.
For shorebirds, over much of upstate a common complaint was lack of
habitat and low numbers for most species and a few species missed. But in
Region 7 the late May drop of Lake Champlain yielded good mudflats and some
interesting records. Region 10 birders located nearly every species expected in
spring plus a few rarities. So overall the State list for spring was covered well.
236
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Rarer species inland for spring included: Am. Golden-Plover in Regions 1 & 2;
Sanderling in Regions 1 & 7; Marbled Godwit in Regions 6 & 7; Purple
Sandpiper in Regions 1, 2, 5, & 9; and Long-billed Dowitcher in Regions 1, 2 &
10. Wilson’s Phalarope was scarce. In Region 10, rarities included Wilson’s
Plover and Black-necked Stilt. Very high to State record high counts were
tallied for Killdeer in Region 2, Solitary Sandpiper in Region 5, Ruddy
Turnstone in Region 10, and Semipalmated Sandpiper in several Regions in late
May.
Moving on to the passerines, many species arrived at record early dates in
one or several Regions, especially species typically arriving in the last half of
April. Species expected in mid-May or later were often noted arriving late. More
will follow on arrival dates under a separate heading. Working through the
passerine families, we start with flycatchers. There were several record early
dates, including a tie of the State record early date for Willow Flycatcher on 30
April. Olive-sided Flycatcher was noted in seven Regions, though with few
reports except in Regions 9 & 10. Least Flycatcher arrived early across the
State, though nowhere record early. Eastern Kingbird was also an early arrival.
In contrast, Alder Flycatcher was average to late in arriving. The lone rarity was
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on two dates in late May in Region 10. Vireos of note
included White-eyed Vireo found in five Regions and State record early on 18
March in Region 10. Red-eyed Vireo was State record early inland on 16 April
in Region 3. There were several very high counts of migrating swallows,
especially in Region 2, with a State record high count for N. Rough-winged
Swallow. State record highs were also tallied for Blue Jay in Region 5 and
American Robin in Region 2 and very high counts for Homed Lark and
American Pipit in Region 2. Sedge Wren was reported only in Regions 5 & 6
and Golden-crowned Kinglet was flagged as very low in Region 2. Thmshes
were noted generally as low in number and a bit late, especially Gray-cheeked.
Bicknell’s Thmsh was reported only from Regions 7 & 10.
Warblers were well reported, with all regularly occurring species observed.
Of the 22 species in the arrival date tables, 13 arrived at statistically significant
early dates averaged across the 10 Regions vs. their 22-year averages. All but
one species, Blackpoll Warbler, averaged early. There were 23 Regional record
early arrival dates for just the warbler species in the table. A State record high
count was tallied for Yellow Warbler in Region 2, Looking at trends, we find
Golden-winged Warbler noted low, but still observed in seven Regions;
“Lawrence’s” Warbler with 8 individuals in four Regions; at least 34 Orange-
crowned Warblers from six Regions; Cape May Warbler noted in all but one
Region; Yellow-throated Warbler in Regions 1, 2, & 10; Bay-breasted flagged
as low; Prothonotary in five Regions, with 12 reports in Region 10 alone;
Kentucky in only Regions 1 & 10; Connecticut only in Region 1; and Yellow¬
breasted Chat in only Regions 9 & 10.
Continuing through the checklist, Scarlet Tanager was tallied at a State
record high count in Region 2 on 14 May, while Summer Tanager appeared in
The Kingbird 200% September; 58 (3)
237
Regions 1, 9, and 10 and a very rare Western Tanager was observed in Region
10. Among the sparrows, we find: Clay-colored in five Regions, Lark Sparrow
in Region 10, Henslow’s only in Regions 6 & 7, Nelson’s Sharp-tailed in
Regions 2 & 10, Fox Sparrow numbers average to low, and no really good
counts noted for White-throated and White-crowned. A Painted Bunting was
located in Region 10 and a State record high was tallied for Indigo Bunting in
Region 2. Finally, among the icterids we have a rare Western Meadowlark in
Region 2, notes on Rusty Blackbird as a species of concern from nearly all
Regions, some good blackbird counts, a state record high count for Baltimore
Oriole in Region 2, and the Scott’s Oriole relocated in Region 10 from the end
of March into early April.
Non-passerines of note included; the usual substantial collection of
interesting seabirds observed in Region 10; Great Cormorant in Regions 5, 8, 9,
and 10; a first Regional record of Anhinga soaring over Region 4; and an
assortment of herons and egrets, most regular in Region 10 and found only there
this season, except for Cattle Egret in Region 7 and Tricolored Heron in Region
1. Moving on we find both cuckoos well reported in most Regions, the usual few
owl notes, and a surprising State record high spring count of 510 for Common
Nighthawk on 28 May in Region 2—especially surprising given the dismal
numbers for the species for many years at any season.
A must read is the account of Double-crested Cormorant “control” episodes
at the Crown Point Important Bird Area in the Region 7 introductory section.
RARITIES
Most of the rarities have been woven into the family reviews above. This would
be the place to select a BOTS Award species for spring, but the contenders are
either carry-over species from previous seasons, formerly rare species now
regular, or single observer birds with no indication of documentation to
NYSARC; none of which I would consider suitable for a season’s BOTS. This
then results in the BOTS Award going to the multitude of early arriving
migrants of this very early spring.
EARLY ARRIVALS AND RECORD HIGH COUNTS
The large number of early arrivals and record high counts of this season open
the door to some discussion of the arrival date tables and of the need for, but
problems with, data in general.
The arrival date tables were begun by Paul DeBenedictis, Kingbird editor,
in 1987 and have now been gathered for the same 93 species for 22 years. These
allow us some assessment of migration timing. This year, for one of very few
years over this period, the average arrival date for all species over all Regions
was significantly early (at 2 standard deviations) vs. the 22-year average.
Additionally for the first time, each of the 10 Regions, averaged over all species.
238
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
yielded a date early relative to the 22-year average for the Region. Then we find
84 of the 93 species early averaged over the 10 Regions and only nine species
late vs. the species’ 22-year average. Of these, 46 of the early dates and only two
of the late dates are statistically significant. Of the late species, Common
Nighthawk is in trouble, so late detection of its small numbers is probably not
surprising. Looking more carefully at the details for Eastern Bluebird suggests
that its apparent lateness may be simply due to an artifact of reporting. In most
of the early cases, the species was reported early across the state and often at
record early dates in one or more Regions.
One can question and debate the details of the methodology for arriving at
some of this summary information due to issues such as a few species not even
recorded in one or more Regions for the season or some Regional editors not
able or willing to try to separate an arrival date from dates for overwintering
birds of some species. These details might/would alter some of the averages or
standard deviations. Way back, I tried carefully correcting all of the data for
each year for several years for each of these potential impacts and found that
averages over all the Regions and/or years ended up very little affected. In
specific cases one needs to look at the data details for a single species, but
generally it is not worthwhile when assessing the overall picture.
All of the record high counts come from watches in Regions 2 and 5, the
hawk watches and a lakewatch. In Region 2, the hawkwatcher, Dave Tetlow,
attempted to count all of the species passing this year and on 14 May even
moved to the old satellite watch at the base of the west spit of Braddock Bay to
catch the hordes of passerines migrating. The results in all of these cases show
the potential still there if more observers would take the time to actually carry
out counts over substantial periods of time when they encounter big movements
or large groundings. Of course, this depends on the time an individual has
available for birding, the interest or inclination of the observer, and the skill set.
Some hawkwatchers see the world only as raptors and raptor food and show
little interest in the food unless it is being pursued by a raptor. Some birders are
simply not interested in counting. It is also not possible to count numbers of
many species at the same time without a very high skill level in both
identification and counting.
Finally, my attempt to put these various apparent State records into
historical perspective led to the feeling that the time is fast approaching when
we will need to embark on another update of the data in a new State bird book.
In searching the most recent book for data for so many species, it unfortunately
became painfully apparent that for many species the authors either did not
follow instructions relative to providing summary data or did not research the
data carefully. For these species, a new author or set of authors will be faced
with the task of going clear back to 1975 in their research. Without immersion in
the data for many years, the Regional editor or other researcher of records now
is left not knowing which numbers are really correct and which not.
The Kingbird 2QQB> September; 58 (3)
239
240 The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (;
Spring Arrival Dates 2008 Waterbirds
Species
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5
Region 6
Region 7
Region 8
Region 9
Region 10
Average
22-Yr, Ave
American Bittern
13 Apr
4 Apr
12 Apr
4 Apr
9 Apr
17 Apr
3 May
26 Apr
14 Apr
15 Apr
Green Heron
13 Apr
18 Apr
17 Apr
30 Apr
15 Apr
29 Apr
19 Apr
19 Apr
19 Apr
12 Apr
19 Apr
22 Apr
Wood Duck
27 Feb
4 Mar
4 Mar
23 Mar
23 Mar
22 Mar
8 Mar
11 Mar
13 Mar
Green-winged Teal
16 Mar
3 Mar
4 Mar
4 Mar
24 Mar
6 Apr
28 Mar
10 Mar
16 Mar
15 Mar
17 Mar
Northern Pintail
17 Feb
3 Mar
4 Mar
4 Mar
11 Mar
15 Mar
18 Mar
2 Mar
15 Mar
6 Mar
7 Mar
Blue-winged Teal
27 Mar
13 Mar
21 Mar
26 Mar
1 Apr
6 Apr
14 Apr
21 Mar
16 Mar
21 Mar
25 Mar
29 Mar
Osprey
24 Mar
30 Mar
16 Mar
5 Apr
24 Mar
6 Apr
11 Apr
10 Apr
16 Mar
9 Mar
27 Mar
28 Mar
Virginia Rail
13 Apr
19 Apr
12 Apr
14 Apr
13 Apr
19 Apr
25 Apr
18 Apr
27 Mar
14 Apr
18 Apr
Sora
1 ^ -Xpr
20 Apr
19 Apr
5 May
19 Apr
23 Apr
4 May
23 Apr
29 Apr
Common Moorhen
1 ■’> Apr
3 May
30 '\pr
5 May
22 Apr
S May
3 May
2 May
29 Apr
20 Api
Black-bellied Plover
19 Apr
4 May
26 Apr
26 May
26 May
10 May
31 May
6 May
11 May
13 May
Semipalmated Plover
3 May
26 Apr
3 May
7 May
6 May
14 May
15 May
2 May
11 Apr
3 May
10 May
Killdeer
1 Mar
24 Feb
3 Mar
6 Mar
2 Mar
6 Mar
16 Mar
6 Mar
15 Mar
5 Mar
5 Mar
Greater Yellowlegs
3 Apr
30 Mar
24 Mar
6 Apr
8 Apr
21 Apr
12 Apr
16 Apr
7 Apr
7 Apr
Lesser Yellowlegs
3 Apr
11 Apr
11 Apr
1 May
8 Apr
29 Mar
18 Apr
3 May
15 Apr
24 Apr
15 Apr
18 Apr
Solitary Sandpiper
19 Apr
26 Apr
25 Apr
23 Apr
19 Apr
6 May
10 May
26 Apr
2 May
■•I Apr
26 Apr
26 Apr
Spotted Sandpiper
13 Apr
15 Apr
13 Apr
23 Apr
25 Apr
5 May
26 Apr
19 Apr
16 Apr
12 Apr
19 Apr
24 Apr
Sanderling
18 May
14 May
16 May
17 May
Semipalmated Sandpiper
18 May
14 May
16 May
7 May
17 May
26 May
17 May
8 May
30 Apr
13 May
13 May
Least Sandpiper
4 May
11 Apr
20 Apr
29 Apr
6 May
2 May
11 May
8 May
23 Apr
20 Apr
28 Apr
4 May
Pectoral Sandpiper
13 Apr
31 Mar
9 Apr
12 Apr
14 May
17 Apr
15 Apr
21 Apr
Wilson's Snipe
29 Mar
24 Mar
6 Mar
4 Apr
14 Mar
8 Apr
9 Apr
21 Mar
27 Mar
21 Mar
25 Mar
24 Mar
American Woodcock
19 Mar
14 Mar
6 Mar
15 Mar
10 Mar
27 Mar
23 Mar
0 Mar
1 Mar
13 Mat
1 1 M:ir
Caspian Tern
9 Apr
1 Apr
25 Mar
25 Apr
12 Apr
12 Apr
16 Apr
12 Apr
9 Apr
10 Apr
21 Apr
Common Tern
6 Apr
15 Apr
12 Apr
21 May
20 Apr
20 Apr
10 May
17 May
6 May
24 Apr
27 Apr
27 Apr
Black Tern
26 Apr
3 May
28 Apr
8 May
5 May
23 May
17 May
4 May
6 May
8 May
Marsh Wren
27 Apr
26 Apr
16 Apr
5 May
25 May
10 May
3 May
16 Mar
27 Apr
30 Apr
Dates in bold type are recorc
early arrivals for the Regio
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Spring Arrival Dates 2008 Landbirds
---
Species
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5 j Region 6
Region 7
Region 8
Region 9
Region 10
Average
22-Yr. Ave
Black'billed Cuckoo
6 May
10 May
3 May
17 May
27 Aprj
16 May
27 May
17 May
4 May
7 May
10 May
12 May
Common Nighthawk
25 May
11 May
20 Apr
28 May
24 May!
29 May
20 May
10 May
13 May
16 May
12 May
Chimney Swift
23 Apr
20 Apr
19 Apr
20 Apri
7 May
2 May
1 May
5 May
14 Apr
25 Apr
25 Apt
Ruby-thr Hummingbird
29 Apr
27 Apr
24 Apr
28 Apr
27 AprI
12 May
5 May
4 May
29 Apr
24 Apr
29 Apr
3 May
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
4 Apr
7 Apr
30 Mar
27 Mar!
9 Apr
9 Apr
20 Mar
28 Mar
1 Apr
3 Apt
Olive-sided Flycatcher
13 May
26 May
24 May
25 May
25 May
5 May
10 May
14 May
17 May
18 May
Eastern Wood-Pewee
8 May
6 May
8 May
22 May
13 Mayl
5 May
21 Apr
16 May
10 May
7 May
8 May
9 May
Alder Flycatcher
24 May
20 May
17 May
23 May
17 May!
15 May
21 May
11 May
17 May
17 May
18 May
17 May
Willow Flycatcher
16 May
13 May
16 May
17 May
30 Apr!
24 May
15 May
2 May
2 May
11 May
15 May
Least Flycatcher
30 Apr
29 Apr
27 Apr
27 Apr
26 Apr!
30 Apr
6 May
27 Apr
26 Apr
24 Apr
28 Apr
1 May
Eastern Phoebe
29 Mar
18 Mar
3 Mar
29 Mar
20 Marl
6 Apr
27 Mar
23 Mar
1 Mar
12 Mar
19 Mar
22 Mar
Gr. Crested Flycatcher
26 Apr
26 Apr
26 Apr
13 May
27 Apr!
2 May
8 May
5 May
18 Apr
24 Apr
29 Apr
1 May
Eastern Kingbird
29 Apr
26 Apr
27 Apr
16 Apr
1 May!
3 May
26 Apr
1 May
23 Apr
24 Apr
26 Apr
28 Apr
Purple Martin
11 Apr
3 Apr
31 Mar
7 Apr!
19 Apr
10 May
17 May
16 Apr
21 Mar
14 Apr
17 Apr
Tree Swallow
27 Mar
13 Mar
14 Mar
16 Mar
15 Mar!
4 Apr
4 Apr
25 Feb
6 Mar
7 Mar
16 Mar
21 Mar
N. Rough-winged Swallow
6 Apr
3 Apr
10 Apr
22 Apr
12 Apr!
21 Apr
26 Apr
11 Apr
13 Apr
2 Apr
12 Apr
15 Apt
Bank Swallow
20 Apr
18 Apr
18 Apr
24 Apr
28 Apr!
5 May
15 May
19 Apr
11 Apr
13 Apr
23 Apr
25 Apt
Cliff Swallow
26 Apr
19 Apr
24 Apr
15 May
26 Apr!
2 May
14 May
2 May
27 Apr
21 Apr
29 Apr
27 Apt
Barn Swallow
29 Mar
3 Apr
3 Apr
13 Apr
5 Apr!
10 Apr
20 Apr
11 Apr
11 Apr
13 Apr
8 Apr
11 Apt
House Wren
17 Apr
20 Apr
17 Apr
20 Apr
19 Apri
23 Apr
25 Apr
20 Apr! 22 Apr
19 Apr
20 Apr
22 Apt
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
7 Apr
4 Apr
29 Mar
8 Apr
10 Apr!
14 Apr
12 Apr
29 Mar
12 Mar
3 Apr
6 Apr
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
13 Apr
18 Apr
19 Apr
30 Apr
13 Apr!
2 May
10 Apr
12 Apr
2 Apr
16 Apr
21 Apt
Eastern Bluebird
10 Marl
25 Mar
22 Mar
6 Mar
15 Mar
9 Mar
Veery
2 May
26 Apr
27 Apr
30 Apr
2 May!
6 May
27 Apr
3 May
2 May
15 Apr
29 Apr
2 May
Swainson's Thrush
6 May
5 May
11 May
4 May!
27 Apr
3 May
4 May
2 May
4 May
8 May
Hermit Thrush
7 Apr
9 Apr
11 Apr
17 Marl
8 Apr
9 Apr
10 Apri
5 Apr
7 Apr
Wood Thrush
26 Apr
26 Apr
26 Apr
27 Apr
29 Apr!
2 May
7 May
3 May
15 Apr
26 Apr
27 Apr
29 Apt
Gray Catbird
15 Apr
26 Apr
1 May
26 Apr!
3 May
9 May
23 Apr
14 Mar
25 Apr
22 Apr
25 Apt
Brown Thrasher
8 Apr
16 Apr
11 Apr
13 Apr
ISApil
19 Apr
18 Apr
13 Apr
12 Apr
14 Apr
16 Apt
Blue-headed Vireo
17 Apr
17 Apr
12 Apr
14 Apr
19 Apri
21 Apr
20 Apr
19 Apr
18 Apr
12 Apr
16 Apr
19 Apr
Yellow-throated Vireo
8 May
3 May
26 Apr
3 May
26 Apri
3 May
25 May
5 May
26 Apr
25 Apr
3 May
4 May
Warbling Vireo
26 Apr
26 Apr
16 Apr
27 Apr
26 Apii
3 May
8 May
27 Apr
26ApH
26 Apr
27 Apr
30 Apr
Red-eyed Vireo
10 May
3 May
16 Apr
2 May
27 Apr!
10 May
16 May
23 Apr
2 May
26 Apr
1 May
4 May
i Dates in bold type are record early arrivals for the Region.
t
242 The Kingbird September; 58 (3)
Spring Arrival Dates
2008
Landbirds (cont'd)
I
Species
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5
Region 6
Region 7
Region 8
Region 9
Region 10
Average
22-Yr. Ave
Tennessee Warbler
8 May
2 May
4 May
15 May
3 May
7 May
16 May
22 May
3 May
3 May
8 May
9 May
Nashville Warbler
25 Apr
19 Apr
23 Apr
30 Apr
19 Apr
28 Apr
21 Apr
29 Apr
19 Apr
19 Apr
23 Apr
29 Apr
Northern Parula
3 May
7 May
16 Apr
14 May
3 May
8 May
10 May
3 May
2 May
12 Apr
1 May
3 May
Yellow Warbler
25 Apr
22 Apr
21 Apr
26 Apr! 26 Apr
27 Apr
6 May
22 Apr
19 Apr
17 Apr
24 Apr
27 Apr
Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 May
2 May
26 Apr
24 Apr
27 Apr
3 May
10 May
27 Apr
30 Apr
27 Apr
29 Apr
3 May
Magnolia Warbler
27 Apr
2 May
3 May
3 May
3 May
8 May
12 May
7 May
19 Apr
25 Apr
1 May
5 May
Cape May Warbler
30 Apr
26 Apr
3 May
15 May
15 May
18 May
17 May
7 May
24 Apr
7 May
8 May
Black-thr. Blue Warbler
29 Apr
26 Apr
2 May
30 Apr
26 Apr
3 May
5 May
3 May
26 Apr
26 Apr
29 Apr
1 May
Black-thr Green Warbler
23 Apr
18 Apr
12 Apr
27 Apr
24 Apr
26 Apr
28 Apr
19 Apr
26 Apr
19 Apr
22 Apr
25 Apr
Blackburnian Warbler
27 Apr
29 Apr
26 Apr
20 Apr
29 Apr
6 May
4 May
8 May
19 Apr
26 Apr
28 Apr
3 May
Pine Warbler
11 Apr
15 Apr
1 Apr
3 Apr
6 Apr
13 Apr
19 Apr
13 Apr
12 Apr
6 Mar
6 Apr
11 Apr
Palm Warbler
20 Apr
11 Apr
14 Apr
20 Apr
17 Apr
25 Apr
15 Apr
11 Apr
23 Mar
13 Apr
18 Apr
Bay-breasted Warbler
3 May
2 May
8 May
14 May
14 May
18 May
21 May
1 7 May
3 May
10 May
10 May
Blackpoll Warbler
13 May
17 May
8 May
20 May
15 May
20 May
25 May
10 May
15 May
27 Apr
14 May
12 May
Blaek-and-White Warbler
25 Apr
26 Apr
20 Apr
30 Apr
27 Apr
27 Apr
25 Apr
19 Apr
20 Apr
12 Apr
23 Apr
25 Apr
American Redstart
3 May
2 May
3 May
3 May
3 May
29 Apr
10 May
3 May
30 Apr
26 Apr
2 May
3 May
Ovenbird
27 Apr
26 Apr
25 Apr
26 Apr
26 Apr
28 Apr
4 May
6 May
20 Apr
16 Apr
26 Apr
30 Apr
Northern Waterthrush
26 Apr
19 Apr
18 Apr
3 May
22 Apr
30 Apr
25 Apr
10 Apr
6 Apr
11 Apr
20 Apr
26 Apr
Mourning Warbler
13 May
5 May
12 May
19 May
14 May
15 May
11 May
31 May
3 May
22 May
14 May
15 May
Common Yellowthroat
29 Apr
26 Apr
27 Apr
27 Apr
23 Apr
6 May
6 May
20 Apr
30 Apr
19 Apr
27 Apr
30 Apr
Wilson's Warbler
4 May
11 May
12 May
8 May
17 May
21 May
10 May
14 May
24 Apr
10 May
11 May
Canada Warbler
14 May
15 May
4 May
13 May
10 May
14 May
13 May
15 May
5 May
2 May
10 May
11 May
Scarlet Tanager
6 May
3 May
3 May
5 May
4 May
5 May
10 May
7 May
26 Apr
26 Apr
3 May
4 May
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
26 Apr
28 Apr
25 Apr
30 Apr
27 Apr
1 May
5 May
27 Apr
20 Apr
20 Apr
26 Apr
28 Apr
Indigo Bunting
29 Apr
6 May
28 Apr
30 Apr
6 May
14 Mav
12 Mav
12 May
25 Apr
21 Apr
3 May
4 May
Eastern Towhee
3 Apr
7 Apr
15 Mar
13 Apr
20 Mar
17 Apr; 23 Apr
13 Apr
12 Apr
6 Apr
10 Apr
Chipping Sparrow
9 Apr
6 Apr
11 Mar
10 Apr
8 Apr
17 Apr
10 Apr
13 Apr
5 Mar
2 Apr
2 Apr
5 Apr
Vesper Sparrow
13 Apr
1 Apr
3 Apr
10 Apr
12 Apr
30 Mar
7 May
16 Mar
26 Apr
10 Apr
9 Apr
11 Apr
Savannah Sparrow
10 Apr
31 Mar
2 Apr
10 Apr
5 Apr
6 Apr
9 Apr
16 Apr
16 Mar
11 Apr
5 Apr
8 Apr
Lincoln's Sparrow
25 Apr
26 Apr
26 Apr
7 May
3 May
6 May
8 May
28 Apr
2 May
1 May
4 May
White-crowned Sparrow
23 Apr
26 Apr
30 Apr
27 Apr
24 Mar
6 May
16 Apr
13 Apr!
20 Apr
25 Apr
Bobolink
1 May
26 Apr
27 Apr
2 May
26 Apr
1 May
8 May
5 May
2 May
2 May
1 May
2 May
Baltimore Oriole
26 Apr
26 Apr
26 Apr
27 Apr
27 Apr
27 Apr
29 Apr
27 Apr
20 Apr
18 Apr
25 Apr
30 Apr
Overall Average
20 Apr
18 Apr
16 Apr
24 Apr
20 Apr
25 Apr
29 Apr
23 Apr
18 Apr
16 Apr
21 Apr
23 Apr
Dates in bold type are record early arrivals for the Region.
Seasonality and Advance
Species
Seasonality
Advance
Regional
Region
Reported
vs 1987-2007
(Days)
Record Early
1
92
-1.04
-1.31
5
2
91
-1.24
-2.57
2
3
86
-3.64
-4.5
8
4
83
-1.87
2.81
4
5
91
-2.25
-1.45
8
6
81
-5.67
3.9
10
7
89
-0.82
8.26
4
8
88
-1.32
2.19
4
9
85
-2.54
-2.69
8
10
76
-1.84
-4.65
5
Possible number of species = 93. Minus implies average arrival in a Region this
year was earlier than the Region’s 22-year average (Seasonality) or earlier than
the average of all Regions (Advance). Given difficulties in estimating arrivals of
some species in some Regions, Seasonality for those Regions and Advance for all
Regions may mean little.
REGION 1—NIAGARA FRONTIER
Mike Morgante
59 Briar Hill Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127
morgm@roadrunner.com
March 2008 was cold, as persistent low pressure over eastern Canada kept a
general northwest flow of air over the Region most of the month. The mean
temperature at the Buffalo weather station was 31.5°F, 2.8° below average.
There was 4.22" of precipitation, 1.23" above average, along with 21.9" of
snow, 16.7" more than average. Most of the snow fell during an event on the 7*-
8*. The last day of the month brought 60°F and a large flow of migrant raptors,
blackbirds, and other species that were backed up. The eastern basin of Lake
Erie remained frozen throughout the month. It was the warmest April in 53 years
and third warmest on record. The mean temperature was 50.9°F, 5.6° above
average. Precipitation was 2.05", 0.99" below average. A two-week stretch of
June-like weather started on the 16* and spring growth accelerated rapidly. The
eastern basin of Lake Erie, including harbors, was ice free on the 19th, about
one week later than average. The average temperature in May was 53.4°F, 3.6°
below normal. Rainfall was frequent but light, with 2.54" falling, 0.81" below
normal. A northwest flow of air dominated the month similar to March.
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
243
Waterfowl migration was a little slow in the first half of March, which was
likely attributable to the colder weather and mostly frozen water bodies. Snow
Geese were reported in modest numbers again this spring, with a maximum of
111. They occur far less regularly and in much lower numbers than in the
Regions to the east. There was a strong showing, likely the best ever, for
Greater White-fronted Geese. Eight in Wilson on 17 March represents the
record maximum count for Region 1. Cackling Geese also made a good
showing, with sightings from eight different locations. Only one Brant was
reported. Eurasian Wigeon was the highlight of the migrant ducks even though
it has occurred on an annual basis in recent years. Numbers of many dabbler
species, especially Blue-winged Teal, were lower than usual in May, when
remaining birds are likely looking to breed.
Turkey Vultures continue to dominate the Region’s hawk watches, Hamburg
and Ripley, especially in March when they far outnumbered other species
combined. Somewhat surprisingly, neither hawk watch had a Black Vulture this
year, but Richard Salembier spotted one migrating over Amherst State Park on
22 April. The peak days for migrant Broad-winged Hawks were 19 April and 26
April this spring. A very rare dark morph Broad-winged Hawk was observed
by Willie D’Anna in Ripley on 27 April. A rare dark morph Red-tailed Hawk
was observed by several hawk watchers at Hamburg on 20 April. Previously
documented Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Peregrine Falcon nesting locations were
active again this year.
Sandhill Cranes continue to increase as migrants, and documented breeding
is likely only a matter of time and luck in finding them. Two rare waders this
season included a Snowy Egret in Wilson found by Gerry Teal and a Little
Blue Heron found at Dunkirk Harbor by Terry Mosher and Dave Neveu. The
Great Egret rookery at Motor Island continues to increase; Bill Watson counted
57 birds and 37 nests there on 2 May. Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned
Night-Herons also continue to thrive at the Motor Island rookery.
Shorebirds were found with some regularity at Kumph Marsh at Iroquois
NWR as well as several locations at the nearby Oak Orchard and Tonawanda
WMAs, Elsewhere, shorebird migration was mostly inconsistent, as usual in
spring for Region 1. The prolonged mid-April warm up may have had
something to do with the second earliest Black-bellied Plover on record. Kate
Shulgina identified one in flight at Iroquois NWR on 19 April. I identified an
American Golden-Plover at Barcelona Harbor on 23 April, a species that is
rare in spring. The shorebird rarity of the spring was a Long-billed Dowitcher
found and photographed by Jim Pawlicki at Kumph Marsh on 2 May. This is
only the second documented Regional occurrence in spring with the first being
in 2006. Many shorebirds were found in good numbers at several locations over
the last few days of May including record Regional spring counts of
Semipalmated Sandpipers.
The passerine migration seemed to be ahead of schedule after two weeks of
extremely warm weather in April but then steadied back to a normal pace in
244
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
May. There were some high counts of warblers, especially Palm, at several
locations on 2 May. Otherwise, there were only isolated high counts of species
and/or numbers of warblers. This spring’s rarities included: a Kentucky
Warbler at Beaver Island State Park, a Connecticut Warbler at Amherst State
Park, and a migrant Prothonotary Warbler at Fort Niagara State Park. A
migrant Yellow-throated Warbler was found at Amherst State Park in April,
and they were also found at Allegany State Park in May where they have bred
for the past few years. There was only one report of Golden-winged Warbler,
another troubling sign for this regionally declining species.
Common Nighthawks arrived late in May, and there were several reports of
more than 20 birds per night, a number which has rarely occurred in recent
spring seasons. There were several reports of Bohemian Wax wings along the
Lake Ontario plain in March constituting the first ever spring reports for the
Region. American Pipits are known to push through in May, sometimes in larger
numbers than when they first arrive in March and April. On 11 May, Jim
Pawlicki witnessed a large movement of pipits along Lake Erie in Ripley. Using
a handheld counter, he tallied 675 pipits during a two hour period.
As expected, Common Redpolls were seen in good numbers in March
following the good fall and winter seasons for sightings. Sightings trailed off in
April. Doug Beattie was surprised to find one at a hanging feeder on 19 May,
which ties the latest on record in the Region. Also unusual was an apparent
leucistic Common Redpoll photographed by Barbara Patterson in Freedom in
March. The bird maintained its red cap and black on the wings and tail but was
otherwise entirely white and devoid of all brown coloration. Unlike the redpolls,
Pine Siskins were not widely distributed; however, there were several sightings
per month this spring. Two White-winged Crossbills remained from February
as occasional visitors to Mark Morgante’s Clarence feeder in March. There were
only several Evening Grosbeak sightings and no Red Crossbill sightings this
spring, as more were expected following the late fall flights of these species.
The most notable rarity this spring was an immature male Blue Grosbeak
found by David Wheeler at Woodlawn Beach State Park on 11 May. The bird
remained in the same area through 15 May allowing many birders to find it,
although it was not always easy to do so. This constitutes the 4“^ documented
occurrence in the Region. Another southerner that rarely reaches our Region is
Summer Tanager. Richard Salembier and Jim Pawlicki were delighted to find
an immature male at Amherst State Park on 27 May while they were waiting
patiently and unsuccessfully for a singing Connecticut Warbler to show itself
As the climate moderates, we might expect to find more Blue Grosbeaks and
Summer Tanagers reaching the Region in the years ahead.
The B.O.S. April Count on 13 April was held on a cold day with rain and
snow showers in the morning. A total of 153 species was tallied over the entire
Region 1 and the portion of the B.O.S, Study Area in Ontario. There were nine
record high counts since the 1935 inception including: Green-winged Teal
(392), Wild Turkey (435), Eared Grebe (5, all seen in Ontario), Virginia Rail
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
245
(7), Sandhill Crane (4), Greater Yellowlegs (121), Upland Sandpiper (2),
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (183), and Yellow-rumped Warbler (69). No record
low counts were recorded.
The B.O.S. May Count on 18 May was conducted on a cloudy morning with
bouts of heavy rain. The weather likely contributed to a below average number
of total birds and low counts for many species. A total of 204 species was
observed. Three species were recorded at their highest total ever (since 1935):
Mute Swan (12), Red-throated Loon (31), and Great Egret (60), while there
were also high counts for Black-crowned Night Heron (196), Sandhill Crane (4),
Ruddy Turnstone (24), Common Tern (590), and Homed Lark (58). Sora was
not recorded on the count for the first time ever. Other historical low counts
included Blue-winged Teal (4), Cemlean Warbler (1), and Canada Warbler (5),
while other very low counts were for Common Moorhen (3), Red-shouldered
Hawk (3), Ovenbird (91), and Brown Creeper (6).
CONTRIBUTORS
Tim Baird, Doug Beattie, Jim Berry, Elizabeth Brooks, Bmce Chilton, Willie
D’Anna, Elaine Dart, Stephen Eaton, Robert Ensminger, Mike Galas, Joanne
Goetz (JGo), Joe Gula (JGu), Doug Happ, Barb Henderson, Paul Hess - INWR,
Linda Holmes, Jennifer Kurtzdorfer, Eric Labato, Jim Landau (JiL), Lynne
Landon, Jerry Lazarczyk (JeL), Tom LeBlanc, Paul Lupenecki, John McCanna,
Mark Morgante (MaM), Mike Morgante (MiM), Terry Mosher, Dave Neveu,
Susan & Tom O’Donnell, Barbara Patterson (BPa), Jim Pawlicki, Betsy Potter
(BPo), Damon Praefke, Jeff Reed, Gerry Rising, Don Roberson, Richard
Rosche, Chuck Rosenburg, Richard Salembier (RSa), Debbie Sharon, Kate
Shulgina, Jeanine Smith, Robert Spahn (RSp), Tom Sommerville, David &
Debbie Suggs (D&DS), Gerry Teal, Nancy Vigyikan, William Watson, David
Wheeler, Larry Wilson, Peter Yoerg, Mike Zebehazy.
ABBREVIATIONS
AISP - Allegany SP, CATT; AmSP - Amherst SP, ERIE; BeSP - Beaver I SP,
ERIE; BOSAC - Buffalo Ornithological Society April Count - 13 April;
BOSMC - Buffalo Ornithological Society May Count - 18 May; BuSP -
Buckhom Island SP, ERIE; BWWTP - Batavia Waste Water Treatment Plant,
GENE; ChauL - Chautauqua L, CHAU; DH - Dunkirk Harbor; FMCSP - Four
Mile Creek SP, NIAG; FNSP - Fort Niagara SP, NIAG; GHSP - Golden Hill
SP, NIAG; Hamburg HW - Hamburg Hawk Watch, ERIE; INWR - Iroquois
NWR, GENE/ORLE; LBSP - Lakeside Beach SP, ORLE; MI - Motor I NR
ERIE; NFSP - Niagara Falls SP, NIAG; NR - Niagara R; OOWMA - Oak
Orchard Wildlife Management Area, GENE; PG - Point Gratiot, CHAU; Ripley
246
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
HW - Ripley Hawk Watch, CHAU; SPNS - Sinking Ponds Nature Sanctuary,
ERIE; Tifft NP - Tifft Nature Preserve, ERIE; TBNP - Times Beach Nature
Preserve, ERIE; TWMA - Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area,
GENE/NIAG; WoBSP - Woodlawn Beach SP, ERIE; WTSP - Wilson-
Tuscarora SP, NIAG.
WHISTLING-DUCKS - VULTURES
Gr. White-fronted Goose: arr 4 WTSP 15
Mar (DS); 4, 8, 1 Wilson NIAG 16; 17, 29 Mar
(GT; WD, BPo), record maximum for Reg;
Yates ORLE 23 Mar (PY, BH); INWR 29 Mar
(JP, RSa); 4 Somerset NIAG 30 Mar (JP, WD,
mob); excellent showing.
Snow Goose: 11 Elma ERIE 13 Mar; 3 wh, 8
bl Oakfield GENE 16 Mar; 45 Somerset NIAG
21 Mar (DS); 5 Wilson NIAG 21 Mar; max
111 Yates ORLE 22 Mar (WD); 10 Belmont
ALLE 24 Mar; Sheridan CHAU 24 Mar; 19
Alexander GENE, 23 BeSP 30 Mar; last DH,
OOWMA 6 Apr.
Cackling Goose: arr 2 Elma ERIE (MZ) & DH
13 Mar (JP, WW, JGu); max 8 TWMA 15 Mar
(JP, RE); 2, 3 INWR 22, 29 Mar (JP); Wilson
NIAG 23 Mar; 2 Yates ORLE 23 Mar; 4
Newstead ERIE 29 Mar (PY); last 4 OOWMA
6 Apr (PY); good showing.
Brant: ORLE BOSMC, only report.
Mute Swan: 2 OOWMA 27 Apr; Porter NIAG
11,12 May; only reports away from now
regular 3-4 nest locations along L Ontario.
Tundra Swan: arr multiple locations 3 Mar;
150 ChauL 8 Mar (JB); 200, 125 Conewango
CATT 23, 29 Mar (TB, SE); 160 Wilson NIAG
29 Mar (WD); last 10 BOSAC.
Wood Duck: Belmont ALLE 5 Mar, second
arrival report.
Gadwall: arr 5 Tonawanda ERIE 2 Mar.
EURASIAN WIGEON: INWR 27 Mar (GR,
NV); annual in spring in recent years.
Am. Wigeon: arr 5 Amity ALLE 11 Mar.
Am. Black Duck: arr 11 Alexander GENE 10
Mar.
Blue-winged Teal: arr 2 Tifft NP 27 Mar.
N. Shoveler: arr 6 BWWTP 16 Mar; 2 INWR
25 May.
N. Pintail: 52 Sheridan CHAU 21 Mar (DN);
168 Pomfret CHAU 22 Mar (DN); max 870
INWR 5 Apr (JP, WW).
Green-winged Teal: arr OOWMA 16 Mar.
Canvasback: arr 3 Amity ALLE 14 Mar.
Redhead: arr 6 ChauL 16 Mar.
Ring-necked Duck: arr 12 Amity ALLE 14
Mar; 2 Tifft NP 31 May (RSa).
Greater Scaup: last 2 DH 24 May.
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
Lesser Scaup: arr Belmont ALLE 16 Mar; last
2 TBNP 29 May.
Surf Scoter: Pt Breeze ORLE 2 Mar; 4,4, 2
DH 4, 12, 29 Mar; only reports.
White-winged Scoter: 2 BWWTP 27 Apr,
uncommon inland.
Black Scoter; PB 2 Mar; 2, 2 DH 24 Mar, 6
Apr; 2 Wilson NIAG 29 Mar; only reports.
Long-tailed Duck: arr 6 ChauL 16 Mar;
Pomfret CHAU 31 Mar; TWMA 5 Apr; 3
Dayton CATT 6 Apr; 3 OOWMA 6 Apr;
Bethany GENE 14 Apr; last 274 BOSMC.
Bufflehead: arr 3 Pomfret CHAU 18 Mar; last
BOSMC.
Hooded Merganser: arr 2 Belmont ALLE 9
Mar.
Com. Merganser: arr 7 Belmont ALLE 6 Mar.
Red-breasted Merganser: max 1024 DH 29
Mar, counts rarely made in spring when
abundant on L Erie.
Ruddy Duck: arr 7 DH 13 Mar; max 77
BWWTP 27 Apr; 2 Dayton CATT 6 Apr; Cuba
L ALLE 15 Apr; 21 TWMA 27 Apr; AISP 13
May.
Red-throated Loon: Olcott NIAG 2 Mar; DH
13 Mar (WW, JP, JGu); ChauL 28 Mar (JB);
Dayton CATT BOSAC, rare inland; last 31
BOSMC, all along L Ontario.
Com. Loon; arr 3 Hamburg HW 23 Mar.
Horned Grebe: arr 7 ChauL 16 Mar; max 70
Somerset NIAG 30 Mar; 6 Cuba L ALLE 15
Apr; last 2 BOSMC.
Red-necked Grebe: 10 LBSP 2 Mar; 2 PB 2
Mar; 2 Yates ORLE, GHSP 15 Mar; 1-2 DH 2
- 22 Mar; max 25, 14 Somerset NIAG 30 Mar,
9 Apr; 333 BOSAC.
EARED GREBE: Buffalo ERIE 28 Apr
(WD), found dead in parking lot.
Double-crested Cormorant: arr ChauL 28
Mar; 282 + 119 n BuSP 26 Apr.
Am. Bittern: arr ALLE BOSAC; 3 ALLE
BOSMC; no other reports away from INWR
complex.
Least Bittern: arr Amherst ERIE 15 May (JP,
RSa).
Great Blue Heron: max 82 + 64 n MI 8 Apr.
Great Egret; arr 3 MI 30 Mar; max 57 -t- 39 n
MI 2 May.
247
SNOWY EGRET: WTSP 8 May (GT), rare
but regular in spring.
LITTLE BLUE HERON: DH 24 May (TM!,
DN), rare.
Green Heron: arr BOSAC.
Black-crowned Night-Heron: max 163 NF 10
Apr.
BLACK VULTURE: AmSP 22 Apr (RSa!),
nearly annual in spring.
Turkey Vulture: arr Lancaster ERIE 3 Mar;
max 1716 Ripley HW 25 Mar; 1711 Hamburg
HW 30 Mar.
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Osprey: arr 2 Allegheny Res CATT 24 Mar
(TL); 2 Conewango WMA CATT 30 Mar,
building nest; 1 + n BuSP 26 Apr, 2"‘* year
nesting in this area; max 44 Ripley HW 2 May;
4 nests INWR & vicinity.
Bald Eagle: too numerous to report all nesting
locations; 14 BOSAC; max 12 Ripley HW 5
May; 15 BOSMC; 6 im Sheridan CHAU 24
May (DN).
N. Goshawk: im Newfane NIAG 15 Mar
(WD!); im Wilson NIAG 5 Apr (WD, BPo);
AISP 16 May (JR); only reports away from
hawkwatches.
Red-shouldered Haw k: arr Orchard Park
ERIE 9 Mar; 2 Ashford CATT 11 Mar;
relatively low numbers at hawkwatches.
Broad-winged Hawk: arr BOSAC; max 2650
Ripley HW, 838 Hamburg HW 19 Apr; dark
morph Ripley CHAU 27 Apr (WD), very rare;
last 23 Hamburg HW 26 May.
Red-tailed Hawk: dark-morph Hamburg HW
20 Apr (JP, WD), rarely reported.
Rough-legged Hawk: max 7 INWR 22 Mar; 4
BOSMC; last Ripley CHAU 20 May.
Golden Eagle: arr Yates ORLE 30 Mar (JP!,
WWI); 2 Tifft NP 31 Mar (DW); Carlton
ORLE 26 Apr (PY!); Hamburg HW 27 Apr
(DHl).
Merlin: 2 continued at SUNY Buffalo thru 29
Mar; arr Hamburg HW 3 Apr; Williamsville
ERIE 5 Apr; 2 BOSAC; Wilson NIAG 2 May;
only reports.
Peregrine Falcon: Tonawanda ERIE 2 Mar; 2
Grand I NR 2 Mar; arr Hamburg HW 3 Mar; 2
Buffalo Psych Center ERIE 13 Mar; Tifft NP
31 Mar; 2 NF 10 Apr; I + n Buffalo ERIE thru,
from annual nest location downtown; Ripley
CHAU 27 Apr; 1, 1 Hamburg HW 29 Apr, 5
May; INWR 4 May; last Wilson NIAG 31 May
(WD).
248
Virginia Rail: arr SPNS BOSAC (LH);
FMCSP 14 Apr; BuSP 15 Apr; Alexander
GENE 1 May; Porter NIAG 31 May; only
reports.
Sora: arr BOSAC; 3 Tifft NP 11 May; 3
Tonawanda ERIE 11 May.
Com. Moorhen: arr BOSAC; Pomfret CHAU
1 May.
Sandhill Crane: arr Pomfret CHAU 15-23
Mar (JS, JGo, TM); 4 Somerset NIAG & Yates
ORLE 30 Mar (WD); BuSP 15 Apr (CR, MG);
WTSP 15 Apr (BPo); 2 Tifft NP 26 Apr (RSa);
2 Somerset NIAG 26 Apr (WD); 4,1 Hamburg
HW 27, 30 Apr (MZ, DH; JiL); INWR 4, 7
May (WW, PH); 3 BOSMC ; last 2 TWMA 21
May (WW, JP).
Black-bellied Plover: arr INWR 19 Apr (KSl),
second earliest ever; 1, 3 Wilson NIAG 9, 10
May; WoBSP 28 May; max 25 INWR 29 May
(RSp); 9 Wilson NIAG 31 May.
AM. GOLDEN-PLOVER: Barcelona Harbor
CHAU 23 Apr (MiMl); rarely reported in
spring.
Semipalmated Plover: arr 2 INWR 3 May;
max 27 INWR 21 May; 2 Sheldon WYOM 29
May, uncommon to rare in WYOM.
Killdeer: arr Wellsville ALLE 1 Mar.
Greater Yellowlegs: arr 8 INWR 3 Apr; max
39 BWWTP 15 Apr.
Lesser Yellowlegs: arr 2 INWR 3 Apr; last
BWWTP 29 May.
Solitary Sandpiper: arr Porter NIAG 19 Apr
(WD!), early; last 2 INWR 25 May.
Willet: INWR 19-20 May (WD; RSp), only
report, rare in spring.
Spotted Sandpiper: arr BOSAC.
Upland Sandpiper: arr 2 BOSAC; 4 Tillman
WMA ERIE 18 Apr; NIAG BOSMC; only
reports.
Whimbrel: arr BOSMC; Westfield CHAU 23
May (JP); only reports.
Ruddy Turnstone: arr 6 BOSMC; 3 DH 29
May; max 11 BWWTP 29 May (RSp).
Sanderling: arr 2 BOSMC; DH 28 May (DN),
only reports.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: arr 25 BOSMC;
max 400 BWWTP 29 May (RSp); 11 Sheldon
WYOM 29 May (JeL); 110 Alexander GENE
29 May (DB, ED); 225 OOWMA 31 May
(WD); 150 INWR 31 May (WD); record high
counts for spring.
Least Sandpiper: arr OOWMA 4 May.
White-rumped Sandpiper: arr 2, 1 INWR 19,
21 May (JP); 2 BWWTP 29 May (RSp), only
reports.
The Kingbird 200% September; 58 (3)
Pectoral Sandpiper: art 7 BOSAC ; last 6
OOWMA21 May.
Purple Sandpiper: 3 NF 10 Apr; last 2 NF
BOSMC, traditional location for spring reports.
Dunlin: arr INWR 6 Apr (PY!), early; 36
INWR 21 May; 2, 2 Alexander GENE 21, 29
May; max 150 BWWTP 29 May (RSp).
Short-billed Dowitcher: arr 4 BOSMC; max
36 INWR 21 May; 15 Alexander GENE 21
May (DB, ED); 15 OOWMA29 May; only
reports.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: INWR 3
May (JP!), 2'’^* ever spring report.
Wilson’s Snipe: arr 40 Randolph CATT 29
Mar (TB); 16 Villenova CHAU 12 Apr.
Am. Woodcock: arr 3 WTSP 19 Mar.
LAUGHING GULL: Barcelona Harbor
CHAU 23 Apr (DN), rare in any season.
Little Gull: DH 2, 11 Mar; max 8 Lewiston
NR 18 Mar; 10 BOSAC.
Bonaparte’s Gull: 4 Riverwalk ALLE 14 Mar;
16 ChauL 29 Mar; 2 Warsaw WYOM 7 Apr;
20, 20 Cuba L ALLE 9, 15 Apr; 130 BeSP 22
May; 35 Wilson NIAG 30 May; 125 FNSP 31
May, good counts for late in season.
Iceland Gull: 1-2 Wilson NIAG 18 Mar - 23
Apr; BeSP 28 Apr; Olcott NIAG 29 Apr;
Wilson NIAG 19 May (WD); only reports
away from NR in Mar.
Lesser Black-backed Gull: im Wilson NIAG
19, 24,31 May(WD!), late.
Glaucous Gull: DH 2 Mar; ChauL 28 Mar;
Wilson NIAG 30 Mar; Silver Creek CHAU 16
Apr; DH 27 Apr; last DH 23 May (DN).
Great Black-backed Gull: 480 DH 11 Mar
(RR), outnumbered ring-bills and herrings.
Caspian Tern: arr Brant ERIE 9 Apr; 75
Barcelona Harbor CHAU 19 Apr; 80 Olcott
NIAG 29 Apr; max 140 DH 1 May (DN, JP).
Com. Tern: arr 2 Buffalo NR 6 Apr (JP),
slightly early; 195 Wilson NIAG 19 May
(WD), high count for location and date.
Forster’s Tern: arr NR BOSAC (WD!);
CHAU BOSMC; 3 Olcott NIAG 19 May
(WD); last Wilson NIAG 26 May (WD).
Black Tern: arr INWR 26 Apr; max 15
TWMA 4 May; 2 NR 10 May (DS); 13
BOSMC; BeSP 22 May (JP).
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Black-billed Cuckoo: arr Alexander GENE 6
May.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: arr FNSP 13 May.
Long-eared Owl: 1,2 FMCSP 23 Mar, 3 Apr
(BPo); Jamestown CHAU 16 Apr (JM),
The Kingbird 200B> September; 58 (3)
perched in open in front yard of residential
area; only reports.
Short-eared Owl: 2 Shelby ORLE 2 Mar;
Royal ton NIAG 11 Mar; 4 Hartland NIAG 17
Mar; 4, 1 TWMA 5, 20 Apr, only reports.
N. Saw-whet Owl: INWR 16 Mar (CR);
Alabama GENE 29 Mar (RSa); only reports.
Com. Nighthawk: arr Buffalo ERIE 25 May; 3
Alexander GENE 27 May; 12 WoBSP, 3 Elma
ERIE 28 May; max 30, 40 Dunkirk CHAU 29,
30 May; 7 Ripley CHAU 29 May; 20 WTSP
30 May.
Chimney Swift: arr 4 Buffalo ERIE 23 Apr.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: arr Eden
ERIE 29 Apr.
Red-headed Woodpecker; 2 BOSAC; 1-2 PG
26 Apr thru; Williamsville ERIE 13 May; 2
FNSP 15 May; 9 BOSMC; Orchard Park ERIE
19-22 May; Barre ORLE 21 May; Olcott
NIAG 24 May; only reports.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: arr BeSP 4 Apr;
max 183 BOSAC, record high count.
FLYCATCHERS ■ WAXWINGS
Olive-sided Flycatcher: arr 1, 1 AISP 13, 31
May (TB); BeSP 24 May (DS), only reports.
E. Wood-Pewee; arr FNSP 8 May.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: arrTifftNP 15
May; 2 AmSP 22 May; Tifft NP 31 May; only
reports.
Acadian Flycatcher: arr AISP 13 May; 2
Holland ERIE 24 May; Pomfret CHAU 24
May; 2 Chestnut Ridge P ERIE 25 May; only
reports.
Alder Flycatcher: arr Carroll CHAU 24 May.
Willow Flycatcher: arr AmSP 16 May.
Least Flycatcher: arr Tifft NP 30 Apr; empid
at PG 25 Apr was likely this species.
E. Phoebe; arr TWMA, Alexander GENE 29
Mar.
Gr. Crested Flycatcher: arr Tifft NP, GHSP,
Ripley CHAU 26 Apr.
E. Kingbird: arr Alexander GENE 29 Apr.
N. Shrike; last BOSAC.
White-eyed Vireo: arr Sheridan CHAU 26
Apr (DN); Westfield CHAU 1-23 May (JP);
TifftNP13May(RSa).
Yellow-throated Vireo: arr Alexander GENE
8 May.
Blue-headed Vireo: arr PG 17 Apr.
Warbling Vireo: arr Tifft NP 26 Apr.
Philadelphia Vireo: arr Westfield CHAU 8
May; WTSP 14 May; 2 BOSMC; FMCSP 26
May; Tonawanda ERIE 28 May; last Tifft NP
31 May; only reports.
249
Red-eyed Vireo; air NFSP, Orchard Park
ERIE 10 May.
Com. Raven: Wales ERIE 15 Mar; Hamburg
HW 11 Apr; Arkwright CHAU 4 May;
Bethany GENE 4-11 May; 2 Attica Res
WYOM 29 May; only reports outside ALEE,
CATT besides BOS counts.
Purple Martin: arr FNSP 11 Apr.
Tree Swallow: arr 3 INWR 27 Mar.
N. Rough-winged Swallow: arr DH 6 Apr.
Bank Swallow; arr 2 Hamburg ERIE 20 Apr.
Cliff Swallow: arr 6 BuSP 26 Apr.
Barn Swallow: arr TWMA 29 Mar; 4587
BOSMC, cool weather on count day
concentrated swallows in many locations.
Carolina Wren: 12 BOSAC & 10 BOSMC;
low numbers for this decade.
House Wren: arr 2 PG, Bethany GENE 17
Apr.
Winter Wren: arr FMCSP 3 Apr.
Marsh Wren: arr 2 Alexander GENE 27 Apr.
Golden-crowned Kinglet: arr 3 BeSP 2 Apr.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: arr Silver Creek
CHAU 7 Apr.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: arr BOSAC.
Veery: arr Tifft NP, Sheridan CHAU 2 May.
Gray-cheeked Thrush: arr NIAG BOSMC;
NFSP 24 May; Tillman WMA ERIE 25 May;
Wilson NIAG 31 May; only reports.
Swainson’s Thrush: arr Tonawanda ERIE 6
May.
Hermit Thrush: arr Tifft NP 7 Apr.
Wood Thrush: arr Tifft NP 26 Apr.
Gray Catbird: arr AmSP 15 Apr.
Brown Thrasher: arr PG 8 Apr.
Am. Pipit: arr 16 Alexander GENE, 3
Hamburg HW 29 Mar; max 675 Ripley CHAU
11 May (JP), count of flyovers over two hour
period.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING. WTSP 6 Mar
(BPo!); Newfane NIAG 11 Mar (WW!, JP!);
max 22 WTSP 15 Mar (DS); 7 Wilson NIAG
27 Mar (BPol); first ever spring reports for
Reg.
WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler: arr Tifft NP 26 Apr
(RSal), slightly early.
Golden-winged Warbler: arr Wilson NIAG 2
May (BPo, WD), only report,
“Brewster’s” Warbler: TWMA 13, 19,21
May (EL, JP); Amherst ERIE 15 May (JP,
RSa); only reports.
Tennessee Warbler; arr FNSP 8 May.
Orange-crowned Warbler: arr BeSP 6 May
(DS); 1, 1, 1 Wilson NIAG 7, 19, 25 May
(BPo, WD); 2 FMCSP 10 May (WD);
Woodlawn ERIE 11 May (JP); Newfane NIAG
24 May (WD, BPo); good showing.
Nashville Warbler: arr Wilson NIAG 25 Apr.
N. Parula: arr Wilson NIAG 3 May.
Yellow Warbler: arr 2 Westfield CHAU 25
Apr.
Chestnut-sided Warbler: arr NFSP 1 May.
Magnolia Warbler: arr Alexander GENE 27
Apr (DBl, ED), record early.
Cape May Warbler: arr AmSP 30 Apr; max 3
Sheridan CHAU 8 May (JP, DN).
Black-throated Blue Warbler: arr BeSP 29
Apr.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: arr AmSP 2 Apr;
73 Sheridan CHAU 2 May (DN); max 150
FNSP 4 May (LL).
Black-throated Green Warbler: arr 3 Ripley
CHAU, Sherman CHAU, 2 AmSP 23 Apr.
Blackburnian Warbler: arr BeSP 27 Apr.
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER:
AmSP 23, 24 Apr (JP, RSa); 2 AISP 31 May
(TB, JP), in previous breeding area.
Pine Warbler: arr Orchard Park ERIE 11 Apr;
max 4 WTSP 19 Apr; Chestnut Ridge P ERIE
25 May; 2 AISP 31 May.
Prairie Warbler: arr 2 Woodlawn ERIE 11
May (DW).
Palm Warbler: arr Tifft NP 20 Apr; 16 NFSP
I May (DR); 55 AmSP 2 May (RSa); max 96,
47 Sheridan CHAU 2, 4 May (DN); last 25
BOSMC.
Bay-breasted Warbler: arr Wilson NIAG 3
May.
Blackpoll Warbler: arr WoBSP 13 May; max
II Tifft NP 31 May (RSa).
Cerulean Warbler; arr Tifft NP 5 May (JK).
Black-and-white Warbler: arr 2 Wilson
NIAG 25 Apr.
Am. Redstart: arr 2 Wilson NIAG, PG 3 May.
Prothonotary Warbler: arr FNSP 7 May
(LLI), rare away from breeding areas; TWMA
20 May (DB, ED), has bred in this area in
recent years.
Ovenbird; arr Pomfret CHAU 27 Apr.
N. Waterthrush: arr 2 Portland CHAU, Tifft
NP 26 Apr.
Louisiana Waterthrush: arr 2 BOSAC.
KENTUCKY WARBLER: BeSP 21 May
(DS), nearly annual in spring.
Connecticut Warbler: AmSP 27 May (JP!,
RSa!), only report.
Mourning Warbler: arr Sherman CHAU 13
May.
250
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
C. Yellowthroat: arr Moss L ALLE 29 Apr.
Hooded Warbler: arr Hamburg ERIE 26 Apr
(MiM).
Wilson’s Warbler: arr Tifft NP 4 May (DP),
early; Sheridan CHAU 5 May (DN), early.
Canada Warbler: arr BeSP 14 May.
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
SUMMER TANAGER: im m AmSP 27 May
(JP!, RSa!), rare.
Scarlet Tanager: arr Bethany GENE 6 May.
E. Towhee: Dunkirk CHAU 6-11 Mar; arr
Pomfret CHAU 3 Apr.
Am. Tree Sparrow: last TBNP 19 Apr.
Chipping Sparrow: arr 5 Alfred ALLE 9 Apr.
Clay-colored Sparrow: no reports.
Field Sparrow: arr Belmont ALLE 10 Apr.
Vesper Sparrow: arr 7 BOSAC; 3 BOSMC;
Barre ORLE 21 May; Batavia GENE 31 May;
only reports.
Savannah Sparrow: arr 2 Clarence ERIE & 2
Bethany GENE 10 Apr.
Grasshopper Sparrow: arr Ripley CHAU 14
May; 12 BOSMC; 3 Tillman WMA ERIE 25
May; only reports.
Henslow’s Sparrow: no reports.
Fox Sparrow: arr Pomfret CHAU 1 Mar
(TM); Amherst ERIE thru 6 Apr; max 19 Tifft
NP 7 Apr (RSa); last Tonawanda ERIE 9 May
(BC).
Lincoln’s Sparrow: arr 2 PG 25 Apr (DN),
early; last Sheridan CHAU 26 May.
Swamp Sparrow: arr 56 BOSAC.
White-throated SparroAv: max 150 Tifft NP
26 Apr.
White-crowned Sparrow: arr 2 NFSP 23 Apr;
last Wilson NIAG 25 May.
Lapland Longspur: 20, 10 Yates ORLE 2, 11
Mar; only reports.
Snow Bunting: 200 Yates ORLE 2 Mar; 180
Bethany GENE 10 Mar; 271 Somerset &
Hartland NIAG 11 Mar; last 9 BOSAC.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: arr several locations
26 Apr.
BLUE GROSBEAK: im m WoBSP 11-15
May (DW, mob, NYSARC), 4th in Reg, see
intro.
Indigo Bunting: arr Hamburg ERIE 29 Apr,
early (PL).
Bobolink: arr 6 Bethany GENE 1 May.
Red-winged Blackbird: arr 8 Houghton
ALLE 2 Mar; max 1110 Hamburg HW 31 Mar.
E. Meadowlark: arr Eden ERIE 4 Mar.
Rusty Blackbird: arr 3 Angelica ALLE 25
Mar; 25 Conewango CATT 29 Mar; max 600
TWMA 23 Apr (PY); last 12 BOSMC.
Com. Grackle: arr 4 Hamburg HW 3 Mar;
max 4526 Hamburg HW 31 Mar (WW).
Orchard Oriole: arr 1,2 Silver Creek CHAU
26, 29 Apr (DN); max 5 Ripley CHAU 8 May
(JP); SPNS 12 May (LH); 10 BOSMC;
Varysburg WYOM 19 May (TS); 2 Pomfret
CHAU 24 May, seems to be slowly increasing.
Baltimore Oriole: arr BuSP 26 Apr.
Purple Finch: arr Wilson NIAG 8 Apr; 159
BOSAC; 152 BOSMC; low numbers.
White-winged Crossbill: 2 Clarence ERIE II,
20, 24 Mar (MaM), only report.
Com. Redpoll: max 300 Hartland NIAG 2 Mar
(JP, CR); leucistic Freedom CATT 11 Mar
(BPa); well reported in Mar; 42 banded Alfred
ALLE 4 Apr (EB); 71 BOSAC; last Bethany
GENE 19 May (DBl), latest on record along
with same date in 1971.
HOARY REDPOLL: Varysburg WYOM 21
Mar (WW! JP! TS), rare.
Pine Siskin: 15 Orchard Park ERIE 1-31 Mar;
only scattered reports in Apr & May; 15
Varysburg WYOM 19 May (TS); last Boston
ERIE 25 May.
Evening Grosbeak: “large flock” Hume
ALLE early Mar; 8 Caneadea ALLE 27 Mar
(LW); 2 Wales ERIE 5 Apr (D&DS); 6 ALLE
BOSAC; Fredonia CHAU 3 May (JGo);
Buffalo ERIE 10 May (PY, BH); last ALLE
BOSMC; only reports.
The Kingbird 2^0^ September; 58 (3)
251
REGION 2-GENESEE
Kevin C. Griffith
61 Grandview Lane, Rochester, NY 14612
ckg rif @f ronti ernet.net
We can almost start every spring season report with a similar statement: It was
an up and down season. But that's the nature of spring. March started out mild,
but it didn't last. By the 4^^, winter had set in and lasted most of the month. Low
pressure in eastern Canada kept the cold air flowing over the Region. The
average temperature of 31.5°F was 2.4° below normal, with only about four
days passing the 50° mark. Precipitation totaled 1.17" above normal at 3.75".
Snowfall was 7" above normal for March at 23.6". April, on the other hand,
warmed up. The low-pressure system had moved out and a blocking high-
pressure system held over eastern Canada. By the second week temperatures
were averaging above normal and the month finished with an average
temperature of 52.3°, 7.0° above normal. A number of days were in the 70s and
80s contributing to the 3'^'^ warmest April ever. A record high of 86° was
recorded on the 19‘^ Precipitation totaled 0.81" below normal at 1.94". Unusual
for April, no snowfall was recorded. Of note was the 76% sunshine, which was
well above the normal 50%. May did not continue that trend. An upper level
trough over eastern Canada maintained a west to northwest flow across the
Region generally keeping things cool. Still, it seemed to be a decent spring
month. The average temperature was 54.8°, 2.2° cooler than usual. Amazingly,
it was only 2.5° higher than April; we haven’t seen a smaller increase since
1945. Precipitation was half of the normal amount, with a total of 1.41". Again,
possible sunshine was above normal at 66%. By the end of the season the 3-
month temperature average was very near normal.
Waterfowl were interesting in both number and variety. Greater White-
fronted Goose reports were about normal, Ross’s Goose was noted again, and
Cackling Goose was well reported. Canada Goose numbers were good. Four
Brant along the lakeshore in Kendall were unusual for spring but not
unprecedented. Mute Swans continued to be plentiful, and Trumpeter Swans
were reported from the usual locations. Among the diving ducks, Greater Scaup
was low; peak numbers in general were not very high. Of special note were
reports of Eurasian Wigeon away from Lake Ontario, including a first
Livingston County record from Conesus Lake. The male Barrow’s Goldeneye at
Point Breeze was reported into the spring season. Am. Black Duck reports were
few. Waterfowl, for the most part, moved out of the Region early. Unusually
high numbers of Red-throated Loons were reported in March, earlier than
normal, but loon totals for the season tended to be low or even very low
according to some observers. A Pacific Loon flying past Webster Park in May
was a highlight. Grebe numbers were very good. There wasn’t much in the line
of waders, with only a few Great Egret reports and none of the rarer species.
252
The Kingbird September; 58 (3)
Common Moorhen continues to be reported in very few locations—one at
Braddock Bay was the only one noted along the west lakeshore this spring!
March was not a good month for the hawk watch, again manned by Dave
Tetlow, but things picked up with April’s warmup. April D* was a good day for
raptors as well as Killdeer and some passerines. 20 April saw the peak day for
total numbers at the hawkwatch for the season. May didn’t produce many great
days due to clear skies and a persistent lake breeze. A 31 March arrival date for
Osprey was early, but the total of eight recorded on that date was even more
unusual. Swainson’s Hawk on 14 May was a highlight. Black Vulture was noted
on two dates in April near Braddock Bay, but was more unusual at two other
locations to the east in Wayne County in April and May. A Rough-legged Hawk
at Braddock Bay on 26 May was getting late. Sandhill Cranes were again
reported early and in good numbers, continuing the recent trend. Shorebird
arrivals were somewhat late. Lack of habitat resulted in the bulk of the reports
being birds flying past Braddock Bay or Hamlin Beach or birds visiting a couple
of ponds in Geneseo. A Purple Sandpiper at Hamlin Beach in May was the
Regional spring record. The Long-billed Dowitcher in Hamlin in May was just
the 7* Regional spring record. 2258 Semipalmated Sandpipers at Hamlin Beach
on 31 May was a State record high inland. Gull highlights included several Little
Gull reports from Braddock Bay and Hamlin Beach in April, Thayer’s Gull at
Braddock Bay in April, and Iceland Gull in April and Franklin’s Gull in May at
Hamlin Beach. William Symonds, Robert Spahn, and Dave Tetlow manned
Hamlin Beach this year on a regular basis. Their observations contributed to the
many noteworthy reports from that location. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were
reported in March and May continuing their trend to presence in most months.
Tern numbers were generally poor, with no Forster’s in April and only 3 in May.
The only Black Tern report was of five individuals at Braddock Bay on 3 May.
Owl numbers were so-so, with Long-eared arriving in March and totaling
21 in April, and with over 40 N. Saw-whet Owls banded in April by Dave
Genesky and Mike Frail; none lingered into May. May produced some excellent
totals of Common Nighthawks. Greg Lawrence, Kimberly Sucy, and Dave
Tetlow made a concentrated effort to count the nighthawks on selected evenings.
Whip-poor-wills continued to be scarce, though one in Webster put on a nightly
show for birders for several weeks.
The passerine flight was its usual mixed bag. Due to the warm spell in
April, many of the arrival dates were record early or tied record early dates for
the Region, e.g.. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue¬
winged Warbler, and Ovenbird. May arrivals tended to be on the late side,
particularly for flycatchers and thrushes. Late April produced a burst of
passerines on the 26‘^, There were also excellent flights noted at the hawkwatch
during April and early May and a tremendous flight on the 14 May at the west
spit of Braddock Bay. These were tallied by Dave Tetlow, who tried to count all
species passing the hawkwatch this year. This is only possible with excellent
skills in both bird identification and estimating of numbers; otherwise the
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
253
counter will be swamped by just the time to ID and count the hawks he or she is
paid to count on the good days. The April dates produced good numbers of
Killdeer, Homed Larks, American Robins, American Pipits, and Lapland
Longspurs. The May dates produced very large to record high numbers of Blue
Jay, several swallows, American Pipit, some warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose¬
breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, Baltimore Orioles, and American
Goldfinch. On the down side, kinglet numbers were low, particularly Golden-
crowned, with none banded at the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory. This could
possibly be partially accounted for by the early warmth in April and the banding
station startup after mid-month. Warblers were the usual mixed bag. On the plus
side were N. Parula, Yellow, Cape May, Blackpoll, and Am. Redstart. The
negative side included Tennessee, Nashville, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue,
Yellow-mmped (amazingly), Black-throated Green, and Bay-breasted.
Kentucky and Connecticut went unreported. There were a number of Clay-
colored Sparrow reports, continuing a trend. Vesper and Grasshopper sparrows
were okay, but Henslow’s was unreported. A Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow at
Burger Park in Greece was the 10th spring record for the Region. White-
throated and White-crowned sparrows were relatively scarce. Some observers
felt that Rose-breasted Grosbeak numbers were generally low. The Western
Meadowlark heard at Island Cottage Woods was the first in several years.
Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin, and Evening Grosbeak all lingered into May.
The March species total was 138, well below the 10-year average of 152.6;
April totaled 194 species, which was considerably higher than the 10-year
average of 178.9; and May topped out at 230 species, essentially on the 10-year
average. The species total for the year stands at 259, also essentially at the 10-
year average of 261.3 (Is = 7.62).
CONTRIBUTORS
Tom Anderson, Fred Arnold, Janet Atkin, Mike Baird, Jessie Barry, Bob Beal,
Steven Benedict, Barry Bermudez, Richard Bishop, John Boettcher, Lynn
Braband, George Briggs, Elizabeth Brooks (BBBO), Robert Byrnes, Bmce &
Mary Ann Cady, Nancy Casper, Carolyn Cass, Gary Chapin, Kelly Close,
Melissa Coniglio, Don Cowley, Kathleen Dalton, Steve Daniel, Doug Daniels,
Pete Debes, Jon Dombrowski, Ted Floyd, Mike Frail, Kenny Frisch, Sharon
Galbraith, Andrew Garland, Dave Genesky, Jay Greenberg, Kevin Griffith &
Colleen Dox-Griffith, Lucretia Grosshans, Judy Gurley, Helen Haller, Dave &
Vanna Harding, Kim Hartquist, Liz Hudson, Carolyn Jacobs, Tom Johnson,
Ryan Kayhart, Jim Kimball, Tom Lathrop, Leona Lauster, Greg, Fred, and
Holly Lawrence, Tim Lenz, Joan Lindberg, Don Marsh, Pat Martin, Robert &
Sandy Mauceli, Robert & Chita McKinney, Feme Merrill, Randi Minetor, Frank
Morlock, Dan Niven; Charles O’Brien, Richard O’Hara, John Olson, Jay
Ovsiovitch, Jim Pawlicki, Michael Peter, Norma Platt, Bill & Betty Powell, Jay
Powell, Gail Price, David Prill, RBA Field Trips, Carolyn Ragan, William
254
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Rowley, Jo Roy, William Ruscher, Jennifer Ryeenga, Chuck Schleigh, Dominic
Sherony, Joe Slattery, Judy Slein, John Slowik, Tom Smith, Spring Field
Ornithology (SFO) Classes (from Cornell Lab), Joe Slattery, Kimberly Sucy,
Robert & Susan Spahn, A1 & Di Stout, David Strong, Kimberly Sucy, Jerry
Sullivan, William Symonds, Art Tanghe, Steve Taylor, Joyce Testa, David &
Kathy Tetlow, Michael & Joann Tetlow, Don & Donna Traver, Brad Walker,
Mike Wasilco, Ann Watson, Kinsley Whittum, Joe Wing, Chris Wood, Mark
Wyman, Martha Zettel, Bruce Zollner.
ABBREVIATIONS
b. - banded; BB - Braddock Bay, MONR; BBBO - Braddock Bay Bird
Observatory; CH - Cobbs Hill, Rochester, MONR; CL - Conesus Lake, LIVI;
DE - Durand-Eastman Park, MONR; E - T Elba, GENE; EL - East Lakeshore,
MONR,WAYN; G - T Greece, MONR; GE - T Geneseo, LIVI; H - T Hamlin,
MONR; HB - Hamlin Beach State Park, MONR; HI - Highland Park,
Rochester, MONR; HP - Hogan Pt, T Greece; I - T Irondequoit, MONR; ICW -
Island Cottage Woods, T Greece, MONR; K - T Kendall, ORLE; LW -
Letchworth State Park, LIVI,WYOM; M - Manitou Beach area, MONR; MP -
Mendon Ponds Park, MONR; NR - Nations Road, T Avon/Geneseo, LIVI; OB
- Ontario Beach, Charlotte, MONR; PA - T Parma, MONR; PB - Point Breeze,
ORLE; PE - T Perinton, MONR; R - C Rochester, MONR; S - T Savannah,
WAYN; W - T of Webster, MONR; WL - West Lakeshore, MONR, ORLE.
BRADDOCK BAY HAWKWATCH TOTALS
Species
Arrival
Max
Max Date
Total
Black Vulture
5 Apr
1
5 & 9 Apr
2
Turkey Vulture
3 Mar
3279
1 Apr
18656
Osprey
31 Mar
60
3 May
295
Bald Eagle
1 Mar
34
26 May
268
No. Harrier
11 Mar
141
9 Apr
1207
Sharp-sh. Hawk
6 Mar
1266
3 May
5751
Cooper’s Hawk
3 Mar
87
1 Apr
564
No. Goshawk
12 Mar
5
1 Apr
20
Red-sh. Hawk
15 Mar
153
1 Apr
588
Broad-wng. Hawk
12 Apr
9570
20 Apr
29093
Swainson’s Hawk
14 May
1
14 May
1
Red-tailed Hawk
9 Mar
748
9 Apr
5601
Rough-lgd. Hawk
3 Mar
78
1 Apr
366
Golden Eagle
11 Mar
4
4, 17, & 19 Apr
35
Am. Kestrel
6 Mar
138
7 Apr
480
Merlin
6 Mar
6
12 Apr & 7 May
39
Peregrine Falcon
10 Mar
3
5 & 30 Apr;
5 & 17 May
26
Total, inc. unid.
62,992
The Kingbird 200% September; 58 (3)
255
WHISTLING-DUCKS - VULTURES
Greater White-fronted Goose: arr 1 BB 6
Mar (DT); 1 BB 14 Mar (DT); 1 H 18 Mar
(ST); 1 GE 22 Mar (JK).
Snow Goose: max 3000 S 5 Apr (TL); last 1
EL 7 May (mob).
ROSS’S GOOSE: 1 BB/H 17 Mar (DT, et
al.y, 1 TE 17Mar(WS).
Canada Goose: max 10,500 BB 1 APR (DT).
Cackling Goose: total 34 Mar; 1 HB 1 Apr
(WS); 1-2 E 1-15 Apr (WS).
Brant: 4 K 9 Mar (BB),very early or
wandering after wintering nearby.
Trumpeter Swan: 1 Walworth, WAYN 16
May (R&SS); 1-4 S May.
Tundra Swan: max 460 GE 22 Mar (JK); last
HB 9 Apr.
Eurasian Wigeon: 1 CL 19 Mar (RMc, RO’H,
et al.y 1 S 30 Mar (TL, TJ); 1 S 13-14 Apr
(FM, TL).
Am. Wigeon: max 45 BB 1 Apr.
N. Pintail: max 535 BB 26 Mar (DT), last S 20
Apr.
Green-winged Teal: max 500 GE 22 Mar
(JK).
Canvasback: max 150 BB 15 Mar (DT, GL);
last 16 BB 12 Apr.
Ring-necked Duck: max 185 BBl Apr (DT);
last 1 G 15 May.
Greater Scaup: last 1 BB 4 May (SFO).
Lesser Scaup: max 285 BB 5 Apr (DT).
Surf Scoter: max 6 HB 19 Apr.
White-winged Scoter: max 96 HB 9 Apr
(WS).
Black Scoter: max 5 HB 10,16 Apr; last 3 HB
21 May(RS).
Long-tailed Duck: max 433 HB 5 May (RS,
WS).
Bufflehead; max 45 BB 16 Apr (DT); last 2
BB 29 May (RK).
Com. Goldeneye: last 2 BB 14 May (DT).
Barrow’s Goldeneye: 1 PB 1-7 Mar (mob).
Red-breasted Merganser: max 3695 HB 18
Apr (RS).
Ruddy Duck: last 1 BB 5 May (KG, AT).
Wild Turkey: max 50-60 T Brighton, MONR
20-26 Apr.
Red-throated Loon: 180 HB 27 Mar (WS),
large peak for Mar; max 249 HB 5 May (RS,
WS); 122 HB 21 May (WS, RS), good total
late in season.
PACIFIC LOON: 1 ad off Webster Park 23
May (RS).
256
Com. Loon: max 136 HB 5 May (RS, WS),
low max.
Horned Grebe: max 873 WL 27 Mar (RS),
State record high inland; last 1 HB 3 May.
Red-necked Grebe: max 1433 WL 27 Mar
(RS); last 1 BB 5 May.
Double-crested Cormorant: max 470 BB 7
May (DT).
Least Bittern: arr 1 G 19 May (GL), late.
Great Egret: arr G 26-28 Mar (JB).
Black-crowned Night-Heron: arr IB 16-17
Mar (ST, GP).
BLACK VULTURE: 1 G 5 Apr (DT); 1 T
Ontario, WAYN 6 Apr (JW); 1 BB 9 Apr (DT,
MT); 1 EL 7 May (KS, mob).
Turkey Vulture: max 3279 BB 1 Apr (DT);
total 18656 BB season (DT), State record total
for hawkwatch.
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Osprey: 8 BB 31 Mar (DT, et al), many for so
early; max 60 BB 3 May (DT).
Bald Eagle: max 34 BB 26 May (DT), low.
N. Harrier; max 141 BB 9 Apr (DT).
Sharp-shinned Hawk; max 1266 BB 3 May
(DT).
Cooper’s Hawk: max 87 BB 1 Apr (DT).
N. Goshawk; 1 Canadice, LIVI24 May (SG).
Red-shouldered Hawk: arrBB 15 Mar; last 1
G 13May(DT).
Broad-winged Hawk: max 9570 BB 20 Apr
(DT).
SWAINSON’S HAWK; I imm BB 14 May
(DT), light morph.
Red-tailed Hawk: max 748 BB 9 Apr.
Rough-legged Hawk: max 78 BB 1 Apr (DT);
last 1 BB 26 May (DN).
Golden Eagle: arr BB 11 Mar (DT); total 35
BB Apr (DT).
Am. Kestrel: max 138 BB 7 Apr (DT).
Merlin: total 22 BB Apr (DT); total 25 sev 1-
26 May (sev).
Peregrine Falcon: total 13 BB Apr; total 15
BB 1-26 May.
Sandhill Crane: arr BB 6 Mar (DT); total 16
BB 6-17 Mar; 2 T Huron, WAYN 22 Mar
(RBA); 2 S 30 Mar (TJ, SB); total 16 BB Apr;
total 6 sev Apr (mob); total 8 BB 1-26 May;
2ad, 2yg S 1-31 May; 6 T Brighton, MONR 13
May (DS); 1 Bergen, GENE 15 May (MC).
Am. Golden-Plover: arr 1 BB 3 May (DT),
rare in spring.
Semipalmated Plover: max 17 HB 31 May.
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Killdeer: max 287 BB 1 Apr (DT), State
record high for spring.
Greater Yellowlegs: max 40 S 13 Apr.
Solitary Sandpiper: last 1 MP 25 May.
Spotted Sandpiper: max 7 HB 14 May, low.
Upland Sandpiper: arr 1 HB 21 Apr; 1 HB 27
Apr.
Whimbrel: arr 3 HB 31 May (DT, WS).
Ruddy Turnstone: arr 3 HB 17 May (WS).
Semipalmated Sandpiper: max 2258 HB 14
May (DT, WS), State record high inland.
Least Sandpiper: max 62 HB 27 May (RS).
White-rumped Sandpiper: arr 1 HP 27 May,
late arr.
Dunlin: arr 10 E 11 Apr (DT) max 73 HB 31
May (DT, WS).
Purple Sandpiper: arr 1 HB 31 May (DT), 4“*
regional spring record.
Short-billed Dowitcher: arr 1 BB 7 May.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: Hamlin 4
May (ST), 7* regional spring record.
FRANKLIN’S GULL: HB 26 May (CW, JBa,
RS).
Little Gull: arr BB 26 Mar (DT); 1 HB 27 Mar
(WS); total 6 HB, DE Apr (DT, RS, WS).
Bonaparte’s Gull: max 519 HB 9 Apr (WS,
RS).
Thayer’s Gull: 1 BB 11 Mar (DT).
Iceland Gull; lad HB 8 Apr; 1 ad HB 16 Apr;
1 imm HB 11 May (WS).
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 PE 19 Mar
(MT); 1 ad 11 May HB (WS); 1 2^^ winter CH
23 May (GC); 1 3^'^ winter CH 23 May (GC).
Glaucous Gull: 1 Byron, GENE 4 Apr (MC).
Caspian Tern: max 57 HB 25 Apr.
Com. Tern: max 23 BB 15 May.
Forster’s Tern: arr 2 HB 7 May (RS); 1 HB
27 May (RS).
Black Tern; arr 5 BB 3 May (WS, DT).
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: arr 1 Twin Cedars
Environmental Area, LIVI 14 May (MW).
Long-eared Owl: arr 2 M 22 Mar; total 21 M
Apr (MF).
N. SaW-whet Owl: total 8 M Mar (mob); 40+b
M Apr (MF, DG).
Com. Nighthawk: arr 1 T Penfield, MONR 11
May (GP); max 510 WL 28 May (GL, KS,
DT), State record high for spring; 349 WL 29
May (GL, KS, DT).
Whip-poor-will: arr 2 M 25 Apr (DT); 1 W 6-
31 May(JBo,NP).
Chimney Swift: max 35 BB 7, 14 May.
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: arr lb M 27
Apr (BBBO), tied record early; max 19b M 24
May (BBBO).
N. Flicker: max 65 BB 12 Apr (DT).
FLYCATCHERS - WAXWINGS
Olive-sided Flycatcher: arr Badgerow Park 26
May (RMa,KS) & HB 26 May (RS).
E. Wood- Pewee: max 4b M 26 May (BBBO),
low.
Yellow- bellied Fiycatcher: arr lb M 17 May;
max 28b M 27 May (BBBO).
Least Flycatcher: max 10b M 20 May.
Great Crested Flycatcher: arr 1 BB, W 26
Apr (DT, D&DT), tied record early; max 62
BB 14 may (DT).
E. Kingbird: max 74 BB 14 May (DT).
N. Shrike: last 1 imm S 5 Apr.
White-eyed Vireo: arr 1 IB 14 May (BZ), only
report.
Blue-headed Vireo: arr 2 CH 17 Apr (JG).
Philadelphia Vireo: arr 1 G 14 May.
Blue Jay: max 5190 BB 14 May (DT), high.
Fish Crow: 1 G 14 Apr (KG); 1 HP 25 Apr
(DT).
Com. Raven: 1 BB 25, 30 Mar (DT); 1 W 6
Apr (R&SS); 2 BB 16 Apr (DT); 3 BB 17 Apr
(DT); total 6 sev May ( sev).
Horned Lark: max 1460 BB 1 Apr (DT), very
high.
N. Rough-winged Swallow: 2400 BB 7 May
(DT); max 23,000 HB 21 May (RS, WS); 5670
HB 22 May (RS); State record high counts.
Bank Swallow: 3200 BB 7 May (DT); max
17,000 HB 21 May (RS, WS); 5670 HB 22
May (RS); high counts.
Barn Swallow: 420 BB 7 May (DT); max
2000 HB 21 May (WS, RS); 1260 HB 22 May
(RS); good counts.
Marsh Wren: arr 6 S 26 Apr (TL).
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: max 57b M 2 May
(BBBO); last lb M 28 May (BBBO).
E. Bluebird: max 180 BB 14 May (DT).
Gray-cheeked Thrush: arr 2b M 26 May, late.
Swainson’s Thrush: max 25b M 26 May
(BBBO).
Am. Robin: max 86,600 BB 1 Apr (DT), State
record high count.
Eur. Starling: max 12,000 BB 1 Apr (DT).
Am. Pipit: arrBB 21 Mar; 1880 BB 3 May
(DT); max 2930 BB 7 May (DT), very high
count.
Cedar Waxwing: max 4375 HB 31 May (DT,
WS).
257
WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler: arr 1, lb GE, M 26
Apr (R&SS, BBBO), reg. record early.
Golden-winged Warbier: arr 1 PE 2 May
(B&MAC).
“Brewster’s” Warbler: 1 Victor, MONR 22
May (SD, JG); 1 G 20 May (BB).
Tennessee Warbler: last 1 G 31 May.
Orange-crowned Warbler: total 12 sev
locations 1-24 May.
Nashville Warbler: arr Portage, LIVI 19 Apr
(AW), ties record early; max 15 BB 14 May.
Yellow Warbler: max 1175 BB 14 May (DT),
State record high count.
Magnolia Warbler: max 63b M 20 May
(BBBO).
Cape May Warbler: max 17 BB 14 May
(DT); last 1 HB 27 May (R&SS).
Black-throated Blue Warbler: max 20b M 14
May (BBBO).
Yellow-rumped Warbler: arr 4 HB 16 Apr,
late; max 825 BB 14 May, good count.
Black-throated Green Warbler: max 25 BB
14 May (DT).
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER: Im
Highland Park, R 30 Apr, 1 May (KH, et al),
see Fig. B, p. 260.
Prairie Warbler: arr 1 BB 4 May (DT).
Palm Warbler: max 60+ DE 25 Apr (NP); last
1 HB 26 May.
Blackpoll Warbler: max 27b M 26 May
(BBBO).
Cerulean Warbler: arr 1 sev 3 May (sev).
Black-and-white Warbler: max 40 BB 14
May (DT).
Am. Redstart: max 65 BB 14 May (DT).
Prothonotary Warbler: 1 Churchville,
MONR 17 May (FA).
Worm-eating Warbler: 1 BB 5 May (KG); 1
G 17 May (GL); 1 G 31 May (KG).
Ovenbird: arr 1 M 26 Apr (GC, DS), ties
record early.
Louisiana Waterthrush: arr 2 LW 16 Apr
(CS).
Hooded Warbler: arr 1 W 3 May (D&DT).
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
Scarlet Tanager: max 172 BB 14 May (DT),
State record high.
Am. Tree Sparrow: last 2 Rush, MONR 23
Apr.
258
Clay-colored Sparrow: arr 1 T Henrietta,
MONR 1 May (WR); 1 GE 3-31 May (JK); 2
K 26 May (JBa, CW).
Field Sparrow: arr 1 HB 9 Apr.
Grasshopper Sparrow: arr 2 NR 26 Apr.
NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW:
1 HP 25 May (DT), 10th reg. spring record.
Fox Sparrow: last lb M 23 Apr.
Swamp Sparrow: arr 2 BB 1 Apr.
White-throated Sparrow: last 1 sev locations
26 May.
Lapland Longspur: max 268 BB 1 Apr (DT);
267 BB 6 Apr (DT); 134 BB 8 Apr (DT); 174
BB 9 Apr (DT); last 1 T Bloomfield 27 Apr
(JG).
Snow Bunting: max 500 Avon, LIVI 14 Mar
(JK); last 2 BB 12 Apr.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: max 122 BB 14
may (DT).
Indigo Bunting: If G 1-19 Apr (GL),
continuation of winter bird; max 118 BB 14
May (DT), State record high.
Dickcissel: arr 1 G 23 Apr (KG); 1 BB 14 May
(DT); 1 HB 26 May (RS).
Bobolink: max 378 BB 14 May (DT).
Red-winged Blackbird: max 16,650 BB 1 Apr
(DT).
E. Meadowlark: arr 1 Conesus, LIVI 11 Mar.
WESTERN MEADOWLARK: 1 singing IC
13 Apr (ST).
Rusty Blackbird: arr 60 BB 31 Mar (m ob);
last lbM23 May (BBBO)..
Com. Grackle: max 3700 BB 1 Apr.
Brown-beaded Cowbird: max 2600 BB 1 Apr
(DT).
Orchard Oriole: arr 1 BB 26 Apr (DT, DS);
max 12 BB 14 May (DT).
Baltimore Oriole: max 2962 BB 14 May
(DT), State record high.
Pine Grosbeak: last BB 17 Mar.
Red Crossbill: 5 HB 7 Apr (DD, RS).
Com. Redpoll: max 410 BB 6 Apr (DT); 371
BB 7 Apr (DT); last 2 DE 2 May (KG).
Pine Siskin: max 110 BB 14 May (DT).
Am. Goldfinch: max 1190 BB 14 May (DT),
good count.
Evening Grosbeak: 2 BB 9 Apr (DT); 3 G 23
Apr (KG); 1 PA 26 Apr (GC, DS); 1 W 6 May
(D&DT); 1 ICW 7 May (RS).
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
PHOTO GALLERY
SPRING 2008
Figure A, Great Gray Owl, Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., 24 Mar 2008, copyright Jeff
Bolsingcr. (See p. 280).
The Kingbird September; 58 (3)
259
Figure B, Top: Western Tanager, Central Park, New York Co., 24 Mar 2008, copyright
Lloyd Spitalnik, (See p. 298). Bottom; Yellow-throated Warbler, Highland Park, Monroe
Co., ] May 2008, copyright Dominic Sherony,
260
The Kingbird2m)& September; 58 (3)
Figure C. Orchard Oriole, Centra) Park, New York Co., 5 May 2008, copyright Lloyd
Spitalnik.
The Kingbird September; 58 (3)
26!
Figure D, Clockwise from top left; ‘Black’ Brant, Wolfe’s Pond Park, Richmond Co., 6
Apr 2008; Eared Grebe, Cedar Beach, Suffolk Co., 16 Mar 2008; Short-cared Owl,
Calverton, Suffolk Co., copyright Jim Osterlund; Common Eider nest with eggs. South
Dumpling Island, Suffolk Co,, 15 May 2008, copyright Glenn Williams (See p. 233);
Mi.ssissippi Kite, Bashakill WMA, Sullivan Co., 25 May 2008, copyright Peter Post.
262
The Kingbird September; 58 (3)
REGION 3 - FINGER LAKES
Tom Johnson
150 Triphammer Rd. Ithaca NY 14850
tbj4@cornell.edu
The weather this quarter was unexceptional. The only major climate metric that
was unusual was that the average temperature for April was 6 degrees warmer
than usual, at 49.6°F. Average temperature and precipitation for the rest of the
quarter were normal.
As usual, the waterfowl diversity and numbers in the Region were rather
impressive. Greater White-fronted Goose was first found by Ann Mitchell and
Susan Danskin on 2 March at Sheldrake. Another Greater White-fronted Goose
was seen in flight over Ithaca by Tom Johnson with 56,200 Snow Geese, 50,900
Canada Geese, and 9 Cackling Geese on 6 March. The next day, 7 March,
perhaps some of the same geese were piled in at Mud Lock, where Mike Harvey
and Tom Johnson found 110,000 Snow Goose, 2 Ross’s Goose, 4 Cackling
Goose, and a rarely noted dark morph Snow x Ross’s Goose hybrid. Goose
migration continued to be noted over Cornell University 11 March, when
Harvey saw a Cackling and probable Ross’s Goose in flight. Cackling Goose,
well-reported this season, was last found 27 April near Seneca Falls by Harvey,
Johnson, and Jay McGowan. Brant were reported twice, with 18 at Myers Point,
Lansing and 95 there on 22 May. Harvey and Johnson also found a male
Eurasian Wigeon that stayed at Cayuga Lake SP 7-9 March, one of four
reported. Others included one in Ithaca on 12 March found by Kevin McGowan,
one at Montezuma NWR 29-30 March found by Shawn Billerman, and another
at Montezuma NWR on 20 May. A Green-winged “Eurasian” Teal was
viewed on 4 May at Montezuma NWR by Gary Chapin. J. McGowan and
Johnson photographed a probable male Northern Pintail x Gadwall hybrid at
Montezuma NWR on 30 March.
Merlins returned once again to Ithaca, with at least two pairs in evidence 5
April. Numerous Golden Eagles were found on spring migration. The last was
seen on 27 April by Sarah Fern Striffler.
Shorebird reports were sparse this season, possibly due to minimal habitat
available at Montezuma NWR. Small numbers of shorebirds appeared at Myers
Point in Lansing, with Ruddy Turnstones, Dunlin, and Short-billed Dowitcher
being the most impressive. Two Red-necked Phalaropes at Montezuma NWR on
22 May found by Chris Wood and two Wilson’s Phalaropes in Ithaca found by
John Greenly were probably the shorebird highlights of the season.
Gulls were well-watched through the beginning of the season in Ithaca. The
third cycle Slaty-backed Gull found last season returned after a 10 day absence
to the Cornell compost piles in Dryden on 5 March, noted by Harvey and
Johnson, along with the last Glaucous Gull of the season. Iceland Gull remained
until at least 30 March. Lesser Black-backed Gulls are still increasing in the
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
263
Finger Lakes. The variety of age classes reported into April suggests a high
degree of turnover in these migrant gulls. Rarely reported away from Cayuga
Lake, Lesser Black-backed Gull was found 9 March at Preble, Cortland Co. by
Mickey Scilingo. A Little Gull was nicely photographed 22 May at Union
Springs by Wood. Most unusual on Cayuga Lake, a one-day Least Tern was
reported 12 April at Mud Lock by Danskin, Bob McGuire, and Hurtado.
Owl reports this season were typical, highlighted by a Long-eared Owl
found in Aurora by Fred Bertram on 27 March. Two Whip-poor-wills were
found this season - one sang for J. McGowan at Beam Hill, Dryden on 12 May,
and another was heard 26 May on Hanshaw Rd. in Ithaca by Candace Cornell.
Flycatchers were well-represented this season, with all regularly occurring
species recorded. Notable was the effort of Chris Tessaglia-Hymes and Pedro
Fernandes to track down all of these species on a single day on 24 May,
highlighted by an Olive-sided Flycatcher in the Ithaca Hawthorne Orchards and
an Acadian Flycatcher in Lansingville. Acadian Flycatcher made a good
showing overall with 4 reports. A Bohemian Waxwing continued to play hide-
and-seek with birders into this season in Ithaea, where it was last seen on 18
March by Nick Sly on the Cornell University campus.
Many local birders considered this spring’s warbler migration to be very
lackluster, with low numbers and no large concentrations of birds. Specifically
concerning was the relative dearth of some of the boreal warbler species; only 4
Cape May and 3 Bay-breasted warblers were reported on the Cayugabirds list
serve during the season. Mark Chao found a hybrid Blue-winged x Golden¬
winged Warbler at Monkey Run, Ithaca on 15 May.
A confiding Clay-colored Sparrow fed on the Agricultural and Life
Sciences Quad at Cornell University from 29 April to 2 May. Others were at
Cornell on 13 May and in Trumansburg from 15-16 May. At least 3
Grasshopper Sparrows were found around Ithaca. Finches continued to impress
this quarter, with redpolls stealing the show. Flocks of Common Redpolls
continued at feeders and in weedy fields until the last was reported on 24 April
in West Danby at the feeders of Geo Kloppel. One possible Hoary Redpoll was
reported on the Schuyler/ Chemung County border on 2 March by Mike Powers.
Otherwise, Hoary Redpoll went unreported after a strong winter for the species
in New York. Small numbers of Pine Siskins were reported sporadically from 16
April to 22 May. Evening Grosbeaks continued into mid-May.
CONTRIBUTORS
Jessie Barry, Fred Bertram, Shawn Billerman, G Bonnet, Mark Chao, Gary
Chapin, Candace Cornell, Susan Danskin, Pedro Fernandes, John Greenly, Mike
Harvey, Paul Hurtado, Marshall Iliff, Tom Johnson, Geo Kloppel, Gary
Kohlenberg, Tim Lenz, B McAneny, Jay McGowan, Kevin McGowan, Bob
McGuire, Ann Mitchell, Mike Powers, Marie Read, Tom Schulenberg, Mickey
Scilingo, Glenn Seeholzer, Nick Sly, Sarah Fern Striffler, Chris Tessaglia-
Hymes, Brad Walker, Chris Wood, Matt Young.
264
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
ABBREVIATIONS
BH - Beam Hill TOMP; CU - Cornell University TOMP; CLSP - Cayuga Lake
State Park SENE; GREF - George Road Flooded Field TOMP; MNWR -
Montezuma NWR; MtPl - Mt. Pleasant TOMP; MuL - Mud Lock CAYU;
MyPt - Myers Pt; StP - Stewart P TOMP; TBRG - Trumansburg.
WHISTLING-DUCKS - VULTURES
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE:
arr Sheldrake 2 Mar (AM, SD); last CU 6 Mar
(TJ).
Snow Goose: 56,200 CU 6 Mar (TJ); max
110,000 MuL 7 Mar (MH, TJ).
ROSS'S GOOSE: max 2 MuL 7 Mar (MH,
TJ).
ROSS’S X SNOW GOOSE dark morph: ML
7 Mar (MH, TJ), very rare.
CACKLING GOOSE: 9 CU 6 Mar (T
Johnson); 4 ML 7 Mar (MH, TJ); CU 11 Mar
(MH); last Seneca Falls 27 Apr, late.
Canada Goose: max 50,900 6 Mar (TJ), high.
Brant: arr 18 MyPt 15 May; max & last 95
MyPt 22 May.
EURASIAN WIGEON: arr CLSP 7-9 Mar
(TJ, MH); Ithaca 12 Mar (KM); MNWR 29-30
Mar (SB, et al.); last MNWR 20 May.
N.Pintail x Gadwall: m MNWR 30 Mar (JM,
TJ), probable hybrid of these species, ph.
“EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL:
MNWR 4 May (GC).
Canvasback: last MNWR 18 May.
Lesser Scaup: last MNWR 31 May.
White-winged Scoter: arr 2 Sheldrake 2 Mar.
Long-tailed Duck: arr MyPt 4 Mar (BM); last
MuL 17 Apr (TL, CW).
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Broad-winged Hawk: arr BH 11 Apr (JM).
Golden Eagle: max 4 MtPl 5 Mar (TJ, MH);
last 27 Apr (SFS).
Merlin: 2 pairs Ithaca; arr 5 Apr thru (KM,
GK), nesting.
Upland Sandpiper: arr Seneca Falls 19 Apr
(JM, TJ).
Ruddy Turnstone: arr MyPt 20 May (CW).
Dunlin: arr GRFF 8 Apr (KM), early.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 1 MyPt 23 May
(BM).
Wilson’s Phalarope: 2 Ithaca 31 May (JG).
Red-necked Phalarope: 2 MNWR 22May
(CW).
Iceland Gull: last StP 30 Mar (PH).
Lesser Black-backed Gull: Preble 9 Mar
(MS); max 2 StP 19 Mar; last Aurora Bay
CAYU 15 Apr.
Glaucous Gull: Stevenson Road Compost
Piles TOMP 5 Mar (TJ, MH).
SLATY-BACKED GULL: Dryden compost
piles thru 5 Mar (TJ, MH).
LITTLE GULL: Union Springs 22 May
(CW), ph.
LEAST TERN: MuL 12 Apr (SD, PH, BM),
6“^ Reg record.
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Long-eared Owl: Aurora 27 Mar (FB).
WHIP-POOR-WILL: arr Dryden 12 May
(JM); Ithaca 26 May (CC).
FLYCATCHERS - WAXWINGS
Olive-sided Flycatcher: Ithaca 24 May (CT-
H, PF).
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: arr Ithaca 24 May
Acadian Flycatcher: arr Lansing 18 May
(MM); 4 rep, good showing.
Alder Flycatcher: arr Dryden 17 May.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING: last CU 18 Mar
(NS).
WARBLERS
Blue-winged x Golden-winged Warbler
(hybrid): Ithaca 15 May (MC).
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: CU 29 Apr-
2 May (BW); CU 13 May (GS); TBRG 15-16
May (GB).
Grasshopper Sparrow: arr Ithaca 27 Apr (TJ,
MH).
Com. Redpoll: last West Danby 24 Apr (GK).
Pine Siskin: arr Dryden 16 Apr; last Freeville
22 May (MR).
Evening Grosbeak: last TBRG 4 May (BM).
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
265
REGION 4 - SUSQUEHANNA
Matthew A. Young
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Wood Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
may6@cornell.edu
Jon Weeks
17 Barbara Ave. Binghamton NY 13903
winterweeks1221@yahoo.com
March started out sunny and warm, then freezing rain occurred on the and
4*^, but by month’s end temperatures were back in the fifties. Mid-month
brought the typical flurries, rain, and wind, with temperatures back in the fifties
through the end of the month. The average temperature was 31.6°F, about 1°
below normal, and precipitation almost doubled the normal with 6.32" total.
April was drier than normal, with a warm spell during 3"^^^ week peaking at a high
of 83° on the 19*. April’s average temperature was 49.7°, 5.6° above normal,
with 2.02" of rain. Temperatures made a slow climb in May, but ended with the
average temperature 3.3° lower than normal. Precipitation was 2.57", an inch
below normal.
The first goose flight occurred on 3 March and large flights occurred on 5,
14, 15, and 24 March. Snow Geese were well reported in these flights.
Additionally, a Cackling Goose was documented on 14 March along Rte 12A in
Chenango. Other noteworthy waterfowl reports include: Long-tailed Duck,
Ruddy Duck, and Ruddy Shelduck, a likely exotic/escape. The best bird for the
season was an immature Anhinga soaring for 25 minutes and seen well along
the town line of Scott and Homer on 25 May. Two reports of Black-crowned
Night-Heron were noteworthy. A Black Vulture, an increasing bird in upstate
NY, was observed at Finch Haven Nature Center on 25 March. How long will it
be before this vulture becomes established in eentral parts of upstate NY? Bald
Eagles were regularly reported throughout the Region. Reports continue to be on
the increase, with a breeding pair somewhere in the vicinity of Whitney Point
Reservoir and a lingering pair at the south end of Skaneateles Lake into April.
Merlin pairs continue to be recorded with increasing frequency, with pairs
reported from Binghamton, Cortland (nest found), Oneonta, and Cooperstown.
Shorebird highlights were Black-bellied Plover and a Wilson’s Phalarope. This
same day a very warm southerly breeze developed and 3 different Mississippi
Kites were also reported in New York, perhaps including the birds that nested in
New Hampshire and Connecticut—or possibly at some as yet undiscovered
location in New York? Common Tern and Caspian Tern were good finds for the
Region as well. Short-eared and Long-eared owl sightings are always a welcome
addition. The Arnold Road grassland area harbored several Rough-legged
266
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
Hawks, a few Northern Harriers, and the above-mentioned Short-eared Owls, as
many as 2-3 Short-eared Owls!
An Acadian Flycatcher was heard at the southeast end of Skaneateles Lake,
which is a known nesting location for this Regional rarity. There were seven
Northern Shrike reports, with the last in early April. Common Ravens continue
to increase as breeders throughout the area; many were seen/heard in various
state forests and parks. Additionally, a large group of 30+ Common Ravens can
often be seen at the dump in Pharsalia through much of the year.
Once again, Swainson’s Thrushes were heard on nesting grounds in late
May in the Pharsalia area. Other than in Delaware County along the edges of the
Catskills, the Pharsalia area is the only place in Region 4 where Swainson’s
Thrushes can be found nesting. Many typically more northern breeding warblers
can also be regularly heard in the Pharsalia area, along with Pine Siskins, both
crossbills. Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk,
Common Raven, and other northern specialties such as White-throated
Sparrows.
This year paled in comparison with last year’s diversity of rare warblers,
with Prothonotary Warbler being the only rare one noted for the Region.
However, the equally rare hybrid “Lawrence’s” Warbler was also noted.
Cerulean Warblers were again observed on territory at the south end of
Skaneateles Lake.
Birds with a more southern affinity, such as Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, and Northern Cardinal, appear to be still
increasing in the area. Although most reports are still from river valleys, these
species also appear to now be reported more commonly above 1500 ft.
There was an impressive invasion of many of the winter finches this year.
Particularly noteworthy were the invasions of Common Redpoll and Pine
Grosbeak, the latter invading for the first time in numbers since 2001-02. Pine
Grosbeaks lingered into at least early March, but many of the other finches were
noted into mid April. Additionally, a flock of ~15 Type 4 Red Crossbills were
heard several times at Morgan Hill State Forest in Truxton through at least 20*
March (MY). Pine Siskins were observed in a small return flight in April and
Common Redpolls were seen in several large flocks numbering over 100
throughout much of the area at least into early April. In these larger flocks 1-2
Hoary Redpolls were occasionally observed as were a few of the larger
subspecies of the Common Redpoll, Carduelis Jlammea rostrata aka “Greater”
Redpoll. Medium to fairly large sized flocks, by today’s standards, of 40-80
Evening Grosbeaks were reported from Northwest Comers, McDonough,
Lincklaen, Truxton, and Beaver Meadows in Chenango and Cortland counties
through April. Smaller Evening Grosbeak flocks were also reported from Otsego
and Delaware counties. This was the best showing for Evening Grosbeaks since
the winter of 2001-02, but still nothing in comparison with the period of the mid
70s to early 90s.
The Kingbird 2^0^ September; 58 (3)
267
CONTRIBUTORS
Richard Andrus, Cutler & Jeanette Baldwin, Dianne Benko, Lois Bingley, Peter
Blue, John Birkett, Bruce Bozdos, Steve Broyles Peg Burnett, Ryan Butryn,
Gerianne Carillo, Eleanor Carson, Rod Carter, Germaine Connolly, Cortland-
Lime Hollow Bird Club, Kay Crane, Mary Ann Cuff, Fran Czochara, Marty &
MaryAnn Cuff, Larry Dake, Dolores & Eve Daniels, John Davis, Marilyn Davis,
Toni Dean, Ed Dewar, Mary Diegert, Bob Donnelly, Bruce & Janice Downie,
Jean M. Dorman, Helen Eno, Tom Fernandez, Margaret Ferranti, Finch Hollow
Nature Center Staff, Fred Fries, John & Gerta Fritz, Sue Garing, Doug
Gochfeld, Lisa Gom, Bob Grajewski, Esther Graves, Dave Green, Becky
Gretton, Bob Grosek, Steve Hall, Elva Hawken, Erin Hewett, Dylan Horvath,
Jim Hoteling, Dorian Huneke, Spencer Hunt, Michael Jordan, Nick Kaldis, Paul
Kalka, Doug & Teresa Kibbe, Sara Kinch, Hugh Kingery, Eugene Kirch, Gail
Kirch, Diane Krein, Sharon Krotzer, Bill Kuk, Victor Lamoureux, Tricia Larson,
Tom Laskowski, Arthur Levy, Roger Luther, Harriet Marsi, Andy Mason,
JoAnne Mattucci, David McCartt, ,Jim McKenna, Carole McQuiston, Evelyn &
George Mead, Marji Miller Tom Moore, Naturalists’ Club of Broome County
(NCBC), Sandy Olshefski, Marilyn Packer, Sandy Perry, Marie Petuh, John
Quain, Don Quataert, Bill Ralston, Jessie Ravage, Alice & Joe Richardson, Jo
Ann & Tom Salo, Paul Scharf, Charles Scheim, Julian Shepherd, Julie Siler,
Arnold Talentino, Mark Tannis, Tom Tasber & family, Tioga Bird Club, Jack
Thompson, Jan Trzeciak, Tanna Ulmer, George Wade, Weed Walkers, Dan
Watkins, Donald & Joanne Weber, Joel Weeks, Jon Weeks, Michelle Weeks,
Carole Westerman, Anne Whitaker, Sue & Tom Whitney, Donald A. Windsor,
Colleen & Paul Wolpert, Rich Youket, Matt Young.
ABBREVIATIONS
AqP - Aquaterra Park, BROO; BCC - Binghamton Country Club; BHL - Buck
Horn Lake OTSE; BPd - Boland Pond; BUNP - Binghamton University Nature
Preserve; CVSP - Chenango Valley State Park; FHNC - Finch Hollow Nature
Center; GP - Greenwood Park, BROO; LHNC - Lime Hollow Nature Center;
ML - Mirror Lake, TIOG; NuH - Nuthatch Hollow, BROO; OtL - Otsego
Lake, OTSE; PharsWMA - Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area; RivR - River
Rd., Endwell BROO; SkanL - Skaneateles Lake; UL - Upper Lisle; WCM -
West Comers Marsh BROO; WPR - Whitney Point Reservoir, BROO.
WHISTLING-DUCKS - VULTURES
Snow Goose: arr BROO 3 Mar; flights BROO
3, 5, 15, 24 Mar; max 600 CHEN 6 Mar.
CACKLING GOOSE: one Rte 12A Chen 14
Mar (DG).
Canada Goose: max 2000+ BPd 14 Mar.
Mute Swan: OTSE 30 Mar, only report.
Wood Duck: arr 2 Bpd 4 Mar; max 11 BUNP
24 Mar.
Gadwall: 4 Lisle BROO 2 Mar.
Am. Wigeon: arr 3 HP 4 Mar; max 37 Bpd 3
Apr; last 2 Bpd 16 Apr.
Am. Black Duck: max 35 Bpd 2 Mar; last 2
Bpd 15 Apr, numerous until April.
268
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
Blue-winged Teal: arr RR 26 Mar; last 2
Johnson City BROO 6 May; 11 reports 1-3
individuals BROO, sometimes missed.
N. Shoveler: arr Bpd 20 Mar; last 3 BUNP 29
Apr; 4 reports BROO.
N. Pintail: 4 Bpd 4 Mar; max 25 Chenango
BROO 11 Mar; last UL 2 Apr.
Green-winged Teal: 2 Chenango BROO 4
Mar; max 55 Bpd 29 Mar; last Bpd 18 Apr.
Canvasback: arr RR 4 Mar; last Bpd 22 Mar,
uncommon; 16 reports BROO.
Redhead: max 7 HP 4, 12 Mar; last 2 Bpd 12
Mar; 11 reports BROO.
Ring-necked Duck: max 80 HP 25 Mar; last
UL 30 Apr.
Greater Scaup: Bpd 5 Mar; last 5 HP 31 Mar;
11 reports BROO.
scaup species: plus 21 reports.
Lesser Scaup: Bpd 19 Mar; last 7 SusV 13
Apr; 5 reports BROO.
Long-tailed Duck: 5 RR 12 Mar (WW), only
report.
Bufflehead: max 15 HP 31 Mar, 2 Apr; last
HP 13 Apr.
Com. Goldeneye: 5 RR 18 Mar; 5 HP 19 Mar,
only reports.
Hooded Merganser: max 22 WCM 5 Mar;
many reports.
Ruddy Duck: OtsP 21 Mar; 2 RR 11 Apr;
SusV 28 Apr, only reports.
RUDDY SHELDUCK: UL 3, 5 Apr; GnwP
23 Apr, exotic/escapee, same bird both dates,
ph.
Ring-necked Pheasant: only 2 reports.
Wild Turkey: max 30 Caldwell Hill Lisle 16
Mar; several displaying throughout Apr.
Com. Loon: only 2 reports.
Pied-billed Grebe: pair each Hillcrest Pits &
BPdApr.
Horned Grebe: max & last 3 Hillcrest Pits 11
Apr.
Double-crested Cormorant: arr Hillcrest Pits
21 Mar; max 14 Hillcrest Pits 14 Apr.
ANHINGA: one Homer/Scott CORT 25
May (MY), 1st Reg. record, 3"'* to 5‘^ State
record, if accepted and dependent on 2 others
in review.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON:
East Homer CORT 15 Apr, imm Oxford
CHEN 6 May; rare.
BLACK VULTURE: FHNC 25 Mar (TT),
only report, rare.
Turkey Vulture: arr Maine BROO 1 Mar;
max 35-39 Vestal BROO 15 Mar.
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Osprey: arr UL 5 Apr; nesting near Bainbridge
CHEN?
Bald Eagle: 2+ dozen reports including “new”
possible nesting pair south end Skan Lake
CORT Apr.
N. Harrier: 18 reports; only a few reports
May.
N. Goshawk: pair nesting Heiberg SUNY-ESF
Forest CORT Apr; 5 reports.
Red-shouldered Hawk: arr Maine BROO 15
Mar, pair “courting” Greenwood Park BROO
23 Apr; territorial birds CHEN Apr.
Broad-winged Hawk: arr BROO 12 Apr.
Rough-legged Hawk: max 7 Arnold Rd Lisle
BROO 16 Mar; last BROO 29 Mar,
Golden Eagle: Glen Aubrey BROO 12 Mar; 3
other reports BROO.
Am. Kestrel: few wintering lingerers; influx of
migrants end Mar.
Merlin: pairs Binghamton, Cortland, Oneonta,
Cooperstown Apr; continues to expand.
Peregrine Falcon: pair Binghamton copulating
24 Mar; Binghamton young hatched 13 May.
Virginia Rail: arr BPd 14 Apr, reported BUNP
and Vestal Rail Trail.
Sora: 1 Lime Hollow CORT 5 May; one
Vestal Rail Trail 26 May.
Com. Moorhen: Weaver Lake OTSE May.
Am. Coot: 3 reports, 2 BPd & 1 Hillcrest Pits.
Black-bellied Plover: RR 26 May (DW), only
report.
Semipalmated Plover: SusV 7 May; 2-3 SusV
22 May; only reports.
Killdeer: arr Chenango BROO 6 Mar; max 18
UL 30 Mar.
Greater Yellowlegs; arr 3 UL 6 Apr; last 2
SusV 7 May; 8 reports.
Lesser Yellowlegs: 6 Bpd 1 May; 2 SusV 7
May, only reports.
Solitary Sandpiper: arr WCM 23 Apr; max 20
SusV 7 May.
Spotted Sandpiper: arr 2 RR 23 Apr.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: SusV 7 May; max
12 SusV 19 May; SusV 24 May, only reports.
Least Sandpiper: SusV 29 Apr; max 25 SusV
20, 24 May; 8 reports.
Wilson’s Snipe: arr Maine BROO 4 Apr; 9
reports.
Am. Woodcock: arr 3 Greene CHEN 15 Mar;
only 6 reports.
WILSON’S PHALAROPE: ad m SusV 23
May (DW), mob & ph, rare event.
Bonaparte’s Gull: 10 HP 12 Apr; 2
Bainbridge CHEN 12 Apr.
269
Herring Gull: last UL 30 Mar; 1 McDonough
CHEN 4 May.
Great Black-backed Gull: Vestal BROO 4
Mar; 3 reports BROO.
Caspian Tern: Little York Lake CORT Apr
30.
Com. Tern: HP 12 Apr; RR 21 May, only
reports.
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Black-billed Cuckoo: arr BUNP BROO 17
May.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: arr BROO 3 May.
E. Screecb-Owl: several in agricultural river
valleys.
Barred Owl: largely confined to mesic
forested hills and lowland forested swamps.
LONG-EARED OWL: 1 Cummings Rd
Union March, rare.
Short-eared Owl: 2 Arnold Rd Lisle BROO
24 Mar, uncommon for Region.
N. Saw-whet Owl: CORT Apr.
Com. Nighthawk: arr Endicott BROO 28
May.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: arr BROO 28
Apr.
Red-bellied Woodpecker: numerous reports
along river valleys and towns <1500’; perhaps
increasing.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: arr CHEN Mar 30;
increasing rep after 8 Apr.
N. Flicker: scarce in Mar along river valleys
becoming increasingly common throughout
Apr.
FLYCATCHERS -WAXWINGS
E. Wood-Pewee: arr CORT 22 May;
increasing rep after May 28.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: TIOG 20 May,
only report
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER: S end SkanL
late May.
Alder Flycatcher: arr FHNC TIOG 23 May;
increasing rep after 24 May.
Willow Flycatcher: arr UL 17 May; increasing
rep after 24 May.
Least Flycatcher: arr 27 Apr BPd.
E. Phoebe: arr River Rd 29 Mar.
Great-crested Flycatcher: arr Silvia Dr Union
13 May.
E. Kingbird: arr Knapp Rd Nanticoke 16 Apr,
very early; increasing rep after 5 May.
N. Shrike: 7 scattered rep; last early April.
Yellow-throated Vireo: arr Parsons Rd
Chenango 3 May; increasing rep after 15 May.
Blue-headed Vireo: arr Deyo Hill Rd 14 Apr,
ties Reg. record early; increasing rep after 24
Apr.
Warbling Vireo: arr Conklin 27 Apr;
increasing rep after 1 May.
Red-eyed Vireo: arr Port Dickinson Park 2
May.
Fish Crow: rep of presumed breeders from
Endwell, Bing, Owego, Vestal, & Union.
Com. Raven: max 30 Pharsalia dump early
Mar; widespread and increasing as a breeder
and resident throughout wilder forested higher
elevation (> 1500’) areas of Reg, particularly
state pine plantations; also expanding into river
valleys and nesting on towers and cliffs in Reg.
Horned Lark: arr breeding subspecies flocks,
then flocks breaking up in Mar; nesting May
Newark Valley; max 60 Lisle 29 Mar.
Purple Martin: arr TIOG May
Tree Swallow: arr River Rd Endwell 16 Mar;
“major numbers” River Rd Endwell 25 Mar.
N. Rough-winged Swallow: arr Barker 22
Apr.
Bank Swallow: arr BP 24 Apr.
Cliff Swallow: arr Chenango Forks 15 May;
new nesting colony w ~10 nests Preble CORT
May.
Barn Swallow: arr SusqR 13 Apr.
Tufted Titmouse: increasing nester along
many river valleys of Reg <1500’.
Red-breasted Nuthatch: widespread
throughout high elevation state forests.
Brown Creeper: widespread scattered rep;
birds migrating and heard thru Apr.
Carolina Wren: 12 rep sev loc late Mar thru;
nesting along many of the major river valleys
in Reg and smaller ravines <1300ft; pair in
Scott CORT thru year.
House Wren: arr BUNP 20 Apr.
Winter Wren: fairly common after mid Apr in
state forests.
Marsh Wren: bird “singing” BPd 7 Mar
(DW).
Golden-crowned Kinglet: scarce early Apr;
increasing afterwards at high elevation spruce
plantations.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: arr Grippen Park Apr
8; many rep after 19 Apr,
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: arr UL 30 Apr; local
afterwards along larger low elevation river
valleys.
E. Bluebird: more common in Mar than last
year and increasingly common after Mar.
Veery: arr end Apr TIOG; increasing reports
after 15 May.
Swainson’s Thrush: breeders returned to
Phars WMA late May.
270
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Hermit Thrush: arr Roundtop Park 11 Apr.
Wood Thrush: arr BUNP 27 Apr; widespread
8 May thru.
Am. Robin: “good” wintering numbers into
Mar; max 450 Rt 12A 28 Mar.
Gray Catbird: arr Union 1 May, late arrival.
N. Mockingbird: “few” overwintering birds;
migrants arrived April.
Brown Thrasher: arrNanticoke 13 Apr;
increasing rep late Apr.
Am. Pipit: arr Rtl2A Chenango 12 Mar.
Cedar Waxwing: decent numbers throughout
Mar and slightly increasing afterwards.
WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler: arr Upper Reynolds
Rd 27 Apr; widespread many reports.
“LAWRENCE’S” WARBLER: arr
Appalachin TIOG 7 May (CW).
Tennessee Warbler; arr Bing 15 May; a
number of reports.
Nashville Warbler: arr CORT 30 Apr; many
reports after 2 May.
N. Parula: arr Conklin 14 May; 7 rep.
Yellow Warbler: arr Greybark Ln 26 Apr;
several early reports before 27 Apr.
Chestnut-sided Warbler: arr Vestal 24 Apr,
Magnolia Warbler: arr BUNP 3 May
CAPE MAY WARBLER; 1 Chen TIOG 15
May; 3 rep.
Black-throated Blue Warbler: arr Barker 30
Apr.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: arr UL 3 Apr;
increasing after 18 Apr.
Black-throated Green Warbler: arr Vestal 27
Apr.
Blackburnian Warbler: arr Preble CORT 20
Apr (MY), Reg. record early; increasing
reports after 2 May.
Pine Warbler: arr West Comers Marsh 3 Apr;
breeding locations increasing.
Prairie Warbler: arr Glen Aubrey 30 Apr;
local and increasing breeder many locations of
southern part of Reg.
Palm Warbler: arr BUNP 20 April; few rep.
Bay-breasted Warbler: arr CORT 14 May.
Blackpoll Warbler: arr CORT 20 May; only
10 rep.
CERULEAN WARBLER: arr 15 May
SkanL; max 5 SkanL May.
Black-and-white Warbler: arr end Apr; 14
rep.
Am. Redstart: arr Bing U. 3 May,
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER; Greybark
Ln TIOG 11 May.
Worm-eating Warbler: Barker 6 May, rare
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
for Reg, breeding?
Ovenbird: arr Scott 26 Apr, increasing
numbers afterwards.
N. Waterthrush: arr BUNP 3 May.
Louisiana Waterthrush; arr Scott CORT 18
Apr; sev reports.
Mourning Warbler: arr Scott 19 May; fairly
widespread uncommon breeder in Region.
Com. Yellowthroat; arr BPd 27 Apr.
Hooded Warbler: arr CORT 6 May;
increasing breeding rep CORT & TIOG.
Canada Warbler: arr CORT 13 May; more
rep than recent years; max 4 Scott CORT,
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
Scarlet Tanager; arr Barker 5 May.
E. Towhee: arr TIOG 13 Apr; many rep 25
Apr thnj.
Am. Tree Sparrow: max 10 CORT 1 Mar; last
TIOG 14 Apr,
Chipping Sparrow: arr TIOG 10 Apr.
Field Sparrow: arr Scott 8 Apr; many rep 15
Apr thru.
Vesper Sparrow: Kolb Rd Maine Apr 10; rare
to uncommon in Reg.
Savannah Sparrow; arr Maine 10 Apr.
Grasshopper Sparrow: Conklin 25 Apr; 2
Long Pond State Forest.
Fox Sparrow: arr TIOG 9 Mar; sev reports
early Apr.
Song Sparrow: migr arr BROO & TIOG 1 &
2 Mar.
Lincoln’s Sparrow: arr TIOG 7 May; 2
reports.
Swamp Sparrow: arrUL 13 Apr.
White-throated Sparrow: overwintered in
small numbers at sev loc.
White-crowned Sparrow: arr CORT end of
Apr; last May 21.
Snow Bunting: max 100+ CORT early Mar;
last CORT 30 Mar.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: arr OTSE 30 Apr;
30+ rep sev loc 30 Apr - 3 May.
Indigo Bunting: arr Vestal 30 Apr, early; inc
15 May thm.
Bobolink: arr Deyo Hill 2 May; inc mid May
thru.
Red-winged Blackbird: arr early Mar; max
20000+ BP 5 Mar.
E. Meadowlark: arr & max 6 Nanticoke 9
Mar; inc late Mar.
Rusty Blackbird: arr Hillcrest 7 Mar; many
WPR early Apr.
Com. Grackle: arr early Mar; max 7000+ BP
5 Mar.
Brown-headed Cowbird: a few overwintered
271
CORT; “many” arr TIOG mid Mar.
Baltimore Oriole: arr BUNP 27 Apr.
PINE GROSBEAK: few Phar CHEN thru
early Mar.
Purple Finch: arr few Mar; inc mid Apr;
widespread breeding behavior May above
1000 ’.
House Finch: small breeding number in towns,
hamlets, and farms.
RED CROSSBILL: 6 medium billed “Type
I’s” w/dependent juv Pharsalia mid Apr; ~15
Type 4’s thru 20 March Truxton CORT.
White-winged Crossbill: 2 Phar Mar, only
report.
Com. Redpoll: sev flocks exceeding 100 area
wide early March, fairly large invasion; last
TIOG early May.
COM. “GREATER” REDPOLL {C.f.
rostrata): CORT during invasion, intro.
HOARY REDPOLL: 1-2 Scott CORT early
Mar.
Pine Siskin: “small” return flight March - mid
May.
Evening Grosbeak: max 100+ CHEN Mar-
Apr; several flocks of 20-40 CHEN, CORT, &
OTSE; smaller flocks thru 10 May; best
showing since 2001-02 but still nothing
compared to 1970-1990.
Am. Goldfinch: 20-40+ across Reg Mar-Apr,
good numbers.
House Sparrow: largely confined to villages,
cities and rural farms; declining as a breeder?
ADDENDUM: In the 2006 Region 4 Spring Report this writer (Matt Young) noted two “vocal
types” of Red Crossbills nesting in the Pharsalia area. There were indeed two “vocal types” present,
however, this writer thought they were Types I and 2, but upon further audiospectrographic analysis
of field recordings, the two types present were Types 1 and 3. These recordings were further
confirmed by crossbill researcher Dr. Jeffrey Groth at the American Museum of Natural History.
REGION 5—ONEIDA LAKE BASIN
Bill Purcell
281 Baum Road, Hastings, New York, 13076
wpurcell@twcny.rr.com
Spring began and ended on the chilly side, but in between, April was very warm
and there was close to normal precipitation with little snowfall. In March the
average temperature was 31.6°F, 2.0° below normal, with 5.00" of precipitation,
1.98" above normal, and 12.9" of snow. The April averages were 51.6"F, 6.3°
above normal, and 2.98" of precipitation, 0.41" below normal, with no snow. In
May the temperature averaged 53.7°F, 3.4° cooler than average, and there was
1.78" of precipitation, 1.61" below average. Ice-out on Oneida Lake was on 2
April and on most Adirondack Lakes 12-15 April.
The Snow Goose migration was modest relative to recent years, with peak
counts of about 24,000 per day. A strong cold front on 27-28 March brought a
noticeable reverse migration of Snow and Canada geese when the birds were
forced to retreat as northern waters refroze. Brant came in two waves 14 days
apart. There were several Cackling Geese, and Trumpeter Swans were found at
four sites.
Dabbling duck reports were mostly unremarkable, although a “Eurasian”
Green-winged Teal was unusual. Blue-winged Teal numbers remain very low.
272
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
With the Oneida Lake ice-out occurring about two weeks earlier than in 2007,
some of the waterfowl that use the lake peaked about 10 to 14 days earlier than
last year. That includes both scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter, Common
Loon, Red-necked Grebe, and Homed Grebe, but White-winged Scoter was an
exception with a late May peak flight. Three Great Cormorants were seen
from Derby Hill soaring over Lake Ontario before vanishing into the blue sky; it
was never certain if the birds had come from the south or had been on the lake
originally. American Bittern was reported in low numbers, and Least Bittern
was noted at only two sites. We had the usual transient Great Egrets and five
migrant Black-crowned Night-Herons on the last day of the season.
An adult Mississippi Kite flew over the Derby Hill south lookout on light
north winds in late May; it was the second recorded in the Region. Not so rare
were three Black Vultures. The Turkey Vulture count was a new high, and it
was also a good year for Osprey, Bald Eagle, Broad-winged Hawk, and Golden
Eagle, reflecting some favorable weather in April. As Golden Eagle numbers
increase more are being seen away from Derby Hill. There were six such
sightings this season. Cyclical migrants, Rough-legged Hawk and Northern
Goshawk, numbers were low this spring. Merlins nesting in Syracuse were a
first breeding record for Onondaga County. Another male (presumably) was
seen on several occasions near Onondaga Lake into May.
Sandhill Cranes are usually seen at Derby Hill in the spring, and this season
they were found at two other locations as well. Rail reports were few, hopefully
just a lack of effort, while Common Moorhen seems to be adjusting to the
constant change in the water levels of various beaver ponds by taking advantage
of newly created wetlands. Few yellowlegs of either species were seen save for
an early May flight of Lesser Yellowlegs at Derby Hill. We did have a record
count of Solitary Sandpipers in a flooded farm field. Pectoral Sandpiper was
scarce, and only single Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, and White-mmped
Sandpiper were found. The late season shorebird migration consisted mostly of
birds in flight over Oneida Lake, chiefly Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated
Sandpiper, and Dunlin.
Unusual gulls for the season were a Laughing Gull briefly seen at the
Salmon River and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in a plowed field with
other gulls near Oneida Lake. Following the big winter incursion of white¬
winged gulls, only a single Iceland Gull was spotted in spring. A large sterna
tem migration along Oneida Lake in late May was originally thought to be late-
moving Common Terns but it was suggested by Ron Pittaway that Arctic Tem
should be considered as well since it was a likely time to find them along the
north shore of Lake Ontario. That will merit future study.
It was another spring with lots of reports of both cuckoos, but with the
lessening of the forest tent caterpillar invasion in many areas it remains to be
seen if numbers decrease over the next few years. Migrant owl reports were
sparse, with no Northern Saw-whets and single Snowy and Short-eared owls
noted. The pines preferred as roost sites by Long-eared Owls in Noyes
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
273
Sanctuary are being shaded out by deciduous trees and use of the area seems to
on the decline. There was a nice late season Common Nighthawk migration at
Derby Hill, which may occur most years without observers present. A few
Whip-poor-wills were noted as migrants, and there were also birds at breeding
locations other than just the traditional Constantia areas. Red-headed
Woodpecker reports seem to indicate a rebound from the past few years’ lows.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker migrants were scarce.
Other than at Derby Hill, Lake Ontario was not covered as heavily as in
recent years, a fact borne out by the low numbers for many common species.
The more difficult to find species were no exception this year, as there were no
reports of Olive-sided Flycatcher, only one Gray-cheeked Thrush, two Yellow-
bellied Flycatchers, and two Philadelphia Vireos. Blue Jay migration is little
noticed or understood in much of the state, but the spring movement is quite
evident along Lake Ontario starting in the middle of April and continuing into
summer. A large flight of jays on 4 May came past Derby Hill in about three
hours, with most of the birds ahead of a low pressure trough. Black-capped
Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch had a notable return flight this season.
Two singing Sedge Wrens were on territory in West Monroe. A Gray Catbird in
March may have wintered nearby, they otherwise returned in late April. After a
winter with few Bohemian Waxwings, there was a small, flight along Lake
Ontario this season.
The last two weeks of April were very warm and that brought in many of the
early May migrants, with record early dates for Black-billed Cuckoo and Willow
Flycatcher. Warblers came in small waves from late April through 4 May,
slowed until about 14 May, and then arrived in a late rush around 25 May.
Golden-winged Warbler persists in small numbers both as a migrant and a
breeder, but hybrids continue to supplant what we consider to be “pure” Golden-
wingeds. There was one Orange-crowned Warbler reported, the only Prairie
Warblers were on territory, and Prothonotary Warber dutifully returned to Three
Mile Bay WMA.
There was little adverse weather in early April this year allowing migrants to
move through quickly. Numbers of Wilson's Snipe; Hermit Thrush; Vesper,
Savannah and Fox sparrows; and Dark-eyed Juncos were reduced from 2007.
The one Clay-colored Sparrow seen was, oddly, in a wet area. Migrant Lincoln's
Sparrows were few. Two Dark-eyed “Oregon” Juncos were photographed at a
feeder. Only a single migrant Orehard Oriole was reported, but they continue to
return to several sites and it's likely that many breeders remain to be found.
All of the finches were reported this spring, although few Red and White¬
winged crossbills remained in the Region after the poor cone crop in 2007. Even
after big irruptions Pine Grosbeaks typically depart before April and they did so
this year. Purple Finch migration peaked in early May at Derby Hill, and flocks
of Common Redpoll remained through March with stragglers well into April. A
few Hoary Redpolls were also found with the Commons. Small numbers of Pine
Siskin migrants were seen throughout the season, and flocks of Evening
274
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Grosbeaks stayed at the higher elevations into April and there were even a few
May migrants.
A total of 242 species was seen this spring, one above the average for the
previous ten years. There was also one hybrid, 2 uncommon subspecies, and the
presumed released Northern Bobwhites. Highlights were Great Cormorant,
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Mississippi Kite, Laughing Gull, Lesser Black-
backed Gull, Sedge Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler and the finches.
DERBY HILL HAWK MIGRATION TOTALS
Species
Arrival
Max
Max Date
Total
Turkey Vulture
3 Mar
2147
1 Apr
12880
Osprey
31 Mar
140
3 May
710
Bald Eagle
3 Mar
25
5 May
334
No. Harrier
6 Mar
115
3 May
791
Sharp-sh. Hawk
3 Mar
622
3 May
4214
Cooper’s Hawk
3 Mar
54
25 Mar, 1 Apr
333
No. Goshawk
3 Mar
3
21 Apr
19
Red-sh. Hawk
1 Mar
91
25 Mar
533
Broad-wng. Hawk
10 Apr
3709
27 Apr
19813
Red-tailed Hawk
3 Mar
866
8 Apr
5557
Rough-lgd. Hawk
3 Mar
65
1 Apr
287
Golden Eagle
6 Mar
7
14 Mar, 16 Apr
80
Am. Kestrel
14 Mar
46
1 Apr
395
Merlin
22 Mar
8
19 Apr
52
Peregrine Falcon
27 Mar
3
3 May
21
Total, inc. unid.
62,992
CONTRIBUTORS
Betty Armbruster, Brenda Best, Sue Boettger, Joseph Brin, Ken Burdick, Rose
Burdick, Bemie Carr, Tom Carrolan, Gerald Case, Jared Caster, Rosanne
Costello, Dorothy Crumb, Greg Dashnau, Natalia Garcia, Bill Gruenbaum, Ken
Hodgson, Gene Huggins, Chris Lajewski, Joshua LaCelle, Robbie LaCelle, Dan
Leete, Martin Mau (MMa), Kevin McGann, Jay McGowan, Matthew Medler
(MMe), David Nash, Kevin Pace, Matt Perry, Maryanne Phillips, Bill Purcell,
Chris Reidy, Paul Richardson, John Rogers, Margaret Rusk, Tom Salo, Mickey
Scilingo (MSc), Tony Shrimpton, Mike Slattery (MSI), Gerald Smith, Phil
Taylor, Andrew Van Norstrand, David Wheeler, Tim Whitens, Christopher
Wood, Judy Wright, Matt Young.
ABBREVIATIONS
Bvlle - Baldwinsville; CM - Clay Marsh; DH - Derby Hill; FH - Fair Haven,
Little Sodus Bay and vicinity; GSC - Great Swamp Conservancy, n. MADI;
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
275
LOL - Lake Ontario Littoral; NMP - Nine Mile Point, T's Scriba and New
Haven; OneiL - Oneida Lake; OnonL - Onondaga Lake; SCH - T Schroeppel;
SFNS - Spring Farm Nature Sanctuary, Kirkland; Skan - Skaneateles; SL -
Sullivan-Lenox mucklands; SPd - Sandy Pond; SSSP - Selkirk Shores State
Park; SVB - Sylvan and Verona Beach; Syr - Syracuse; TR - Three Rivers
WMA; UM - Utica Marsh; VB - Van Buren; WH - Whiskey Hollow, T Van
Buren; WM - West Monroe.
WHISTLING-DUCKS-VULTURES
Snow Goose; max 22,300 DH 20 Mar &
24,970 DH 22 Mar; 3,000 OSWE 27 Mar,
flying south; Camillus after 8 May and
Constantia after 27 May, injured birds.
Brant; Lakeport 16 Mar (TS), with Canada
Geese; 12 OneiL 5 May; max 2950 DH 11
May; 2425 OneiL 25 May.
Cackling Goose: SCH 23 Mar (KM, ph); 3
Tully L 22 Mar (CW); 3 SVB 25 Mar.
Canada Goose: max 25,000 SCH 23 Mar;
12,400 DH 28 Mar, southbound.
Trumpeter Swan: 4 VB 23 Mar, calling (JB);
2 Sterling Nature Center 17 May thru (MR,
BP); Volney 17 May thru (MP, KH, mob);
SSSP 30 May (MMe).
Tundra Swan: max 24 Brewerton 4 Mar,
wintered.
Wood Duck: max 60 DH 25 Mar.
Gadwall: max 9 SSSP 13 Mar.
Am. Wigeon: max 150 Skan 25 Mar.
Am. Black Duck: max 42 Fabius 11 Mar.
Blue-winged Teal; max 4 per day, generally
scarce.
N, Shovelcr; max 8 SVB 15 Mar.
N. Pintail; max 40 SCH 29 Mar.
Green-winged Teal: max 90 SCH 12 Apr.
“EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL:
Skan 4 Apr (KB).
Canvasback: max 49 Brewerton 4 Mar.
Redhead: max 315 OnonL 5 Mar; last Ono nL
23 May.
Ring-necked Duck: max 800 SSSP 16 Mar;
Cato 31 May, on farm pond.
Greater Scaup: max 1185 FH & 2150
Oswego 16 Mar.
Lesser Scaup: max 400 OneiL 12 Apr; last 2
OneiL 17 May.
Surf Scoter: arr OneiL 13 Apr; max 10 OneiL
19 Apr.
White-winged Scoter: max 530 Oswego 16
Mar, wintering; 157 OneiL 24 May, late flight.
Black Scoter: Lakeport Bay OneiL 22 Mar.
276
Long-tailed Duck: max 105 Oswego 16 Mar;
75 OneiL 16 Apr.
Bufflehead: max 78 Mexico Pt 12 Apr.
Com. Goldeneye: max 1070 FH 16 Mar; last
OneiL 23 May.
Hooded Merganser: arr Old Forge 5 Mar;
max 32 DH 25 Mar.
Com. Merganser: max 1800 OnonL 5 Mar.
Red-breasted Merganser: 47 OneiL 6 Apr;
OneiL 29 May.
Ruddy Duck: max 3 per day; last OneiL 17
May.
Red-throated Loon; OneiL 27 May, only
report.
Com. Loon: max 145 OneiL 13 Apr; 29 Skan
L 13 Apr.
Pied-billed Grebe: max 3 per day, with few
total noted.
Horned Grebe: max 4 Oneil 5 Mar, 19 Apr.
Red-necked Grebe: max 31 OneiL 15 Apr.
Double-crested Cormorant: arr DH 30 Mar.
Great Cormorant: 3 DH 3 Apr (TC, BP).
Am. Bittern: TR 6 Apr; 2 WM 27 Apr, low
count there.
Least Bittern: CM & SCH 17 May.
Great Blue Heron: max 51 DH 31 Mar,
migrating; 19 DH 31 May, late.
Great Egret: singles DH 12 Apr, 2, 31 May;
SCH 8 May; FH 14 May thru.
Green Heron: max 3-4 per day, late and slow
arr.
Black-crowned Night-Heron: 5 DH 31 May,
only report.
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Black Vulture; DH 6,16 & 22 Apr.
Turkey Vulture; 12,880 DH, new seasonal
record high.
MISSISSIPPI KITE: ad DH 25 May (MSI,
PT, NYSARC), 2d Reg record.
N. Goshawk: CM 24 Mar, 21 Apr, only non-
DH reports.
The Kingbird 20^"^ September; 58 (3)
Golden Eagle: Big Moose 17 Mar; Highland
Forest 22 Mar; Camden 3 Apr; Erieville 5 Apr;
Mexico 22 Apr; Skan 24 Apr.
Merlin: VB 14 Mar, 13 Apr; Burnet P Syr 23
Mar; Liverpool 24 Mar and into May; Hannibal
7 Apr; pair Syr 6 Apr, at nest.
Peregrine Falcon: Dewitt 4 Mar; pair Syr on
nest; pair Utica courting.
Virginia Rail: max 8 SCH 17 May.
Sora: max 3 per day CM & UM.
Com. Moorhen: Canastota 17 May, new
habitat; max 20 Volney 17 May.
Am. Coot: max 6 FH 16 Mar; 2 Volney 11
May, possible breeders.
Sandhill Crane: 10 total DH 27 Mar to 25
Apr; 2 Granby 2 Apr; TR 30 May.
Black-bellied Plover: max 66 OneiL 30 May.
Semipalmated Plover: max 4 SL 21 May.
Killdeer: max 90 DH 31 Mar.
Spotted Sandpiper: max 21 LOL 15 May.
Solitary Sandpiper: max 75 Fulton 10 May
(TS), record count; 50 DH 2-3 May.
Greater Yellowlegs: max 9 SCH 12 Apr.
Lesser Yellowlegs; max 48 DH 2 May.
Upland Sandpiper: arr 2 Fulton 18 Apr;
Hannibal 26 Apr; Oneida 17 May.
Whimhrel: OneiL 23 May, only report.
Ruddy Turnstone: Constantia 30-31 May,
only report.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: arr 5 Fulton 10
May; max 103 OneiL 27 May.
Least Sandpiper: max 75 SL 11 May.
White-rumped Sandpiper: SL 28 May.
Pectoral Sandpiper: 3 SCH 12 Apr.
Dunlin: arr SL & Sterling 17 May; max 168
OneiL 27 May.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 4 OneiL 24 May,
only report.
Wilson's Snipe: max 21 SL 3 Apr.
LAUGHING GULL: Salmon R 17 May
(MSc, MMa).
Bonaparte's Gull: max 212 OneiL 17 Apr.
Iceland Gull: OnonL 11 Apr.
Lesser Black-backed Gull: ad SL 13 Apr.
Caspian Tern: max 230 SPd 2 May.
Black Tern: 2 Sangerfield 17 May, unusual off
large lakes; max 22 OneiL 23 May, migrants;
12 SSSP 30 May, breeders.
Com. Tern: migrant max 52 OneiL 8 May.
STERNA SP: 186 migrants OneiL 25 May,
likely Common but possibly Arctic?
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: arr 11 May; 9 reports.
Black-billed Cuckoo: arr Skan 27 Apr (DL),
record early; widespread after 10 May.
Snowy Owl: Fabius 1 Mar, only report.
Long-eared Owl: singles Noyes Sanctuary 31
Mar to 17 Apr.
Short-eared Owl: DH 27 Mar, only report.
Com. Nighthawk; max 19 DH 28 May.
Whip-poor-will: TR 11 May, migrant; Rome
15 May; 2 breeding locations Constantia 13
May thru.
Chimney Swift: max 19 DH 28 May.
Red-headed Woodpecker: arr 3 LOL 9 May;
2 SVB 14 May; DH 15 May; Clinton 17 May;
2 Lysander 25 May; TR 31 May.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: migrants 1-2 per
day Apr.
N. Flicker: max 211 DH 17 Apr.
FLYCATCHERS -WAXWINGS
E. Wood-Pewee: max 8 WH 27 May.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: WH 23 May;
Camden 29 May, only reports.
Acadian Flycatcher: arr WH 17 May.
Willow Flycatcher: arr 30 Apr (JB), record
early; SFNS 4 May, still an early date.
Great Crested Flycatcher: max 11 Clay 17
May.
E. Kingbird: max 44 DH 3 May.
N. Shrike: 6 reports Mar; last SL 6 Apr.
Philadelphia Vireo: NMP 14, 24 May, only
reports.
Blue Jay: max 17,430 DH 4 May.
Am. Crow: max 800 DH 6 Mar.
Fish Crow: 2 Liverpool thru; 3 Syr 6 Apr; 2
DH 25 Apr; 5 Camden 5 May; 2 Cicero 6 May.
Com. Raven: Skan 25 Mar; TR 6 Apr.
Horned Lark; max 100 SJ 12 Apr; max 100
VB 13 Apr.
Purple Martin: 27 DH 2 May, migrants.
Tree Swallow: max 1100 New Haven-Mexico
12 Apr.
Bank Swallow; 140 Oriskany Falls 17 May,
repopulating old site.
Cliff Swallow: migrant max 6 per day.
Black-capped Chickadee: max 167 DH 17
Apr.
Red-breasted Nuthatch: max 6 NMP 29 Apr.
White-breasted Nuthatch; max 16 DH 8 Apr.
Brown Creeper: max 11 NMP 19 Apr.
Carolina Wren: 2 Camden 22 Mar.
Winter Wren: arr ONON 7 Apr.
Sedge Wren: 2 WM after 17 May (AVN, JM).
Marsh Wren: max 21 CM 17 May.
Golden-crowned Kinglet: arr Camden 4 Apr;
max 30 NMP 19 Apr, low.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: max 45 NMP 19 Apr.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: max 11 WM 5 May.
E. Bluebird: max 12 DH 3 May.
The Kingbird September; 58 (3)
277
Veery: max 16 NMP 15 May.
Gray-cheeked Thrush: Scriba 24 May, only
report.
Swainson's Thrush: max 12 NMP 15 May.
Hermit Thrush: Labrador Hollow 22 Mar;
max 20 NMP 12 Apr.
Wood Thrush: max 27 CM 17 May.
Am. Robin: max 1300 DH 1 Apr.
Gray Catbird: Otisco 22 Mar (CW),
winterer?; max 52 CM 17 May.
N. Mockingbird: DH 18 Apr, 11 May.
Brown Thrasher: 2 Old Forge 29 Apr,
migrants.
Am. Pipit: arr OnonL 7 Mar, early; max 30
VB 13 Apr.
Bohemian Waxwing: max 52 DH 11 Apr; 15
Pulaski 11 Apr.
Cedar Waxwing: most DH migrants before 3
Apr and after 20 May.
WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler: max 6 NMP 15 May.
Golden-winged Warbler: arr DH 3 May;
reports from 4 breeding sites.
“Brewster's” Warbler: DH 4 May; 2
Pompey 11 May; SFNS 24 May.
Tennessee Warbler: max 8 NMP 15 May.
Orange-crowned Warbler: NMP 15-17 May.
Nashville Warbler: max 10 NMP 15 May.
N. Parula: max 12 NMP 15 May.
Yellow Warbler: max 80 DH 14 May.
Chestnut-sided Warbler: max 9 NMP 15
May.
Magnolia Warbler: max 11 NMP 15 May.
Cape May Warbler: max 3 NMP 15 May; DH
31 May.
Black-throated Blue Warbler: max 24 NMP
15 May.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: max 320 DH 2
May.
Black-throated Green Warbler: max 14
NMP 15 May.
Blackburnian Warbler: max 8 Camden 4
May.
Pine Warbler: max 11 NMP 19 Apr.
Prairie Warbler: arr SFNS 3 May; Tully 14
May.
Palm Warbler: max 40 LOL 3 May.
Bay-breasted Warbler: max 6 NMP 15 May.
Blackpoll Warbler: max 12 DH 31 May.
Cerulean Warbler: arr WM 5 May, early;
SVB 14 May.
Black-and-white Warbler: max 5 NMP 15
May.
Am. Redstart: max 40 NMP 24 May.
Prothonotary Warbler: arr WM 16 May.
Ovenbird: max 23 NMP 15 May.
N. Waterthrush: max 6 per day LOL.
Louisiana Waterthrush: arr Pratt's Falls 12
Apr.
Mourning Warbler: max 2 per day LOL 17
May thm.
Com. Yellowthroat: max 42 CM 17 May.
Hooded Warbler: max 7 NMP 15 May.
Wilson's Warbler; max 3 per day LOL 10
May thru.
Canada Warbler: migrants 1-2 per day.
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
Scarlet Tanager: max 34 DH 14 May.
Am. Tree Sparrow: last Skan 19 Apr.
Clay-colored Sparrow: Skan 8-13 May, only
report.
Field Sparrow: arr SFNS 11 Apr.
Vesper Sparrow: max 6 NMP 12 Apr.
Grasshopper Sparrow: arr OSWE 3 May.
Fox Sparrow: arr Clinton 5 Mar; max 5
Hastings 11 Apr; most reports 28 Mar-16 Apr
but low numbers.
Song Sparrow: arr Canastota 8 Mar.
Lincoln's Sparrow: max 1 per day thru May.
Swamp Sparrow: arr SCH 6 Apr.
White-throated Sparrow: 2 Oswego 15 Mar,
unusual in winter; max 50 Camden 4 May;
migrants 13 Apr to 20 May.
White-crowned Sparrow: max 27 NMP 15
May.
Dark-eyed Junco: max 65 NMP 12 Apr.
Dark-eyed “Oregon” Junco: 2 SSSP 16 Mar
(KM, ph).
Lapland Longspur: 2 Oneida 1 Mar; VB 24
Mar.
Snow Bunting: max 175 Oneida 1 Mar; last
DH31 Mar.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: max 19 DH 14
May.
Indigo Bunting: max 12 DH 14 May.
Bobolink: max 280 DH 2 May.
Red-winged Blackbird: arr n HERK 3 Mar.
E. Meadowlark: arr Skan 12 Mar.
Rusty Blackbird: arr 3 VB 15 Mar; max 250
Clay 8 May; last Bvlle 21 May.
Brown-headed Cowbird: arr DH 14 Mar.
Orchard Oriole: NMP 14 May, only migrant;
T Marshall 17 May; Cato 19 May thm; 4 Green
Lakes SP 17 May thm.
Baltimore Oriole: max 115 DH 14 May.
Pine Grosbeak: max 40 New Hartford 15
Mar; last 2 Mexico 20 Mar.
Purple Finch; max 650 DH 3 May.
Red Crossbill: to 3 per day s MADI thm.
278
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
White-winged Crossbill: single Camillus 2
May.
Com. Redpoll: widespread thru Mar; max 290
DH 3 Apr; last 3 DH 25 Apr.
Hoary Redpoll: Sheds 1 Mar; Camden 15, 18
Mar; Pulaski 29 Mar.
Pine Siskin: max 16 DH 3 May; last 3 DH 26
May.
N. Bobwhite: some releases surviving winter
to breed at GSC.
Evening Grosbeak: max 70 Sheds 1 Mar; last
DH and SFNS 3 May.
RELEASE/ESCAPE
REGION 6—ST. LAWRENCE
Jeffrey S. Bolsinger
98 State Street, Canton NY 13617
jsbolsinger@yahoo.conn
Early spring was cool and wet, with a mean March temperature in Watertown of
26.9° F, which is 4° below normal, and 3.99" of precipitation, which is 1.1"
above normal. Cool temperatures continued until mid-April, when daily
temperatures rose from the 40s and low 50s on 13-16 April to the 70s on most
days in the last half of the month. April ended with more typical temperatures in
the 50s and 60s, but the extended warm spell resulted in a mean monthly
temperature of 50.3°, which is 6.6° above normal and made for the second or
third wannest April on record. May was cool, averaging 53.0°, 3.4° below
normal. Mean precipitation was barely above normal in April and 0.9" below
normal in May.
Cool March temperatures resulted in a substantial snow pack persisting well
into the spring, as well as the presence of little open water throughout the
interior of the Region when the bulk of the waterfowl migration took place.
Many observers noted large northward movements of Snow and Canada geese
on several late March and early April mornings, followed by same-day
southward flights, mostly in the afternoon. A Snow Goose flock in Ellisburg,
which Nick Leone estimated to contain 50,000 to 60,000 individuals, illustrates
the continued increase in numbers passing through the Region. Single Ross’s
Geese were picked out of flocks on Fort Drum on 27 March and in Canton on 30
March. Reports of “Richardson’s” Cackling Goose came from Upper and
Lower Lakes WMA and the Black River Valley. Most observers felt that the
duck migration was poor and that perhaps many species moved through quickly
because of the absence of open water. The most noteworthy duek report was of a
flock of 3000 Northern Pintails in Hounsfield during early April, an unusually
high total for Region 6.
A Turkey Vulture seen migrating near the Lake Ontario shoreline on 1
March was early, but the bulk of the vulture migration occurred at more typical
The Kingbird 20^^ September; 58 (3)
279
dates. Golden Eagle made a good showing, with four reports totaling six
individuals. Rough-legged Hawk numbers remained low during the first half of
the reporting period, with no late season reports, unlike most recent years.
Several observers felt that Northern Harriers were present in lower than usual
numbers throughout the period.
There were two highlights of the shorebird migration. Willets are rarely
observed in Region 6, especially during spring migration, so one Willet that
flew over me on 16 May near a marsh on Fort Drum was a surprise. Two days
later Jerry and Judi LeTendre found two Marbled Godwits in Cape Vincent, an
even rarer shorebird in the Region; several attempts to relocate the godwits on
subsequent days failed, but the LeTendres saw two godwits in this same location
again on 23 May, after which there were no more reports. Several observers
reported good numbers of shorebirds at farm ponds throughout northern
Jefferson County, primarily Semipalmated Plover, both yellowlegs, and Solitary
and Least sandpipers, but I received few reports that included numbers or
locations. Up to three Sandhill Cranes spent much of May in Ellisburg, with at
least one still present at the end of the month, suggesting the possibility of a
nesting attempt although no specific breeding behavior was reported.
On 24 March neighbors called MaryBeth Warburton hoping that she could
come over to identify a large owl that was perched on a bird feeder near their
living room window. When she arrived MaryBeth was surprised to see a Great
Gray Owl, which remained on the feeder for much of the day, delighting birders
who came to see it throughout the morning and early afternoon. (Fig. A, p. 259).
The owl was seen for at least three more days, although it was never again so
cooperative. The homeowners reported seeing a large owl without tufts in the
area for up to a week prior to this date, although Barred Owls nest nearby and it
is not certain which species they actually saw. This sighting came on the heels
of a winter reporting season with very few Snowy Owls and no other northern
owl reports.
The warm spell during the latter half of April contributed to the early arrival
of many species that typically show up in late April or early May, while species
with mean arrival dates in mid- to late-May generally appeared on dates that
were closer to historic norms. Species that were reported well before mean
arrival dates included Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Eastern Wood-
Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Bam Swallow, Hermit Thmsh, Blue-headed Vireo,
Nashville Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, and
Vesper Sparrow. As a result of these especially early arrivals, the overall mean
arrival date for 82 species for which I had good information was 25 April,
compared to a historic mean of 1 May.
There was virtually no overlap between the departure of the winter’s
Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks and the return of breeding waxwings
and finches. Pine Grosbeaks left the Region by mid-March and Bohemian
Waxwings by mid-April, after which waxwings of either species were virtually
absent until Cedar Waxwings began to pour into northern New York during the
280
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
latter half of May. Similarly, Purple Finches and American Goldfinches returned
in numbers about a month after the departure of the last Pine Grosbeaks. Red
Crossbills and Pine Siskins remained scarce throughout the spring.
For the season I received reports of 224 species, an excellent total for Region
6 that is nearly 20 species higher than recent spring totals. This high total was
possible because of a combination of the presence of lingering winter irruptives,
better shorebird reporting than in past springs, and a relatively large number of
rarities. On the negative side was a relatively poor duck migration and low
numbers of several raptor species.
CONTRIBUTORS
Marilyn Badger, Jeff Bolsinger, Dick and Marion Brouse, Carol Cady, Bemie
Carr, Joan Collins, Julie Covey, Mike Jeziorski, Linda LaPan, Jerry & Judi
LeTendre, Gary Lewandrowski, Nick Leone, Irene Mazzocchi, Brian
McAllister, Eugene Nichols, David Prosser, Chris Reidy, Gerry Smith,
MaryBeth Warburton, Bob & June Walker, Tom & Eileen Wheeler, Lydia
Wright.
ABBREVIATIONS
BRV - Black River Valley LEWI; CV - Cape Vincent JEFF; ED - El Dorado
Shores Preserve; FL - Fisher’s Landing, T Orleans JEFF; FD - Fort Drum
Military Reservation; GPSP - Grass Point SP JEFF; ICNC - Indian Creek
Nature Center, T Canton STLA; LPt - Leishman Pt, T Waddington STLA; KC -
Kelsey Creek, T Watertown JEFF; LGI - Little Galloo Island; MM -
Massawepie Mire, Piercefield and Colton; PtPen - Pt Peninsula, T Lyme JEFF;
PRWMA - Perch River WMA, T Orleans JEFF; SLR - Saint Lawrence River;
ULLWMA - Upper and Lower Lakes WMA, T Canton STLA; SnPt -
Snowshoe Pt, T Henderson JEFF; StPt - Stony Pt, T Henderson JEFF; TP -
Tibbets Pt, T Cape Vincent JEFF; WHWMA - Wilson Hill WMA.
WHISTLING-DUCKS - VULTURES
Snow Goose: max 50,000-60,000 Ellisburg 25
Mar, high; many reports 500-7000 per day 24
Mar - 4 Apr.
ROSS’S GOOSE (R6): over FD with 600
Snow Geese 27 Mar (JB); Canton 30 Mar (BM,
LL, LW, photos!).
“RICHARDSON”S” CACKLING GOOSE
(R6): ULLWMA 29 Mar & 6 Apr (JB); BRV
17 Apr(NL).
Brant: 300 Chaumont Bay 25 May;
ULLWMA 26 May.
Trumpeter Swan: 2 Brookside Cemetery
Watertown thru; up to 6 PRWMA Apr & May.
Wood Duck: arr ULLWMA 23 Mar.
Mallard: max 2500 Ellisburg 13 Mar.
Blue-winged Teal: arr CV 6 Apr.
N. Shoveler: 4 TP 30 Mar; BRV 17 Apr.
N. Pintail: arr Ogdensburg 15 Mar; max 3000
Hounsfield 2-3 Apr, high count.
Green-winged Teal: arr ULLWMA 6 Apr.
Redhead: 2 PRWMA 5 May.
Ring-necked Duck: arr Ogdensburg 29 Mar;
max 700 FL 31 Mar.
Greater Scaup: max 1200 TP 30 Mar.
Lesser Scaup: 15 CV 6 Apr; 12 BRV 17 Apr.
Surf Scoter: LPt 20 Apr.
White-winged Scoter: Ogdensburg 4 Mar; 5
StPt 6 Apr.
Black Scoter: StPt 6 Apr.
The Kingbird 20^^ September; 58 (3)
281
Long-tailed Duck: 200 StPt 6 Apr; 1000+
Chaumont 18 Apr; 25 SnPt 25 Apr.
Bufilehead: last 2 PtPen 13 May.
Com. Goldeneye: last 4 WHWMA 20 Apr.
Hooded Merganser: arr FD 13 Mar.
Com. Merganser: last SLR 17 May.
Red-breasted Merganser: max 71 PtPen 13
May.
Com. Loon: arr PtPen 6 Apr.
Pied-billed Grebe: arr FD 9 Apr.
Horned Grebe: max 16 ULLWMA 25 Apr.
Red-necked Grebe: ULLWMA 19 Apr; 2
ULLWMA 27 Apr.
Am. Bittern: arr Potsdam 9 Apr.
Least Bittern: arr FD 16 May.
Great Blue Heron: arr Hounsfield 24 Mar.
Green Heron: arr Watertown 29 Apr.
Turkey Vulture: arr Watertown 1 Mar.
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Osprey: arr GPSP 6 Apr.
N. Harrier: arr Ellisburg 13 Mar.
Red-shouldered Hawk: arr FD 27 Mar.
Broad-winged Hawk: arr Parishville 10 Apr.
Rough-legged Hawk: last ULLWMA 13 Apr.
Golden Eagle: imm Ellisburg 24 Mar; 3
Potsdam 20 Apr; 1 Potsdam 23 Apr; ad or
subad FD 10 May.
Am. Kestrel: arr Gouvemeur 14 Mar.
Merlin: pr Canton 16 May.
Virginia Rail: arr ICNC 19 Apr.
Sora: no reports.
Com. Moorhen: arr PRWMA 5 May.
Sandhill Crane: 3 Lakeview WMA early to
mid-May, at least 1 thru; ULLWMA 18 May.
Semipalmated Plover: ED 23 May.
Killdeer: arr Ellisburg 6 Mar.
Greater Yellowlegs: several reports CV May.
Lesser Yellowlegs: arr Ellisburg 29 Mar,
early; “many” CV May.
Solitary Sandpiper: Dekalb 6 May; several
reports CV May.
WILLET (R6): flying near Matoon Marsh FD
16May(JB).
Spotted Sandpiper: arr FD 5 May.
Upland Sandpiper: arr Leray 2 May; second
location Leray 6 May; 4 FD late May,
MARBLED GOD WIT: 2 CV 18, 23 May (JL
& JL, DP, DB&MB), photos, report to
NYSARC!.
Least Sandpiper: arr E. Martinsburg 2 May,
early.
Short-billed Dowitcher: CV 18-19 May.
Wilson’s Snipe: arr Canton 8 Apr.
Am. Woodcock: arr Potsdam 27 Mar.
Bonaparte’s Gull: arr Chaumont 12 Apr.
282
Ring-billed Gull: arr in numbers 3-4 Mar;
37,425 nests LGI 14 May.
Herring Gull: 375 nests LGI 14 May.
Great Black-backed Gull: 1 nest LGI 28
May, down from recent years.
Caspian Tern: arr Chaumont 12 Apr; 1376
nests LGI 28 May, fewest since 2001.
Com. Tern: arr LPt 20 Apr.
Black Tern: arr PRWMA 5 May.
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Black-billed Cuckoo: arr FD 16 May.
GREAT GRAY OWL: Potsdam 24-27 Mar
(MBW, mob), photos, report to NYSARC!.
Short-eared Owl: last CV 3^'^ week Mar.
N. Saw-whet Owl: Lorraine 15 Mar.
Whip-poor-will: arr Chaumont 23 Apr.
Chimney Swift: arr Canton 7 May.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: arr Potsdam
12 May.
Belted Kingfisher: arr CV 6 Mar.
Red-bellied Woodpecker: 2 new locations FD
May.
Red-headed Woodpecker: arr FD 8 May.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: wintering KC bird
last seen 9 Mar; arr FD 9 Apr.
N. Flicker: arr KC 12 Mar.
FLYCATCHERS -WAXWINGS
Olive-sided Flycatcher: arr Colton 25 May.
E. Wood-Pewee: arr PRWMA 5 May, early;
next report WHWMA 17 May.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: arr MM 25 May.
Aider Flycatcher: arr ICNC 15 May.
Willow Flycatcher: arr FD 24 May.
Least Flycatcher: arr FD 30 Apr.
E. Phoebe: arr FL 6 Apr.
Great Crested Flycatcher: arr ICNC 2 May.
E. Kingbird: arr ICNC 3 May.
N. Shrike: last Canton 4 Apr.
Yellow-throated Vireo: arr ICNC 3 May.
Blue-headed Vireo: arr FD 21 Apr.
Warbling Vireo: arr ICNC 3 May.
Philadelphia Vireo: MM 25 May.
Red-eyed Vireo: arr Lorraine 10 May.
Horned Lark: max 300 Ellisburg 13 Mar.
Purple Martin: arr Canton 19 Apr.
Tree Swallow: arr Henderson 4 Apr.
N. Rough-winged Swallow: arr FD 21 Apr.
Bank Swallow: arr PRWMA 5 May.
Cliff Swallow: arr Tug Hill 2 May; 100+
Barnhart Is Massena 17 May.
Barn Swallow: arr Lowville 10 Apr.
Carolina Wren: Watertown 16 May.
House Wren: arr Canton 23 Apr.
Winter Wren: arr FD 29 Apr.
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Sedge Wren: arr FD 22 May.
Marsh Wren: arr PRWMA 25 Apr.
Golden-crowned Kinglet: arr Canton 4 Apr.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: arr Potsdam 14 Apr.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: arr Dekalb 2 May;
FD 20 May.
E. Bluebird: arr Ellisburg 25 Mar.
Veery: arr FD 6 May.
Hermit Thrush: arr FD 8 Apr.
Wood Thrush: arr Dekalb 2 May.
Gray Catbird: arr ICNC 3 May.
Brown Thrasher: arr Canton 19 Apr.
Bohemian Waxwing: last 20 Gouvemeur 15
Apr.
Cedar Waxwing: scarce mid-Mar to mid-May,
when arr in numbers.
WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler: arr FD 29 Apr, early.
Golden-winged Warbler: arr Potsdam 5 May.
“Brewster’s” Warbler: 8 FD during May;
increasing.
“Lawrence’s” Warbler: FD 10, 14 May,
previously unrecorded at this location.
Tennessee Warbler: arr FD 7 May.
Orange-crowned Warbler: ICNC 18 May
(JB).
Nashville Warbler: arr Potsdam 28 Apr.
N. Parula: arr FD 8 May.
Yellow Warbler: arr ICNC 27 Apr.
Chestnut-sided Warbler: arr ICNC 3 May.
Magnolia Warbler: arr FD 8 May.
Cape May Warbler: arr ICNC 18 May.
Black-throated Blue Warbler: arr ICNC 3
May.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: arr ICNC 19 Apr.
Black-throated Green Warbler: arr Potsdam
26 Apr.
Blackburnian Warbler; arr FD 6 May.
Pine Warbler; arr Canton 13 Apr.
Prairie Warbler: arrFD 8 May.
Palm Warbler: 18 singing males MM 25 May.
Bay-breasted Warbler: arr SnPt 18 May.
Blackpoll Warbler: arr FD 20 May.
Cerulean Warbler: arr Dekalb 6 May.
Black-and-white Warbler: arr ICNC 27 Apr.
Am. Redstart: arr Potsdam 29 Apr.
Ovenbird: arr Potsdam 28 Apr.
N. Waterthrush: arr FD 30 Apr.
Louisiana Waterthrush: Lorraine 10 May,
only report.
Mourning Warbler: art FD 15 May.
Com. Yellowthroat: arr FD 6 May.
Hooded Warbler: probable breeding Ellisburg
18 May, only report.
Wilson’s Warbler: arr SnPt 17 May.
Canada Warbler: arr FD 14 May.
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
Scarlet Tanager; arr FD 5 May.
E. Towhee: arr FD 17 Apr.
Am. Tree Sparrow: last ICNC 13 Apr.
Chipping Sparrow; arr FD 17 Apr.
Clay-colored Sparrow: arr FD 7 May;
Henderson & Waddington 17 May; 3
Brownville 25 May.
Field Sparrow: arrFD 16 Apr.
Vesper Sparrow: arr Carthage 30 Mar.
Savannah Sparrow: arr CV 6 Apr.
Grasshopper Sparrow: arr FD 1 May; 6
Henderson 17 May.
Henslow’s Sparrow: arr FD 5 May.
Fox Sparrow: arr ULLWMA 12 Apr.
Song Sparrow: arr Canton 27 Mar.
Lincoln’s Sparrow: 15 singing m MM 25
May.
Swamp Sparrow: arr ULLWMA 12 Apr.
White-throated Sparrow: arr ULLWMA 25
Mar.
White-crowned Sparrow: arr CV 24 Mar.
Lapland Longspur: CV 11 Mar
Snow Bunting: last Canton 29 Mar.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: arr KC 1 May.
Indigo Bunting: arr FD 14 May.
Bobolink; arr FD 1 May.
Red-winged Blackbird: arr Ellisburg 6 Mar.
E. Meadowlark: arr Ellisburg 18 Mar.
Rusty Blackbird: arr FD 27 Mar.
Com. Grackle: arr Ellisburg 6 Mar.
Brown-headed Cowbird: arr Watertown 11
Mar.
Orchard Oriole: Three Mile Pt early May
(BW & JW); pr PtPen 19 May (JL & JL).
Baltimore Oriole: arr ICNC 27 Apr.
Pine Grosbeak: last Ogdensburg 15 Mar.
Purple Finch: scarce until mid-Apr.
Red Crossbill: 5 FD 21 Apr.
Pine Siskin: 2 Canton 25 Apr; Potsdam 14
May; scarce.
2008 September; 58 (3) 283
REGION 7—ADIRONDACK-CHAMPLAIN
John M.C. Peterson
477 County Rte 8, Elizabethtown. NY 12932
jmcp7@juno.com
Except for two minor snowstorms, the first week of March was uneventful, but
snow resumed late on the 7* and by the following day had turned to freezing
rain, sleet, and then more rain that began to freeze. Branches cracked, trees
crashed, and lines broke, leaving 30,000 across the Region without power and
many residences without telephone service. The Ice Storm of ‘08 was not as
severe as the Great Ice Storm of ‘98, but the impact on both humans and birds
was considerable. Power was restored within five days, but some residents were
without telephone/intemet service for ten. Winter snowfall in the Champlain
Valley had reached 112" by 12 March, 45" above the average of 67", and the
surface was now covered by a thick layer of ice. One wildlife rehabilitator in
Chazy took in five Barred Owls, which were held for banding and not released
until 14-18 April when the ice and snow cover had melted, but many more owls
may have succumbed to the elements. A windstorm 21 March brought renewed
power outages. Weather for the remainder of the season was rather
anticlimactic. April Fool’s Day saw winds reach 60 mph, and a heat wave 18-22
April saw temperatures in the 80s for five days, reaching 82° at Westport on the
21®^ May was largely sunny, cool, and windy, and, although the Central
Adirondacks saw some heavy rains, the only noteworthy rain in the Champlain
Valley fell on the morning of the 15*, followed by sun showers 21-23 May. A
deluge then closed the season, with 1" hailstones drumming on Clinton County
on the afternoon of 31 May.
Lake Champlain stood at 97.33' on 1 March and had returned to exactly the
same level by 31 May, but rose above the 100' flood stage between 13 April and
6 May, following spring runoff in the mountains, and reached a peak of 100.75'
from 22-25 April. As the waters receded in May, beaches were covered with
dead alewives, which arrived in the lake only two years ago, and mudflats were
covered with shorebirds. More than 45,000 Snow Geese gathered in huge floeks
from Point au Roche to the Chazy Riverlands by 25 March, feeding and flying,
carpeting at least nine extensive fields, and clouding the sky—a new spring
maxima for the county and Region, although short of the 57,000 seen in the
same vicinity 13 November 2002 [The Kingbird 53:1, p. 75]. The farmland
between the Little and Great Chazy rivers, mueh of it flooded during the April
thaw, also attracted a rich mix of waterfowl, the first Gray Partridge in five
years, Great Egret, Common Moorhen, Bonaparte’s Gull, and Caspian and
Common terns. As the lake fell, the 13 shorebird species included the third
Clinton County record of Marbled Godwit on 17 and 21 May, as well as a male
Wilson’s Phalarope—the first in six years—on 16 May.
The Crown Point banding station was in operation for the 33'''^ consecutive
284
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
season between 9 and 26 May. With no major fronts to ground migrants and the
migration of many passerines running late, a relatively low total of 384 birds of
51 species was banded, including just 13 species of warblers versus the record
23 warblers in 2007. These included, however, a half-dozen “Western” Palm
Warbler plus Blackpoll and Wilson’s warblers. There was also a record 45
returns of a dozen species banded at Crown Point in previous years, the oldest a
Common Crackle now six years, 11 months old. Species seen or heard but not
banded, include: a late Snow Goose, nesting Osprey, seven migrant Bald Eagle,
calling Whip-poor-will, and leucistic American Robin. Four OPR & HP staff
members from Albany paid an on-site visit and met with representatives of the
Crown Point Bandng Association to discuss control of invasive species, notably
Common Buckthorn, in the vicinity of the banding station. Since 1976, a total of
14,982 birds of 98 species plus four subspecies and hybrids has been banded at
the State Historic Site.
A major criterion for naming Crown Point SHS not only an Audubon
Important Bird Area (IBA) but also a New York State Bird Conservation Area
(BCA) was the congregations of birds at the tip of Crown Point peninsula.
Under one set of criteria, these consist of at least 2,000 waterfowl, including
such birds as cormorants. Large numbers of Double-crested Cormorants have
gathered on the west spit in Bulwagga Bay for many years, nesting there in 2000
(31 nests), ‘01 (24 nests), ‘02 (three nests), and ‘03 (16 nests), an apparent result
of the onset of “control” operations in Vermont. There has been no subsequent
nesting attempted for five years. On 12 May there were 160 cormorants sunning
on the spit and diving for invasive alewives, while Turkey Vultures and
Common Crackles cleaned the beaches of dead fish. At 9:10 a.m. the following
day, a DEC boat arrived and two men began shooting. They killed a reported 69
cormorants, both adults and subadults, on 13 May, collecting carcasses in large
bags. The DEC returned for longer periods on following days, their heavy
shotgun fire difficult to explain to groups of adjudicated youth visiting the
banding station on 16 May and sixth graders on 21 May. Radio eonversation
between boats about the shooting of “hangers” and “floppers,” cripples in trees
and on the water, followed by shots, was clearly overheard on the banding
station sport radios by the students until the banders advised the Department
staff to switch channels. Adult visitors were astounded to hear the steady
shooting and learn that the killing of these native birds was allowed on an IBA
and BCA. On 20 May the number of cormorants gathered at the spit had reached
200, and by late May the sight of birds flying east to Vermont signaled the
pending arrival by boat of the DEC across Bulwagga Bay and commencement of
the day’s shooting. Similar “control” shooting continued in Vermont during
May, and the DEC planned a big cormorant shoot on The Four Brothers bird
sanctuary, another Audubon IBA, during Summer ’08 as well as oiling eggs
there.
Elsewhere, and ending on a happier note, there was a Cackling Goose at
Cumberland Head, gray-phase Gyrfalcon at Cumberland Head, Gray Partridge
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
285
near Bangor and North Bangor, a rarely reported Long-eared Owl calling at
Saranac Lake, Golden-winged Warbler at Spring Pond Bog, Henslow’s
Sparrow at Owls Head, and several further reports of “Greater” Redpoll (C./
rostratd) at Cumberland Head and Elizabethtown during the redpoll invasion of
2007-08. There were also some interesting American Robins studied at Crown
Point, Plattsburgh, and Point au Per. A total of 205 species was reported, fewer
than last year’s 214 and well short of the 1997 record of 219 species.
CONTRIBUTORS
Thomas Armstrong, Thomas Barber, Lynne Ballou, Don Bogucki, Jules
Callaghan, Laurel Carroll, Nancy Carter, Joan Collins, Charlcie Delehanty, John
Delehanty, Marian Delehanty, Diane Demers, Thomas Dudones, Gerry Duffy,
Elizabeth & Holland Fitts, Donna Fletcher, Jinny Frenette, Steve Glynn,
Candace & John Hess, Gordon Howard, Suzy Johnson, Paul Kelly, Bill Krueger,
Dayna Lalonde, Linda LaPan, Mark A. Manske, Cynthia Martino, Larry Master,
Brian McAllister, Melanie McCormack, Matthew D. Medler, Charles Mitchell,
James Murray, Jeff Nadler, Joanne Nichols, Peter Nye, Stan Oliva, Nancy
Olsen, Sandy Olshewski, Lydia & Paul Osenbaugh, John & Susan Peterson,
Richard Poulin, Ellen Rathbone, Nancy Rogers, Dana Rohleder, Marilyn Smith,
Rose Smith, William Stahl, Beverly Stelges, John & Patricia Thaxton, Eve
Ticknor, Yvette Tillema, Jan Trzeciak, Hollis White, Cecelia Wojciukiewicz,
Lydia Wright.
ABBREVIATIONS
AP - Ausable Pt; CH - Cumberland Head; CP - Crown Pt SHS; CR - Chazy
Riverlands; LA - L Alice; LL - Long L; LP - L Placid; NP - Noblewood P; PS
- Paul Smiths; PtF - Pt au Fer; PtR - Pt au Roche; SB - Sabattis Bog; SL -
Saranac L; TL - Tupper L; WB - Whallon’s Bay; WD - Wilcox Dock; WM -
Wickham Marsh.
WHISTLING-DUCKS - VULTURES
Snow Goose: max 45,000+ PtR to CR 25 Mar
(BK,CM), spring record high CLIN & Reg 7;
the same flocks extended from Chazy north
into Canada 27 Mar (JP); 6 CLIN wearing neck
collars Mar-Apr (MM), banded Bylot &
Ellesmere islands, Nunavut; last CP 11 May
(TB,GH).
Brant: arr Lewis 11 May (GH); TL 29-30 May
(CD), fishing lure in bill.
Cackling Goose: arr CH 25 Mar (BK,CM0,
early CLIN & Reg 7; CR 26 Apr & 11 May
(BK), late CLIN & Reg 7.
Mute Swan: 4 CR 8 Apr (DL)-25 Apr (MM);
max 5 CR 25 Apr; last CR 11-21 May
286
(BK,CM), late CLIN.
Gadwall: WB 11 Mar (DL,MM); 2 pr AP 18
Mar (DR); 1-3 CR 25 Apr-28 May (MM,WS),
nice finds here.
Am. Wigeon: 1-2 AP 11-29 Mar
(C&JH,BK,CM); 2 WB 11 Mar (DL,MM); pr
CR 8-19 Apr (DL,J&PT); Beekmantown 10
Apr (MM); L Flower 12 Apr (TD), a good
showing.
N. Shoveler: 2 m Beekmantown 10 Apr (MM);
pr Ft Covington 11 Apr (HW); 4 CR 21-28
May (DL,MM); WD 28 May (CH), similarly
good.
N. Pintail: max 55 AP 2 Apr (MM).
Canvasback: CH 28 Mar (BK, CM), only
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
report.
Redhead: CH 26 Mar (BK); a few King’s Bay
6 May (WS), scarce here.
Com. Goldeneye: max 400 AP 18 Mar (DR);
nesting pr AP 1 May (WS).
Red-breasted Merganser: several Westport
17 May (ET), but only report.
Gray Partridge: Bangor & N Bangor early
Mar (GD), D* FRAN since May 2002; m, 2f
CR 26 Mar (BK,CM); 4 CR 28 Mar (SG), 1^'
CLIN since July 2002.
Wild Turkey: max 50 Saranac manure pile 28
Mar (EF); Big Lots store, Plattsburgh 16 Apr
(JH), pecking at door; banded Inlet as jake ‘07
(NYSDEC) shot 31 May as a 20 lb tom with
double beard (GL),
Pied-billed Grebe: Terry Mt pd 31 May
(C&JH), unexpected; also AP & CR as
expected.
Double-crested Cormorant: 160 CP roost 12
May (GH,JP); 69 shot CP roost 13 May
(NYSDEC); many more shot there 16,19, &
21 May (DEC); 200 CP roost 20 May (GH); 11
banded Four Brothers 2002-03 killed in control
operations Grand Isle, Panton, Rock Island, &
St. Albans, VT, 2004-08.(JP); 2-7 Auger L 6-
31 May (GH), unusual inland.
Least Bittern: PtF 20 May (BK,CM), always a
good find.
Great Egret: 11 Chapman Rd, T Ft Covington
9 Apr; max 14 there 11 Apr (HW); AP 16 Apr
(WS), early CLIN; 2 PtF 10 May (BK,CM);
CR 11-13 May (BK), continued regional
increase.
Cattle Egret: T Saranac 1 May (BM), only
report.
Turkey Vulture: arr Plattsburgh 1 Mar (EF);
later Mar sightings CP, Harkness, LP, SL,
Terry Mt, TL, & Wilmington; max 15 CP 16-
19 May (GH,JP), feasting upon dead alewives
on beaches.
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Bald Eagle: ad & juv Inlet feeder Mar (GL); 3
ad, 4 imm Westport 5 Apr (J&PT); 3 ad, 4 imm
northbound migrants CP 18-19 May
(TB,GH,JP); new nest with y Chesterfield
(DB), failed by 9 May (PN,DR); ~20 other
reports.
Rough-legged Hawk: on deer carcass Inlet
feeder 4 Apr (GL), 3'^'’ KAMI record.
Golden Eagle: imm Ebenezer Mt & imm
Wilmington 27 Mar (PO), always good.
Am. Kestrel: f nestling banded Moira 2 Jul 07
(MAM), found dead Houma, LA 19 Mar.
Merlin: AP, Carpenter’s Flats, IL, Mt View,
North Farm Rd, Oseetah L, Plattsburgh, SB,
TL, Trudeau, only suggestive of distribution.
GYRFALCON: gray-phase imm CH 2 Mar
(BK).
Peregrine Falcon: Azure Mt, Peru, Pickett’s
Comers, only reports.
Virginia Rail: LA 25-27 Apr (BK,CM,MM);
max 4 PtF 10 May (BK,CM).
Com. Moorhen: 1-2 PtF 8-25 May
(BK,DL,MDM,MM); CR 16 May (BK), good
finds.
Am. Coot: PtF 10 May (BK), only report.
Black-bellied Plover: CR 10-14 May; max 4
CR 11 May (BK); last 2 CR 25 May
(MDM,MM).
Semipalmated Plover: arr 11 CR 14 May;
max 42+ CR 15 May (BK,CM); last 30 CR 28
May (MDM,MM).
Solitary Sandpiper; Keene 10 May (J&PT);
SLHS 10 May (TD); Saranac R 11 May (LL);
Malone 14 May (NR), a good spring showing.
Greater Yellowlegs: arr 3 Riley Brook 20 Apr
(BK); SL 26 Apr (TD); CR 6 May (WS)-28
May (MM); max 12 CR 11 May (BK).
Lesser Yellowlegs: arr 3 TL 8 Apr; 6 TL 1
May (CD); CR 17 Apr (J&PT)-18 May
(BK,MM); max 10 CR 16 May (BK); 2 Riley
Brook 20 Apr (BK,CM).
MARBLED GOD WIT: CR 17 & 21 May
(BK,CM), 3^‘‘ CLIN record.
Sanderling: arr alt CR 14 May (BK), scarce in
spring.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 2 NP 26 May
(MDM), only report.
Least Sandpiper: arr 4 CR 11 - 28 May; max
100 CR 25-28 May (MDM,MM).
Pectoral Sandpiper: CR 14 May (BK), good
spring bird.
Dunlin: arr 2 CR 18 Apr (BK,CM); max 50
CR 28 May (MM).
Short-billed Dowitcher: arr 2 CR 16 May
(BK); max 100 CR 25 May (MDM,MM); last
23 CR 28 May (MM), excellent numbers.
WILSON’S PHALAROPE: m CR 16 May
(BK), E* there in 6 yrs.
Bonaparte’s Gull: arr Saranac R, Oseetah L
12 Apr (LL), early FRAN; TL 21 Apr (CD); 3
basic CR 13 May (BK); 3 Westport 17 May
(ET); max 13 CR 28 May (MM).
Caspian Tern: arr AP 16 Apr (WS), early
CLIN; AP 21 Apr (BK,CM); 1-3 CR25 Apr-
28 May (MM).
Black Tern: arr CLIN 23 May (JH); PtF 25
May (MDM,MM).
Com. Tern: arr CR 10 May (BK); max 9 CR
28 May (MM).
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
287
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Black-billed Cuckoo: arr Westport 24 May
(MDM), singing cu-cu-cu 10:45 p.m.; Bug L
27 May (GL).
Great Horned Owl: Inlet golf course 1 Apr
(GL), died after being driven into water by
crows & ravens.
Barred Owl: TL feeder 12 Mar (CD); 2 Keene
feeder thru (J&PT); 5 rehabilitated & released
CLIN 14-18 Apr (DF); winter survivors calling
Elizabethtown, Dannemora, & LA mid-Apr.
Long-eared Owl: calling SL 12 May (GL),
rarely reported.
Com. Nighthawk: 14 Carpenter’s Flats 29
May (DR), good number, but only report.
Whip-poor-will: CP 10 May (TB,JP); Rand
Hill 13-16 May (JH); Pt Kent 17 May (DR); 2
Whallonsburg 24 May; 1, 2 Boquet 24, 25 May
(MDM), encouraging.
Black-backed Woodpecker: Azure Mt;
Chubb R; PS; SB; Table Top Mt, expected
locales; Lake Shore Rd, Westport 23 Mar
(J&PT), unexpected.
FLYCATCHERS -WAXWINGS
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: transient banded
CP 22 May; on territory Blue Mt 25 May (JC).
E. Kingbird: 2 LA 26 Apr (DL), early CLIN.
N. Shrike: 6 reports, last Elizabethtown 3 Apr
(J&PT).
Yellow-throated Vireo: arr LA 25 May
(MDM,MM), only report.
Philadelphia Vireo: singing m Rooster Comb
Railhead 26 May (J&PT), only report.
Gray Jay: FB; PS; max 3-4 Upper Saranac L
feeder 1 Mar (CD).
Blue Jay: 42 banded CP 9-24 May, with heavy
return flight.
Tree Swallow: max 60 LA 25 Apr (DL), but
numbers down TL (CD).
Barn Swallow: 15 banded + 7 returns CP, but
none under Moody bridge, TL for first time
(CD).
Boreal Chickadee: Chubb R; Raquette L; SB,
usual sites.
Tufted Titmouse: AP; CH; Elizabethtown;
Essex; LP; Plattsburgh; PtF; Ray Brook; SL;
Witherbee, only suggestive of current
distribution.
Carolina Wren: CH 28 Mar (NO), still a
challenge to find,
BicknelPs Thrush: arr Blue Mt 25 May (JC).
Am. Robin: apparent dark T.m. nigrideus in
flock of 50+ T.m. migratorius Hudson Hall,
SUNY Plattsburgh crabapples 11 Mar (BK), a
288
lighter-mantled robin also present; schizochroic
robin PtF 30 Apr, 8-10 May (SJ,BK, photo),
left chest & belly white, right with red stripe on
chest & partial red belly band, large white
patches & spots on wings, back & tail white,
except charcoal gray central rectrices; leucistic
robin CP 10 May (GH).
N. Mockingbird: Plattsburgh had at least 5
different birds (JH,BK), but none found
elsewhere.
Am. Pipit: arr 3 IL 26 Apr (M&WM); last CR
25 May (MDM,MM).
Bohemian Waxwing: 36 Peru 2 Mar (EF); 24
CH 3 Mar (NO); 13 Plattsburgh 13 Mar (TA);
21 NP 22 Mar (MDM); Westport 23 Mar
(J&PT); 23 LP 30 Mar (PO); max 100 SUNY
Plattsburgh 1 Apr (JH); ending invasion that
began 28 Oct ‘07.
WARBLERS
Golden-winged Warbler: Spring Pd Bog 16
May (NO,MS), 11* FRAN record.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: max 52 banded CP
9-19 May.
“Western” Palm Warbler: 6 banded CP 9-11
May, but only location.
“Yellow” Palm Warbler: transient LA 25 Apr
(DL); territorial birds PS 2-20 May (BM); max
3 PS 11 May (J&PT); BB 6 May (LM); SB IS¬
IS May (CD, JN).
Bay-breasted Warbler: arr PtF 21 May (DL);
Raquette L 28 May (GL).
Blackpoll Warbler: arr CP 17 May (ET); Blue
Mt, Hurricane Mt, Lyon Mt 25 May
(JC,JH,J&PT); banded CP 26 May.
Wilson’s Warbler: banded CP 21 May, only
report.
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
HENSLOW’S SPARROW: 2 seen & heard
Teboville Rd, Owls Head 15 May (JT,RS), U'
FRAN & 2"“^ Region 7 record.
Fox Sparrow: arr Elizabethtown 31 Mar (JP);
subsequent records Keene, LP, Pt Kent, SL,
TL, Witherbee.
White-crowned Sparrow: arr Inlet 4 May
(GL); max 6 Inlet 8 May; 4 banded CP 17-25
May; others Keene, Ticonderoga, West Chazy,
& Witherbee.
Snow Bunting: last 75 Essex 17 Mar (J&PT).
Rusty Blackbird: arr Elizabethtown 20 Mar
(J&PT); AP 23 Mar (BK), early CLIN;
Elizabethtown 1 May (J&PT); pr French
Settlement Rd, Malone 19 May (NR); St,
Bernard’s, SL 24 May (TD); somewhat
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
encouraging.
Com. Crackle: feeding on dead alewives CP
12 May (GH,JP).
Pine Grosbeak: 12 XL feeder 5 Mar (CD); 1-5
Elizabethtown feeder 8-13 Mar (JP), in wake of
ice storm; ad m same feeder 22 Mar, in wake
of windstorm; max 50-60 SUNY Plattsburgh 1
Apr (CH); last XL 7 Apr (CD), ending invasion
that began 2 Oct ‘07.
Purple Finch; arr m Elizabethtown 12 Apr
(JP), increasingly common thereafter.
House Finch: CH, Malone, SL, only reports,
but surely in Plattsburgh & elsewhere.
Com. Redpoll: 3 “Greater” (C./ rostrata)
banded Elizabethtown 15-16 Mar & 8 Apr
(JP); carefully described “Greater” CH 14 Mar
(BK); max -150 Keene feeder Mar (J&PX);
last Elizabethtown & Witherbee 16 Apr
(JP,CW), ending invasion that began 28 Oct
‘07.
Hoary Redpoll: Elizabethtown 10-11 Mar
(JP); Xiconderoga 26 Mar (NC); last
Elizabethtown 13 Apr (JP), scarcer than C.f.
rostrata in this invasion.
Pine Siskin: 1-9 Elizabethtown; Peru; PtKent;
Xiconderoga; Witherbee May, generally scarce.
Am. Goldfinch: max 44 banded CP 10-23
May, widespread, but rather sparse.
Evening Grosbeak: max 84 SL 12 Apr (LL),
numbers increasing Apr-May with return of
breeding birds.
ADDENDUM
SANDHILL CRANE: 2 West Chazy Nov ’07
(Steve Mahoney), CLIN & 10* Region 7
record..
REGION 8—HUDSON-MOHAWK
Will Yandik
269 Schneider Road, Hudson NY 12534
wyandik@hotmail.com
Mostly clear conditions and variable temperatures characterize spring 2008.
March ended 1.2° F cooler than average with 3.03 more inches of rain than
average. The last significant snowstorm of the season, 4.3" at Albany
International Airport, fell on the 28th. The Region began to dry out in April,
which ended 5.3° warmer than average. Three days topped 80° causing an
abrupt jumpstart to the phenology of all manner of plants. May in general was
cool and dry. The last frost of the season occurred on the first of the month.
A few interesting waterfowl appeared in the Region, including a Greater
White-fronted Goose in Schenectady. Few large flocks of Snow Geese landed
in the Region, although two large flocks of Brant in May made up for this loss.
As usual, sheltered regions of the Hudson River staged good numbers of
Canvasback and Redhead. A Eurasian Wigeon at Vosburgh’s Marsh and two
Barrow’s Goldeneyes are spring surprises.
Susan Scheck spotted a Snowy Egret in Claverack, likely a migrant that flew
a bit far north. A single location maximum of 23 Wilson’s Snipe in the same
township is unusual for the Region as are Dunlin and Short-billed Dowitchers,
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
289
both spotted this year. Such species of shorebirds migrate up the Hudson every
spring but are often overlooked due to their low abundance.
Migration occurred roughly on schedule with few surprises. Many first
arrival sightings occur on Saturdays in May, correlating with birders’ free time
rather than weather conditions. There were few heavy nocturnal flights; birds
instead seemed to trickle into the Region.
May Century Runs turned up a few unusual passerine species, including
White-eyed Vireo, Hooded Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Vesper Sparrow,
and a Clay-Colored Sparrow, in Albany County. Hooded Warblers seemed
particularly common this spring, reported from four new locations in the
Region. The spring streak of Yellow-headed Blackbirds continues this year,
with a report by Alvin Breisch from New Scotland, Albany County.
Most populations of birds fluctuate normally, influenced by things such
as prey abundance, global weather patterns, disease, and land use changes.
Long-term monitoring of Rusty Blackbirds, however, shows a worrisome
significant decline in virtually all regions of North America, particularly
puzzling since the boreal forest is one of the most stable ecoregions, I take
particular interest in tracking this species each spring and have included all
Regional observations of this species below.
A spectacular winter finch season petered into early spring, with flocks of
100+ Common Redpolls reported and several Pine Siskins and a few lingering
Pine Grosbeaks.
CONTRIBUTORS
Alan Devoe Bird Club monthly sighting reports, Larry Alden, Dave Bairn, Hope
Batchellor, Mona Bearor, Hannah Bewsher, Mimi Branch, Alvin Breisch, Gerry
Colburn, Frank Conley, Bill Cook, Larry Federman, Corey Finger, David
Gibson, Elizabeth Grace, Jane Graves, Bemie Grossman, Richard Guthrie,
David Harrison, Ron Harrower, John Hershey, Honey Hollen, Hudson-Mohawk
Bird Club's Birdline of Eastern New York, John Kent, Nancy Kern, Eric Krantz,
Margaret Krolick, Bill Lee, Alan Mapes, Dave Martin, Andrew Mason, Matt
Medler, Roger Miller, Frank Murphy, Gail & Rich Nord, Tom Palmer, Ellen
Pemrick, Barb Putnam, Bob Ramonowski, Will Raup, Larry Rowland, John
Saville, Susan Scheck, Scott Stoner, Vin Stum, Joan Suriano, Bill & Marion
Ulmer, Alison Van Keuren, Brad Walker, Carol & Owen Whitby, Phil Whitney,
Allan & Phyllis Wirth, Chad Witko, Will Yandik, Robert Yunick.
ABBREVIATIONS
AUS - T Austerlitz COLU; BCM - Black Creek Marsh ALBA; CHA - T
Chatham COLU; CL - Collins L, T Schnectady SCHE; CLA - T Claverack
COLU; COX - T Coxsackie GREE; FtE - T Fort Edwards WASH; HIL - T
290
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Hillsdale COLU; HR - Hudson River; NIS - T Niskayuna SCHE; PET - T
Petersburgh RENS: PI - Papscanee Island RENS; VF - Vischer’s Ferry SARA.
WHISTLING-DUCKS - VULTURES
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE;
CL 14 Mar (BL).
Snow Goose: max 300 HR SARA 13 Mar.
Brant: 250 Ramshorn-Livingston P GREE 15
May; max 700 New Baltimore GREE 27 May.
Wood Duck: arr Stillwater SARA 8 Mar.
EURASIAN WIGEON: Vosburgh Marsh
GREE 19 APR.
Blue-winged Teal: arr Troy RENS 21 Mar.
N. Shoveler: arr COX grasslands 26 Mar.
N. Pintail; arr Copake COLU 2 Mar.
Green-winged Teal: arr HR SARA 10 Mar.
Canvasback: max 125 HR Cheviot COLU 25
Mar.
Redhead: max 45 HR Cheviot COLU 25 Mar.
Long-tailed Duck; Halfmoon SARA 3-6 Apr;
2 Saratoga L 6 Apr; L George WARR 26 Apr.
Barrow’s Goldeneye: Ft. Miller WASH 8
Mar; VF 16 Mar.
Red-breasted Merganser: VF 16 Mar; 2 NIS
27 Mar; 3 Meadow'dale ALBA 28 Mar; max 11
Saratoga L 11 Apr.
Ruddy Duck: arr CHA 5 Apr.
RED-THROATED LOON: 2 Saratoga L 11
Apr.
Com. Loon: max 7 Saratoga L 6 Apr.
Pied-billed Grebe: arr Schuylerville RENS 8
Mar.
Horned Grebe: 3 CL 11-12 Apr; max 8 New
Baltimore GREE 11 Apr; Alcove Res ALBA
17 May.
Red-necked Grebe: Lock 7 MR 5 Apr; 2 CL 5
Apr; Galway L SARA 27 Apr.
Double-crested Cormorant; arr Catskill
GREE 25 Mar.
Am. Bittern: arr BCM 3 May.
Least Bittern: VF 10 May; COX grasslands
25 May, unusual location.
Great Egret; arr VF 12 Apr.
SNOWY EGRET: CLA 27 Apr (SS).
Green Heron: arr Five Rivers ALBA 19 Apr.
Black Vulture: 2 Meadowdale ALBA 10-24
Apr; 3 NYS Thruway Exit 24 ALBA 16 Apr;
Greenport COLU 30 Apr; HIL 6 May.
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Osprey: arr CLA 10 Apr.
N. Harrier; BCM 15 May.
N. Goshawk: Thatcher SP ALBA 15 May.
Red-shouldered Hawk: Ballston Spa 21 Mar;
SchodackRENS 1 May.
Broad-winged Hawk: arr Ballston L SARA
20 Apr.
Rough-legged Hawk: max 8 Northumberland
SARA 17 Mar.
Merlin: Ravena ALBA 6 Mar; max 4 MONT
14 Mar; Greenport COLU 4-5 May; Schodack
RENS 10 May.
Virginia Rail; arr 2 Rotterdam SCHE 18 Apr.
Sora: arr VF 23 Apr,
Com. Moorhen: arr BCM 3 May.
Am. Coot: arr Cohoes ALBA 25 Mar.
Black-bellied Plover: NIS 31 May.
Semipalmated Plover; arr VF 15 May.
Killdeer: arr Livingston COLU 6 Mar.
Greater Yellowlegs: arr PI 12 Apr.
Lesser Yellowlegs: arr NIS 3 May.
Solitary Sandpiper: arr 5 Rivers ALBA 26
Apr.
Spotted Sandpiper: arr CHA 19 Apr.
Upland Sandpiper: arr MONT 17 May; Ames
MONT 29 May.
Ruddy Turnstone: Cohoes ALBA 17 May.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: arr Stanton Pd
ALBA 17 May.
Least Sandpiper: arr PI 8 May.
Dunlin: NIS 30 Apr; Watervliet ALBA 17
May; 12 L George WARR 26 May.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 40 Round L SARA
25 May.
Wilson’s Snipe: arr VF 21 Mar; max 23 CLA
3 Apr, high count.
Am. Woodcock: arr Livingston COLU 6 Mar.
Bonaparte’s Gull: 13 Saratoga L SARA 11
Apr; 15 VF 12 Apr; CL 12 Apr; 30+ NIS 29
Apr.
Lesser Black-backed Gull: COX 3 Apr.
Com. Tern: Saratoga L 17 May.
Black Tern: 5 Saratoga L 17 May.
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Black-billed Cuckoo: BCM 17 May.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo; 2 Ramshorn-
Livingston P 15 May.
Short-eared Owl: COX grasslands 12 Mar.
Com. Nighthawk: 2 Albany 20 May.
Whip-poor-will: 3 Coeymans ALBA 26 May.
Chimney Swift: arr 5 Rivers ALBA 1 May.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: arr Troy
RENS 4 May.
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
291
FLYCATCHERS—WAXWINGS
Olive-sided Flycatcher: arr Beme ALBA 5
May.
E. Wood-Pewee: arr HIL 16 May.
Alder Flycatcher: arr Rensselaerville RENS
11 May.
Willow Flycatcher: arr BCM 15 May.
Least Flycatcher: arr PET 27 Apr.
E. Phoebe: arr VF 23 Mar.
Great Crested Flycatcher: arr Austerlitz 5
May.
E. Kingbird: arr CL 1 May.
N. Shrike: Charlton SARA 9 Mar; CHA 14
Mar; MONT 14 Mar.
White-eyed Vireo: Glenville SCHE 21 May
(LR).
Yellow-throated Vireo: arr Austerlitz COLU
5 May.
Blue-headed Vireo: arr Meadowdale ALBA
19 Apr.
Warbling Vireo: arr VF 27 Apr.
Philadelphia Vireo; Wilton SARA 24 May.
Red-eyed Vireo; arr Taghkanic COLU 23 Apr.
Purple Martin: Saratoga L 17 May.
N. Rough-winged Swallow: arr CL 11 Apr.
Bank Swallow: arr CLA 19 Apr.
Cliff Swallow: arr CL 2 May.
Barn Swallow: arr Saratoga L 11 Apr.
House Wren: arr Albany 20 Apr.
Marsh Wren: arr BCM 3 May.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: arr CLA 29 Mar.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: arr HIL 10 Apr.
Veery: arr VF 3 May.
Swainson’s Thrush: arr HIL 3 May.
Hermit Thrush: arr CLA 10 Apr.
Wood Thrush: arr PI 3 May.
Gray Catbird: arr Troy RENS 23 Apr.
Brown Thrasher: arr Livingston COLU 13
Apr.
Am. Pipit: Rensselaerville RENS 3 May.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING: 3 FtE 3 Apr.
WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler: arr Livingston COLU
24 Apr.
“Brewster’s” Warbler: 5 Rivers ALBA 25
May.
Golden-winged Warbler: Wilton SARA 24
May.
Tennessee Warbler: arr Albany 22 May.
Orange-Crowned Warbler: Bennett Hill
ALBA 22 May.
Nashville Warbler: arr Clermont COLU 29
Apr.
N. Parula: arr HIL 3 May.
292
Yellow Warbler: arr VF 22 Apr.
Chestnut-sided Warbler: arr PET 27 Apr.
Magnolia Warbler: arr Clermont COLU 7
May.
Cape May Warbler: arr COLU 17 May.
Black-throated Blue Warbler; arr VF 3 May.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: arr Churchtown
COLU 27 Mar.
Black-throated Green Warbler: arr Gallatin
COLU 19 Apr.
Blackburnian Warbler: arr Germantown
COLU 8 May.
Pine Warbler: arr NIS 13 Apr.
Prairie Warbler; arr Schodack RENS 7 May.
Palm Warbler: arr Greenport COLU 15 Apr.
Blackpoll Warbler: arr Schodack RENS 10
May.
Cerulean Warbler: arr Schodack I RENS 8
May.
Black-and-white Warbler: arr Gallatin COLU
19 Apr.
Am. Redstart: arr PI 3 May.
Worm-eating Warbler: Coeymans ALBA 17
May.
Ovenbird; arr Clermont COLU 6 May.
N. Waterthrush: air Taghkanic COLU 10
Apr.
Louisiana Waterthrush: arr PET 15 Apr.
Mourning Warbler: Mayfield FULT 26 May;
PET 31 May.
Com. Yellowthroat: arr Saratoga L 20 Apr.
Hooded Warbler; New Salem RENS 15 May;
Clarksville ALBA 15 May; New Scotland
ALBA 17 May; Thatcher SP ALBA 17 May.
Wilson’s Warbler: arr 5 Rivers ALBA 10
May.
Canada Warbler; arr VF 15 May.
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
Scarlet Tanager: arr Greenport COLU 7 May.
E. Towhee: arr HIL 13 Apr.
Chipping Sparrow: arr Voorheesville ALBA
13 Apr.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW: Brunswick
RENS 21 May (BW), photographed.
Field Sparrow: arr Saratoga Battlefield SARA
10 Apr.
Vesper Sparrow: arr Northumberland SARA
16 Mar.
Savannah Sparrow: arr Greenport COLU 16
Apr.
Grasshopper Sparrow: Saratoga Airport
SARA 16 May.
Fox Sparrow: arr Austerlitz COLU 4 Mar.
Lincoln’s Sparrow: arr VF 8 May.
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
White-crowned Sparrow: arr Schodack
RENS 16 Apr.
Snow Bunting: max 40 Gansevoort SARA 11
Mar; last New Salem RENS 15 Apr.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: arr Colonie ALBA
27 Apr.
Indigo Bunting: arr Austerlitz COLU 12 May.
Bobolink: arr Taghkanic COLU 5 May.
E. Meadowlark: arr CHA 5 Apr.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: New
Scotland ALBA 27 Mar (AB).
Rusty Blackbird: arr New Baltimore GREE 6
Mar; VF 27 Mar; NIS 1 Apr; max 30 VF 3
Apr; 2 Rensellaerville RENS 13 Apr; PI 17
Apr; Black Creek Marsh ALBA 20 Apr; 9
COX grasslands 22 Apr; 3 Black Creek Marsh
ALBA 24 Apr; VF 27 Apr; pr Mayfield FULT
26 May, all reports.
Orchard Oriole: arr Charlton, SARA 4 May.
Baltimore Oriole: arr VF 27 Apr.
Pine Grosbeak: 12 Ballston Spa SARA 6 Mar;
2 Troy RENS 9 Mar.
Com. Redpoll: max 100 Glens Falls WARR 3
Apr; max 100 Providence SARA 3 Apr; last
Galway SARA 13 Apr.
Pine Siskin: 2 Gansevoort SARA 7 Apr; 2
Galway SARA 21 Apr; PET 27 Apr; 3
Loudonville ALBA 5 May; max 15 South
Glens Falls WARR 5 May; 12 Troy RENS 20
May; E Greenbush RENS 21 May.
Evening Grosbeak: 6 Providence SARA 6
Apr; 6 Ballston L SARA 20 Apr; 4 Galway
SARA 30 Apr.
CORRIGENDA
The January 2007 (57:1) R8 report mentions 8
Hudsonian Godwits collected by the NYDEC
wildlife pathology unit. Contrary to reports by
this publication, WAMC radio, and the Albany
Times Union, these specimens have not been
preserved in the NYS museum.
REGION 9—HUDSON - DELAWARE
Michael Bochnik
86 Empire Street, Yonkers, NY 10704
The season started with a ten inch snowfall in Sullivan County on 1 March. It
was quickly followed by an unusual warm spell 3-6 March, with Poughkeepsie
reaching 69° F on the fifth. Most of the Region then saw little additional snow.
March ended up wet, with about 1.5" of precipitation above the norm. April was
warm and dry, 3° above normal and an inch of precipitation less than average.
May was cold, wet, and windy. Drizzle and low cloud cover on 2-3 May
produced a good fallout at Bashakill marsh. Many first of the year migrants were
seen then.
Two Greater White-fronted Geese were found in Pine Plains 9 March,
another was located in Round Pond, Town of North East, 18 and 19 March. A
Cackling Goose found in Rockland Lake by Drew Ciganek and Gene Brown on
18 March and seen again on the 22*^^^ produced Rockland’s first county record
since it became a full species. A Trumpeter Swan was photographed by Curt
McDermot at the Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge and stayed for three days in
mid April. Tundra Swans were reported from four locations during March, with
nine on Oil City Road 16 March. Both Surf and White-winged Scoter were
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
293
found inland, but there were no reports of Black Scoter even from Long Island
Sound.
Homed Grebes seemed to be everywhere in March and early April. A
staggering 74 were found at the Edith G. Read Preserve on 5 April. Red-necked
Grebes were found at Bashakill, Edith G. Read Preserve, Chelsea, and Pine
Island.
Dave Klauber found an adult MISSISSIPPI KITE on Sunday 25 May at
10:25 AM at the northern end of the Bashakill, Bob May refound the bird
overhead at Haven Road an hour later, and John Haas, Ari Gilbert, and Arlene
Borko were also able to view Sullivan County’s third record (see Fig D, p. 262).
Sandhill Crane sightings are on the increase. Joe Cullen found one at the
Bashakill on 26 April. It remained for about two hours and many birders were
fortunate to see this bird. It eventually took to the air and headed north. It was
Sullivan County’s second record. The sighting was repeated at Bashakill on 3
and 4 May, when another Sandhill Crane appeared. The following day. Curt
McDermot found two Sandhills nearby on Oil City Road in Pine Plains.
A number of Upland Sandpipers were found away from Shawangunk
Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. Three were at Montgomery Airport on 2
April and another bird was in Westchester County in Rye the same day. The
following day one appeared off McDonald Road in Wurtsboro.
There was a rash of Bonaparte’s Gulls inland from the beginning of April
through mid May.
Rodney Johnson had an early passerine fallout on 19 April on Hilltop Road
in Rhinebeck. It included two Nashville, one Magnolia, 25 Yellow-mmped,
seven Blackburnian, six Pine, and 20 Palm warblers. A Mourning Warbler was
unusually early at Bashakill on 3 May, observed by many people. A Summer
Tanager was found in Wurtsboro 29 April for Sullivan County’s first record
and another was found in Pleasant Valley on 10 May.
A birder who decided to delay mowing until late June to encourage
Bobolinks in Pine Plains, Dutchess County was rewarded with a Grasshopper
Sparrow on 14 May. Another Grasshopper Sparrow was found with the Upland
Sandpiper in Wurtsboro on 3 April. A number of White-crowned Sparrows were
reported this spring from Poughkeepsie, Vassar Farm, Bashakill, and Rockland
Lake.
The Dutchess County Spring Census recorded 161 species on 17 May.
Species with new high counts included: Red-tailed Hawk, Ruby-throated
Hummingbird, Common Raven, Dark-eyed Junco, and Orchard Oriole. Hooded
Warbler tied their highest count. Wilson’s Warbler and Vesper Sparrow counts
were very high. 16 Pine Siskins were the first since 2001. The warbler species
count was 28, which is average. Mallard and Belted Kingfisher had low counts,
and no American Black Ducks were found.
And to round out the report, the incredibly accommodating Montgomery
HOARY REDPOLL stayed until at least 22 March. Other notable species
294
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
include: Red Knot, “Lawrence’s” Warbler, Lapland Longspur, Common
Redpoll, and Evening Grosbeak.
CONTRIBUTORS
Jane Alexander, Janet Allison, John Askildsen, Steven Beal, Kelli Bochnik,
Michael Bochnik, Arlene Borko, Bob Bowler, Gene Brown, Tom Burke,
Barbara Butler, Brent Bomkamp, Benjamin Cacace, Drew Ciganek, Mary
Collier, Joe Cullen, Renee Davis, Ed DeBellevue, Evan Edelbaum, Ken & Sue
Feustel, Bill Fiero, Dot Fleury, Carol & Ken Fredericks, Valerie Freer, Steve
Golladay, Marge Gorton, Christine Guarino, Richard Guthrie, John Haas, Philip
Henson, Rodney Johnson, David Jordet, Susan Joseph, Bonnie Koop, Debi Krai,
Veronika Krause, Kirsten Lewis, Robert Lewis, Jim Marks, Curt McDermot,
Ken McDermott, Matthew Medler, Barbara & Allan Michelin, Steve Oresman,
Brian O'Rourke, Amy Pickering, Carena Pooth, Greg Prelich, Steve Sachs,
William Schlesinger, Rob Stone, Kenneth Thompson, Lance Verderame, Chet
Vincent, Jane Waters, Carol Weiss, Joe Woleader, Adam Zorn.
ABBREVIATIONS
CPP - Croton Point Park; DCSC - Dutchess County Spring Census; EGR -
Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary; MC - Marshlands Conservancy; SGNWR -
Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refiige; WNWR - Wallkill National
Wildlife Refuge.
WHISTLING-DUCKS - VULTURES
Greater White-fronted Goose: 2 Pine Plains
9 Mar (TB,CV); Round Pd, North East 18,19
Mar (DF).
Snow Goose: blue morph Unionvale 19, 20
Mar; 1200 Piermont Marsh 28 Mar.
CACKLING GOOSE: Rockland L 18,22
Mar (DC, GB), first county record.
Canada Goose: 1500 WNWR5 Mar.
Brant: 520 Bashakill 11 May; 600 MC 11
May; 3 Piermont Pier 27 May.
Tundra Swan: Stissing L 9 Mar (TB,DK,CV);
Round Pd, North East 11 Mar - 1 Apr
(CV,K&CF, DF, MP); 9 Oil City Rd 16 Mar
(KM,CM); Amenia 20-25 Mar (SO).
Trumpeter: ph WNWR, Pine Island 15-17
Apr (CM).
Blue-winged Teal: 2 Oil City Rd 16 Mar; 2
Round Pd, North East 20 Mar.
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
N. Pintail: 40 Bashakill 15 Mar; 225
WNWR16Mar.
Green-winged Teal: 45 6 y 2 -Station Marsh 16
Mar.
Canvasback: 19 EGR 3, 4 Mar; Bashakill 15,
22 Mar.
Redhead: 42 Warwick 2 Mar.
Ring-necked Duck; 300 Bashakill 14 Mar;
300 WNWR16 Mar; 120 Newburgh 16 Mar;
600 Bashakill 22Mar; 300 Yankee L I Apr.
Greater Scaup; 20 EGR 15 Mar.
Lesser Scaup: 200 EGR 3,7,15,22,26,29 Mar;
24 EGR 18 Apr.
Surf Scoter: 10 EGR 15 Mar; Yankee L 11
Apr; 12 EGR 7 Apr.
White-winged Scoter: Kiamesha L 12 Apr; 2
Kiamesha L 8 May.
295
Long-tailed Duck: 140 EGR 15 Mar; 2
Bashakill 5 Apr; 4 Neversink Res 7 Apr; 2
Yankee L 8, 11 Apr; 60 EGR 13 Apr.
Bufflehead: 15 EGR 5 Apr.
Com. Goldeneye: 10 EGR 12 Mar.
Red-breasted Merganser: 30 EGR 5 Apr; 1-2
Kiamesha L 11-12 Apr.
Ring-necked Pheasant: 1-2 MC thru.
Red-throated Loon: 9 EGR 15 Mar.
Pied-billed Grebe: Bashakill 14 Mar.
Horned Grebe: Waryas P, Poughkeepsie 5
Mar; Piermont Pier 10 Mar; Bashakill 14, 15
Mar; 5 Washington L, Newburgh 16 Mar; 2-3
Sylvan L, Beekman 20-21 Mar; 5 Bashakill 22-
23 Mar; 6 Bashakill 28 Mar; 28 EGR 29 Mar;
1-2 Yankee L 30 Mar,l, 6 Apr; 74 EGR 5 Apr;
3 Kiamesha L 11 Apr; 3 Orange L 14 Apr.
Red-necked Grebe: Bashakill 17 Mar; EGR 6,
7 Apr; Chelsea 15,18 Apr; Pine Island 16 Apr.
N. Gannett EGR 15 Mar; 9 EGR 22 Mar; 20
EGR 7 Apr.
Great Cormorant: 2 Rhinebeck 19 Mar.
Am, Bittern: 3 Bashakill 26 Apr.
Great Egret: MC 16 Mar; Humpo Marsh 12
Apr; Dennings Pt 16 Apr; 10 MC 11 May.
Snowy Egret: MC 16 Apr.
Black Vulture: 7 Pine Island, Oil City Rd area
2 Mar.
HAWKS-ALCIDS
MISSISSIPPI KITE: ad Bashakill 25 May, 3^^*
SULL record.
Bald Eagle; nest Stony Point Battlefield Mar-
May.
N. Goshawk: Buttercup Sanctuary 27 Mar;
Westbrookville 3 May.
Broad-winged Hawk: arr 9 Apr; 420 Hook Mt
13 Apr.
Red-tailed Hawk: 97 DCSC 17 May.
Rough-legged Hawk: 6 Pine Island, Oil City
Rd area 2 Mar; 4 SGNWR 2 Mar.
Golden Eagle: 1 ad, 1 imm Ellenville 5 Mar;
Rhinebeck 6 Apr; Piermont Pier 28 May.
Clapper Rail: 6 MC 29 May.
Sora: Bashakill 4, 8,10 May.
Com. Moorhen: Bashakill 2 May; 3 Bashakill
5 May.
Sandhill Crane: Bashakill 26 Apr (JC); 2 Oil
City Rd, Pine 1. 1, 5 May (CM); Bashakill 3,4
May (RD, MG).
Black-bellied Plover: 7 MC 20 May.
Semipalmated Plover: 6 MC 18 May.
Am. Oystercatcher; 2 EGR 7, 9 Apr; 5 Rye
21 Apr; 5 MC 1 May; 3 Rye 27 May.
Greater Yellowlegs: 22 MC 6 May.
296
Lesser Yellowlegs: Oil City Rd 15, 19 Apr; 2
Bashakill 30 Apr - 2 May; Piermont Pier 27
May.
Willet; MC 1 May.
Upland Sandpiper: 3 Montgomery Airport 2
Apr (CM); Rye 2 May (TB), McDonald Rd,
Wurtsboro 3 May (JH); 2 SGNWR 17 May.
Ruddy Turnstone: arr 16 May; Piermont Pier
27 May (GB).
Red Knot: 2 Rye 23 May.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 6 MC 8 May.
Least Sandpiper: 16 MC 16 May.
Pectoral sandpiper; 5 Oil City Rd 17-19 Apr;
2 Bashakill 11 May.
Purple Sandpiper: 35 EGR 15 Mar; 14 Rye
23 May.
Dunlin: 2 Oil City Rd 17-19 Apr.
Laughing Gull: 3 MC 14 May.
Bonaparte's Gull: 4 Yankee L 1 Apr;
Bashakill 5,14 Apr; 40 EGR 5,6 Apr; 6 Yankee
L 6, 11 Apr; Humpo Marsh 12 Apr; 5
Dennings Pt 16 Apr; 2 Poughkeepsie 29 Apr; 7
Westbrookville 3 May; 68 Bridgeville, over the
Neversink River 11 May.
Caspian Tern: 5 6-1/2-Station Rd. Goshen 12
Apr.
Com. Tern: 80 Rye 13 May.
Forster’s Tern: 2 MG 19 Apr; 7 MC 1 May; 2
MC 18 May.
Least Tern: 3 MC 15 May.
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Monk Parakeet: MC 25 Apr; 2 EGR 23 May.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: arr 4 May.
Long-eared Owl: 3 CPP 1-2,15 Mar.
N. Saw-whet Owl; Stanfdville 6 Mar;
Wappingers 24 Apr.
Com, Nighthawk: arr 10 May.
Whip-poor-will: arr Bashakill 26 Apr.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 46 DCSC 17
May.
FLYCATCHERS - WAXWINGS
Olive-sided Flycatcher; Cary Institute of
Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook 10 May; 2
Doodletown 17, 24 May.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher; Doodletown 28
May.
Acadian Flycatcher: Bashakill 10, 18 May.
Alder Flycatcher; 2 Wurtsboro 17 May.
E. Phoebe; Marshlands 1 Mar.
N. Shrike; 1-2 Bashakill 6, 15 Mar; Cary
Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook 15
Mar; Vassar Farm 23 Mar.
White-eyed Vireo; arr 2 May.
Blue-headed Vireo: arr Millbrook 18 Apr.
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
Philadelphia Vireo: Hastings-on-Hudson 10
May; Westmoreland Sanctuary 10 May;
Doodletown 14 May.
Com. Raven: 19 DCSC 17 May.
Horned Lark: 60 Stanford 2 Mar.
Tree Swallow: Bashakill 6 Mar.
Bank Swallow: 12 Roundout Res 8 May.
Cliff Swallow: 25 Roundout Res 8 May.
Marsh Wren: Ryder Pond, Millbrook 16 Mar,
early; 2 Tivoli 25 Apr; Bashakill 4, 24 May; 4
MC 6 May.
Gray-cheeked Thrush: Westmoreland
Sanctuary 23 May.
Gray Catbird: arr north 14 Mar.
Am. Pipit: 7 McDonald Rd, Wurtsboro 3 May;
WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler: arr 24 Apr.
Golden-winged Warbler: Mine Rd, Highland
Falls 2,24 May; McDonald Rd, Wurtsboro 4, 8
May; Summitville 11 May; 7 Sterling Forest 25
May.
“Lawrence’s” Warbler: Tivoli Bay 26 Apr;
Ellenville 2 May; Bashakill 10,14 May.
Nashville Warbler: 2 Rhinebeck 19 Apr.
Magnolia Warbler: Rhinebeck 19 Apr.
Cape May Warbler: Rye Nature Center 7
May; Stony Point Battlefield 11 May; 2
Millbrook School 14 May; 2 Millbrook 15
May; 2 Port Jervis 15 May.
Black-throated Blue Warbler: 15 Bashakill 2
May; 7 Pawling Preserve 11 May.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: 25 Rhinebeck 19
Apr.
Blackburnian Warbler: 7 Rhinebeck 19 Apr
(RJ).
Pine Warbler: 6 Rhinebeck 19 Apr (RJ).
Prairie Warbler: arr 29 Apr.
Palm Warbler: 25 Tarrytown Res 13 Apr
(EE); 20 Rhinebeck 19 Apr (RJ).
Cerulean Warbler; arr Doodletown 2 May.
Worm-eating Warbler: arr Beekman 25-27
Apr.
Ovenbird: 20 Pawling Preserve 11 May
(C&KF).
N. Waterthrush: 8 Rockland L SP 19 May.
Louisiana Waterthrush; arr 6 Apr.
Mourning Warbler; Bashakill 3 May( JH,
mob), early; Doodletown 24 May; Bashakill 26
May; MC 30 May.
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
Hooded Warbler: arr 2 May; 13 DCSC 17
May.
Wilson’s Warbler: 11 DCSC 17 May.
Yellow-breasted Chat; Brinton Brook
Sanctuary 7 May (PH).
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
SUMMER TANAGER: Wurtsboro 29 Apr
(JH, AB, RD,MG), SULL record; Pleasant
Valley 10 May (BBow).
Am. Tree Sparrow: 80 CPP 1 Mar; last MC
Apr 14.
Vesper Sparrow: 4 DCSC 17 May.
Grasshopper Sparrow: McDonald Rd,
Wurtsboro 3, 4 May; 1-2 Pine Plains 14-20
May.
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow: MC 11
May.
Seaside Sparrow: MC 18,20 May.
Song Sparrow; 36 CPP 1 Mar.
White-crowned Sparrow: Bashakill 13 Apr;
Poughkeepsie 25 Apr; 3 Vassar Farm 27 Apr;
few Bashakill 2 May; 2 Rockland L 7 May;
Bashakill 20 May.
Dark-eyed Junco; 8 DCSC 17 May.
Lapland Longspur: 3 Montgomery 3 Mar;
Ashokan Reservoir 3 Mar (JM).
Red-winged Blackbird: 1000 WNWR5 Mar;
1200 SGNWR 6 Mar.
E. Meadowlark: arr 12 May.
Rusty Blackbird: 25 Bashakill 15 Mar.
blackbird sp: 25,000 Montgomery Airport 5
Mar (CM).
Orchard Oriole: arr 24 Apr; more on 3 May at
sev loc; 26 DCSC 17 May.
Baltimore Oriole: Newburgh 20 Apr.
Purple Finch: huge flight over Rhinebeck 11,
12 Apr; 23 Milan 12 Apr; 15 Poughquag 12
Apr; 32 Stanfordville 12 Apr.
Com. Redpoll: 14 Montgomery 1-3 Mar; 3
Yonkers 14 Mar; Highland Falls 16 Apr; many
scattered reports from Dutchess and Sullivan
most of March, few thru mid Apr.
HOARY REDPOLL: Montgomery 1-5, 17,
22 Mar (CM, MB,fCB).
Pine Siskin: small fight moving back north on
2-4 May; still present Bashakill 10 May; 16
DCSC 17 May.
Evening Grosbeak: 12 Kauneonga L early
Mar; 19 Kauneonga L early Apr; 4 Parksville
25 Apr.
297
REGION 10—MARINE
Patricia J. Lindsay
28 Mystic Circle, Bay Shore, NY 11706
pjlindsay@optonline.net
S. S. Mitra
Biology Department, College Staten Island,
2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314
mitra@mail.csi.cuny.edu
March’s mean temperature was 40.3°F, 0.5° above normal. Precipitation was
1.3" higher than average, with 5.89" of rain. April was 2.2° warmer than average
at 51.3°, and 3.87" of rain was 0.26" less than normal. Mean temperature for
May was 57°, 2.2° below average, and 3.68" rain was 0.22" less than average.
Fellow birder and keen weather watcher Bob Kurtz keeps track of “leaf-
out” dates year to year, and found that this spring it was actually behind
schedule (relatively speaking) for a change, until ... “a major change occurred
from April 10*^ to the 26th. In that 17 day period not only was there no rain in
the local environs, there were above normal temperatures and sun, sun, sun—
think desert southwest! In that period leaf-out went from at least one week
behind schedule to at least 10 days ahead of schedule, a ghastly circumstance to
say the least!” Despite that warm spell, easterly winds persisted and many
observers bemoaned the slow birding during April.
As usual, this spring featured many notable holdovers from winter,
especially among waterfowl. The Stony Brook Pink-footed Goose persisted into
March, as did a number of Greater White-fronted Geese, the Montauk Barnacle
Goose, a “Richardson’s” Goose, and multiple Eurasian Wigeon and “Eurasian”
Green-winged Teal. Maxing out the goose diversity were the Region’s first
Ross’s Goose in several years, at Shorts Pond on 2 March, and a stunning adult
“Black” Brant along Staten Island’s Raritan Bay shore 30 March-6 April.
Two vagrant landbirds evinced a striking and probably under-appreciated
ecological interaction: lower Manhattan’s continuing Scott’s Oriole and Central
Park’s Western Tanager both associated closely with Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers and fed avidly from fresh sap wells. (Fig. B, p. 260). Offhand, we
can recall a couple of Cape May Warblers behaving in the same fashion during
winter in the Northeast. Given the increasing abundance of wintering sapsuckers
here, observers might consider lingering a little longer with sapsuckers they find
from November through March.
The status of many short-distance migrants in our Region during early
spring is changing as a consequence of two ongoing trends; increasing over¬
winter survival of species that rarely wintered in the past and earlier arrival dates
298
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
of genuine northbound migrants. Careful perusal of the species accounts will
reveal numerous records during periods when the species in question were
formerly completely absent.
Some very high counts of both scaup at Jamaica Bay during mid March
were independently corroborated by multiple observers. Peter Dorosh gave
careful attention to numbers on the 11th and 16th, as did the writers on the 17th.
At least 5,000 Lesser Scaup were present on the West Pond alone, with many
more on the East Pond and at other Long Island sites.
Focus on the Grumman grasslands increased as the battle over this area’s
fate heated up. Short-eared Owls lingered into mid April (Fig. D, p. 262), raising
hopes that this state-listed species and former Long Island nester might attempt
to breed there. Two Upland Sandpipers seen there in mid May also raised hopes
for this beleaguered Regional breeder. Ameriean Kestrel, Horned Lark,
Grasshopper Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark, although less rare, also
represent local breeders at this site whose habitat prospects are shrinking in the
Region. The grasslands also attracted a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, found on 18
May by Bob McGrath.
There were no fallouts of Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, etc. this spring
on the barrier beaches, but a territorial male Blue Grosbeak was present once
again in the Calverton area. On the opposite fringe of their species’ breeding
range, late lingering Red Crossbills in East Hampton and Flanders suggested
possible breeding, but no nesting activity was confirmed.
Other rarities, not mentioned above, included Seth Wollney’s pet Western
Grebe at Staten Island; a Wilson’s Plover photographed by Mike Bottini at
Napeague; two Black-necked Stilts found by Karen Rubinstein at Hook Pond
on the exceptional date of 14 March; two Mississippi Kites, reflecting an
exceptional incursion this year; a confiding Red Phalarope at Shinnecoek Inlet,
found by Joe DiCostanzo et aL; a probable Thick-billed Murre seen at great
range by Lloyd and Sandy Spitalnik at Jones Beach; a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
at Pelham Bay Park on 5 May; and a Painted Bunting at Cindy Wodinski’s
consistently productive feeders in Cedarhurst on 6 May.
CONTRIBUTORS
Bob Adamo, Ken Allaire, Deb Allen, Debora Amos, Ron Armitage, John
Askildsen, Seth Ausubel, Rudy Badia, Andy Baldelli, Catherine Barron, Robert
Bate, Willie & Gerry Becker, Leslie Beebe, Gail Benson, Sue & Jim Benson,
Mike Bergin, Bob & Janice Berlingeri, Steve Biasetti, Andrew Block, Shane
Blodgett, Kelli Bochnik, Mike Bochnik, Ardith Bondi, Joe Borker, Mike Bottini,
Thomas Brown, John Brush Jr., John Brush Sr., David Burg, Thomas W. Burke,
Vicki Bustamante, Ben Cacace, Raphael Campos, Isabel Conte, Mike Cooper,
Ed Coyle, Ed Crowne, Evan Cutler, Robert DeCandido, Joe DiCostanzo,
Barbara DiPietro, Peter Dorosh, Trish Duffett, Tom Dulski, Dale Dyer, Dave
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
299
Eib, Mary Eyster, Charlie Fallon, Mike Farina, Ken & Sue Feustel, Corey
Finger, Tom Fiore, Howard Fischer, Brendan Fogarty, John & Gerta Fritz, Doug
Futuyma, Yolanda Garcia, Klemens Gasser, Arie Gilbert, Paul Gillen, Joe
Giunta, John Gluth, Douglas Gochfeld, Edith Goren, Juliette Goulet, Isaac
Grant, Robert Grover, Liz Haberkom, Marge Hanaver, Mike Higgiston, Ken
Homan, Joel & Peg Horman, Bruce Horwith, Laura Jacobs, Sam Jannazzo, Phil
Jeffrey, Rob Jett, Ed Johnson, Patrick Jones, Rich Kelly, Dave Klauber, Kathryn
Klecan, Norm Klein, Robert J. Kurtz, Tony Lance, David LaPuma, Anthony J.
Lauro, Nick Laviola, Patricia J. Lindsay, Kirsten Lewis, Jean Loscalzo, Evan
Marks, Bob May, Betsy McCully, Rob McGinness, Rich McGovern, Robert
McGrath, Hugh McGuinness, Jack Meyer, Eric Miller, Shaibal S. Mitra, Tom
Morgan, Steve Nanz, Jeff Nulle, James Phillip O’Brien, Jim Osterlund, Phil
Pane, Robert O. Paxton, Matt Pelikan, Sarah Plimpton, Steve Plust, Pat Pollack,
Peter Post, Tom Preston, Joan Quinlan, Ian Resnick, Jeff Ritter, Pauline Rosen,
Barbara Rubinstein, Karen Rubinstein, Eric Salzman, Starr Saphir, Gerard
Savaresse, Sy Schiff, Donna Schulman, Eileen Schwinn, John Sep, Mike
Shanley, Ann Shaw, Sean Sime, Lloyd & Sandy Spitalnik, Carl Starace, Sally
Swain, Ken Thompson, Joe Trezza, Richard Veit, Steve Walter, Scott Whittle,
Gabriel Willow, Alex Wilson, Angus Wilson, Cindy Wodinsky, A1 Wollin, Seth
Wollney, Mike Zablocky.
ABBREVIATIONS
IS - 1st summer plumage; IW - 1st winter plumage; lY - 1st year plumage; 2S
- 2nd summer plumage; 2Y - 2nd year plumage; alt - alternate plumage;
Amagansett - Amagansett, T EH SUFF; APP - Alley Pond P QUEE; BHP -
Blue Heron P RICH; CaPd - Capri Pd, W. Islip SUFF; CCP - Cupsogue County
P SUFF; CHP - Conference House P RICH; CLP - Clove Lakes P RICH; CP -
Central P NEWY; CRSPP - Connetquot R SP Preserve SUFF; DOP ~ Dreier
Offerman P KING; EH - East Hampton SUFF; EPd - Eastport Pd., Eastport
SUFF; FP - Forest P QUEE; FT - Fort Tilden QUEE; GCP - Gardiner CP, T
Islip SUFF; Gilgo - Gilgo Beach, T Babylon SUFF; GKP - Great Kills P RICH;
Grumman - former Grumman property, Calverton SUFF; HG - Hunters Garden,
T Eastport SUFF; HLSP - Hempstead L SP NASS; IHP - Inwood Hill P
NEWY; Jam Bay - Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge QUEE/KING; JBSP - Jones
Beach SP NASS; JBWE - Jones Beach SP West End NASS; LCP - Lemon
Creek P RICH; LI - Long Island; Mass - Massapequa Preserve NASS; MB -
Mecox Bay SUFF; migr - migrant, migrating; MLUA - Mt Loretto Unique
Area RICH; MP - Montauk Pt SUFF; Mtk - Montauk, T EH SUFF; NRSP -
Nissequogue R SP SUFF; PB - Pike’s Beach, Westhampton SUFF; PBP -
Pelham Bay P KING; PL - Pt Lookout NASS; PP - Prospect Park KING;
RMSP - Robert Moses SP SUFF; Sagg - Sagaponack Pd SUFF; Shinn -
Shinnecock In SUFF; ShPd - Shorts Pd, Bridgehampton SUFF; SMSP - Sunken
Meadow SP SUFF; SSNC - South Shore Nature Center, E. Islip SUFF; SY -
300
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
2nd year plumage; Tobay - John F. Kennedy Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, T
Oyster Bay NASS; TRiCP - Terrell R CP SUFF; VCP - Van Cortland P BRON;
VSSP - Valley Stream SP NASS; WPP - Wolfe’s Pd P RICH.
WHISTLING-DUCKS-VULTURES
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE; Stony Brook Mill
Pd SUFF thru 13 Mar, from winter.
Greater White-fronted Goose: Hendrickson
P, Valley Stream NASS thru 2 Mar, from
winter; Silver L Preserve RICH thru 3 Mar,
from winter; Mass 2-9 Mar, from winter;
Calverton SUFF 9 Mar (BA).
Snow Goose: 29 ShPd 5 Mar (GaB, PJL); max
2000 Jam Bay 17 Mar inc 7 blue morph.
ROSS’S GOOSE (RIO); ShPd 2 Mar (PJL,
SSM!) to 9 Mar.
Cackling Goose: 2 ShPd 2-15 Mar; at least
one cont from winter.
Brant: 8,000 Jam Bay 11 May, inc 3,000 in
flocks rising high and moving northwest (PJL,
SSM).
“BLACK” BRANT: LCP 30 Mar (TWB,
GaB, et al) and WPP (PJL, SSM ph) thru 6
Apr.
BARNACLE GOOSE: Mtk thru 9 Mar, from
winter.
Tundra Swan: 4 (2 ads, 2 imms) Orient farm
field SUFF 11-15 Mar (JBrJr); poss same birds
also reported from Sagg 15 Mar and Barcelona
Neck SUFF 16 Mar (JGi, BMcC).
Wood Duck: m Ditch Plains, Mtk 16 Mar,
roosting in steep swells on ocean with flock of
Com. Eider! (AnW); max 16-18 HLSP 11 Apr.
Gadwall; 200 Swan L, Patchogue SUFF 1
Mar.
Eurasian Wigeon: m W Sayville Golf Course
SUFF thru 1 Mar; 2 Old Field lighthouse SUFF
12 Mar; m Tobay 15 Mar; Mass 23 Mar, cont
from winter; Greenwood Cemetery KING 9
Apr (MHa); prob hybrid w Am. Wigeon
Mattituck SUFF 12 Mar (PG).
Am. Wigeon: 200 W Sayville Golf Course
SUFF 1 Mar.
Blue-winged Teal: arr 3 MLUA 21 Mar (R
McGovern).
Green-winged Teal: 160 Pond X, Lawrence
NASS 9 Mar; 200 Tobay 22 Mar.
“EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL:
drakes Mass thru 23 Mar, CaPd 15 Mar, and
Norman J. Levy Pres NASS 6 Apr, all cont
from winter.
Canvasback: 14 JBWE 11 Mar, usus loc; 18
EPd 16 Mar.
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
Redhead: 41 CaPd 9 Mar.
Ring-necked Duck; 40+ St John’s Pd NASS
14 Mar.
Greater Scaup; 15,000 Jam Bay 11 & 17 Mar;
15,000 Gravesend Bay RICH 25 Mar, began to
disperse mid Apr; intro.
Lesser Scaup; v large numbers Mar, e.g., 850
CaPd 9 Mar, 1100 EPd 16 Mar, 5000 West Pd,
Jam Bay 17 Mar; intro.
King Eider: 5-10 Ditch Plains, Mtk 2-30 Mar;
imm m Bayville NASS thru 15 Mar, cont from
winter.
Com. Eider: max 5000 MP 2 Mar; CCP 18
May (SBi), late.
Harlequin Duck: PL 2 Mar, cont from winter;
m Cedar Beach, T Babylon SUFF 14-16 Mar
(JQ, mob); Amagansett 19 Apr (AnW); 2 f MP
19 Apr.
Surf Scoter: tens of thousands, est 30,000 MP
5 Mar.
White-winged Scoter: est 300 MP 5 Mar.
Black Scoter: est 15,000 MP 5 Mar.
Bufflehead; max 662 MB 30 Mar.
Com. Goldeneye: max 100+ GKP 3 Mar (TF).
Barrow's Goldeneye; ad m Bayville-Centre Is
NASS thru 7 Mar, cont from winter.
Hooded Merganser: f lingered CP Res thru, v
late.
Com. Merganser: 39 CRSPP 13 Mar.
Ruddy Duck: 500+ Jam Bay in Mar; 260
CaPd 9 Mar.
Red-throated Loon: one hour counts of migrs
Amagansett: 195 13 Apr, 340 19 Apr (AnW);
52 RMSP 21 May (SSM, PJL).
Horned Grebe: generally low numbers, i.e.,
30 Ditch Plains, Mtk 2 Mar; 26 Jam Bay 26
Apr (RKe).
Red-necked Grebe: PL 2 Mar; 2 Brighton
Beach RICH 3 Mar (SBl); Culloden Pt, Mtk 16
Mar (AnW); 2 Amagansett 13 Apr (AnW).
Eared Grebe: Cedar Beach, T Babylon SUFF
14-16 Mar (JQ, mob).
WESTERN GREBE: WPP 23 Mar (SWo!)
thru 30 Mar (mob!).
Sooty Shearwater: 2 Shinn 15 May (DF), first
report; small numbers thru.
Manx Sheanvater: Amagansett 20 Apr
(AnW); first report; small numbers thru.
301
Wilson's Storm-Petrel; Shinn 17 May (PJL et
al), inside bay, early.
N. Gannet: 500+ ads Upper Raritan Bay
RICH/KING 16 Mar (SWo); 2000+ off PL 16
Mar; 856 Amagansett 20 Apr (AnW); 100+
well inside Jones In 5 Apr (RJK).
Great Cormorant: max 25+ WPP 16 Mar
(SWo); last GKP 4 May.
Am. Bittern: last GKP 25 May (SWo), late.
Great Egret: NRSP thru 6 Mar, overwintered.
Snowy Egret: arr LCP 22 Mar.
Little Blue Heron: arr TRiCP 6 Apr (CS,
SSw), early.
Tricolored Heron: arr Jam Bay 20 Apr (SA).
Cattle Egret; Oak Beach, T Babylon SUFF 15
Apr (K&SF); Jam Bay 20 Apr (SA).
Green Heron: arr CP 12 Apr.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron: arr 6 Cow
Meadow NASS (BBe) & Neck Creek RICH 30
Mar (CB); 14 nesting Cedarhurst NASS 13 Apr
(CW), large number.
Glossy Ibis: arr Gilgo 2 Apr.
BLACK VULTURE (RIO): 1-2 MLUA, CLP,
Snug Harbor RICH 26 Mar-2 May (mob); PP
13 Apr (SN); 29 May Riverhead SUFF (ABa).
Turkey Vulture: increasingly common even
into May east end and North Fork LI; max 8
Mtk 25 May (PR); 7 Orient SUFF 12 Mar;
daily over Brown’s Hills Orient SUFF (TM)
and Mtk “all of May and before” {fide HMcG).
HAWKS - ALCIDS
Osprey: arr Orient SUFF 9 Mar.
MISSISSIPPI KITE: PP 18 May (SBl, DD,
RC); IHP 25 May (KA).
Bald Eagle: juv upper Manhattan NEWY 10
Mar; imm MLUA 2 Apr; ad CP 1 May; 2Y
GKP 6 May; ad CP 10 May; 2 ads BHP 18
May; imm Springs EH 23 & 27 May; ad
Shelter Is SUFF 24 May; juv CP 30 May.
N. Harrier: up to 3 Grumman thru 26 Apr.
Cooper's Hawk: increasingly common, many
reports.
Red-shouldered Hawk: imm MLUA 2 Mar
(SA, SWo, DK); Greenbelt area RICH 15 Mar
(HF); Mattituck SUFF 30 Mar (S&JBenson);
PP 12 Apr (RJ); 2 Camp Hero, Mtk 22 May
(VB).
Broad-winged Hawk: migrs noted from CP
12-13 Apr thru mid May; 2 Camp Hero, Mtk
22 May (VB).
Rough-legged Hawk: JBWE 2 Mar (KF);
Grumman thru 30 Mar, cont from winter; dm
Gardiner Is SUFF 15 Mar (AnW); Cutchogue
SUFF 29 and 31 Mar (JBrSr).
302
Am. Kestrel: max 14 Grumman 26 Apr
(RMcGr); at least one reported from here thru
mid May, known nest site.
Merlin; last report Lakeland CP SUFF 10 May
(JGl).
Com. Moorhen: Saw Mill Creek RICH 26
May (EJ).
Am. Coot: max 170 Patchogue L SUFF 1 Mar.
Black-bellied Plover: 95 Dune Rd CCP to
Shinn 26 May.
WILSON'S PLOVER: Napeague SUFF 11
May (M Bottini), ph to HMcG.
Semipalmated Plover: 11 Apr Zach’s Bay
JBSP(PJL, SSMph),v early.
Piping Plover: arr 9 PL 22 Mar (M Bochnik et
alf max 31 JBWE 23 Mar (BF).
Am. Oystercatcher: 4 JBSP 9 Mar, poss
arrivals.
BLACK-NECKED STILT; 2 Hook Pd EH 14
Mar (KRu).
Solitary Sandpiper: arr 3'^^' week Apr.
Willet: arr Jam Bay 20 Apr (SA).
Spotted Sandpiper: arr CP 12-13 Apr.
Upland Sandpiper: JBWE 4 May (K&SF); 2
Grumman 19 May (ABa).
Whimbrel; Big Egg Marsh QUEE 25 May
(SWa); Ponquogue Bridge SUFF 26 May (E
Marks).
Ruddy Turnstone: 720 Dune Rd CCP to
Shinn 26 May,
Red Knot: 200+ JBWE 17 May; 107 Dune Rd
CCP to Shinn 26 May.
Sanderling; 900 Dune Rd CCP to Shinn 26
May.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 320 Dune Rd CCP
to Shinn 26 May.
Least Sandpiper; arr Jam Bay 20 Apr (SSM,
PJL).
White-rumped Sandpiper: arr MB 4 May.
Purple Sandpiper: max 51 Gravesend Bay
RICH 13 Apr (AxW); last 5 FT 27 May (RKe).
Dunlin: 800+ JBWE 3 Mar; 670 Dune Rd
SUFF 16 May.
Short-billed Dowitcher: arr JBWE 4 May;
180 Dune Rd CCP to Shinn 26 May.
Long-billed Dowitcher: Heckscher SP SUFF
7 Mar (KT, JGl); 8 Mass thru 17 Apr, from
winter.
Wilson’s Snipe: max 21 MLUA 22 Mar (EJ).
Wilson's Phalarope: f Rita’s Horse Farm, Mtk
18 May (VB, BH); near Shinn 22 May (KT);
MB 23-26 May (W&GBec, mob).
Red-necked Phalarope: f Jam Bay 10 May
(SA).
RED PHALAROPE (RIO): alt m Shinn 18-24
May (JDi, AS, SSi ph, mob ph).
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
Laughing Gull: arr ad alt DOP 15 Mar
(AxW).
Black-headed Gull: 1W Malibu Beach NASS
11 Mar (KF); ad Iron Pier, Northville SUFF 28
Mar, 3 Apr (JS; mob); IS MB 19-21 Apr (MC;
mob).
Bonaparte's Gull; 200 Gilgo 2 Mar; 300+
Malibu Beach NASS 11 Mar; last report 2
JBWE 4 May.
Iceland Gull: imm GKP 2 Mar (SWo); IW
Malibu Beach NASS 11 Mar (KF); lY WPP 14
Mar (SWo); Iron Pier, Northville SUFF 28
Mar-24 Apr; imm Tottenville RICH 30 Mar
(SWo); WPP 6 Apr (SWo).
Lesser Black-backed Gull: ad VSSP 14 Mar,
cent from winter; 1-2 Arden Av, RICH mid
Mar.
Glaucous Gull: SY CHP 29 Mar (HF); 2S or
3S MB 20 Apr (AnW).
Gull-billed Tern: arr 3 JBSP 30 Apr & Jam
Bay 7 May, traditional sites; 2 PB 25 May
(PJL), increasingly regular in spring on e LI.
Caspian Tern: JBWE 9 Apr (SSch); 2
Carmans R, Mastic SUFF 18 Apr (PD, ME);
JBWE 19 Apr (B May); 2-5 MB 19-21 (MC,
K&SF, mob); ad Wertheim NWR SUFF 24
Apr (CS); Cedar Beach, Southold SUFF 26
Apr.; 2 MB 4 May.
Royal Tern: 2 MB 18 May (JDi, AS, SSi);
Napeague SUFF 24 May (KRu, BRu); both
early.
Roseate Tern: arr 2 CCP (PJL, SSM) and 10-
15 Cartwright Shoal, e SUFF (AnW) 16 May;
max 54 Cedar Pt CP SUFF 26 May (KG).
Com. Tern: arr 2 NRSP 24 Apr; max 200+
Amagansett 24 May (AnW).
Forster's Tern: arr 5 JBWE 12 Apr.
Least Tern: arr NRSP SUFF 24 Apr, early.
Black Tern: arr JBWE 4 May (SSM, PJL);
singles at PB 8 May, Shinn 17 May, CCP 20
May, all alt.
Black Skimmer: arr Plum Beach RICH 17
May (RJ).
THICK-BILLED MURRE; distant ind Jones
In NASS 17 Apr was most likely this species
(L&SSp).
Razorbill: Amagansett 20 Apr (AnW), last
report.
PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
Monk Parakeet: JBWE 18 Apr (J&GF, JQ);
Cow Meadow NASS 17 May (RJK), unus Iocs.
Black-billed Cuckoo; arr PP U* wk May.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: arr CHP 27 Apr
(SWo).
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
Barn Owl: pr nested at Big John’s Pd, Jam
Bay.
Great Horned Owl: pr nested in Double-
crested Cormorant nest at Stonybrook Mill Pd
SUFF.
Long-eared Owl: Calverton SUFF 21 May (R
McGrath), loc and date suggest poss breeding.
Short-eared Owl: max 4 Grumman 28-30
Mar, 3-16 Apr, cont from winter, intro.
N. Saw-whet Owl: St George RICH 12 Mar
(IG), in entryway of apt building.
Com. Nighthawk: arr CP 13 May.
Chuck-will's-widow: arr e LI territories U'
week May; roosting bird CP 14 May.
Whip-poor-will: roosting bird CP 14 Apr;
Grumman 18 Apr (PD et al), first report from
breeding loc.
Chimney Swift: arr CP 14 Apr.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: arr CP 24
Apr.
Belted Kingfisher: numerous reports early
Mar supplementing wintering birds.
Red-headed Woodpecker: ad CP 26-27 Apr,
6 May; PP 10 May (ECr, PPa); River Rd,
Calverton SUFF 18 May (TWB, GaB), then
pair discovered here 20 May thru (RMcGr,
ESa), traditional site; ad Orient SUFF 29 May
(RMcGi).
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: sap wells at NYC
parks were food source for Scott’s Oriole and
Western Tanager during Mar, Apr; 10+
Willowbrook P RICH 15 Apr (TBr, JGo),
many; small numbers widely reported thru.
FLYCATCHERS - WAXWINGS
Olive-sided Flycatcher: CP 14,18, 21,29
May; PP 14 May; IHP 20 May (CFi, MBe); 2
PP 23 May (RJ et al.)-, APP 24 May (JGi et
aiy, William Floyd Estate, Mastic Beach SUFF
24 May (CS, SSw).
Acadian Flycatcher: arr CP 10 May, sev
reports from this loc thru; Hoyt Farm P, T
Smithtown SUFF 23 May (JGI); West Islip
SUFF yard 27 May (RG); Jam Bay 30 May
(DK), breeding loc; SSNC 30 May.
Alder Flycatcher: singing HG 17 May (ESa,
ESch, ABa); singing VCP 25 May; singing Jam
Bay 31 May (RJK).
Willow Flycatcher; arr CP 2 May.
Least Flycatcher: arr CP 24 Apr (JDi).
E. Phoebe: arr JBWE 12 Mar; max single site
35 PP 2 Apr.
Great Crested Flycatcher: arr CP 24 Apr.
E. Kingbird: arr CP 24 Apr.
303
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER; ad
PBP 5 May (fide RDe, ph to TWB); ad
Grumman 18 May (RMcGr).
N. Shrike: Grumman 16 Mar (CS); MLUA16
Mar (SWo); GKP 23 Mar (D Amos), from
winter; imm SMSP 24 Mar (NK).
White-eyed Vireo: arr PBP 16 Mar (DB), v
early.
Yellow-throated Vireo: arr Southards Pd, T
Babylon SUFF 25 Apr.
Blue-headed Vireo: arr CP and PP 12 Apr.
Warbling Vireo: arr CHP and CP 26 Apr; on
terr VSSP 30 Apr (BBe), v local breeder sw LI.
Philadelphia Vireo: singing CP 3 May (fide
TF); CP 28 May (JPO).
Red-eyed Vireo: arr CP 26 Apr.
Horned Lark: of 74 Nickerson Beach, Long
Beach SUFF 3 Mar, 2 were apparently
pratensis (PJL, SSM).
Purple Martin: arr RMSP 21 Mar, early.
Tree Swallow: 5 near Cedar Beach, T of
Babylon SUFF thru 7 Mar; arr 20 JBWE 7
Mar.
N. Rough-winged Swallow: arr HLSP 2 Apr.
Bank Swallow: arr Gilgo 13 Apr.
Cliff Swallow: arr PP 21 Apr.
Barn Swallow: arr Jam Bay 9 Apr, early.
Red-breasted Nuthatch: spring echo of last
fall’s major flight evident.
White-breasted Nuthatch; spring echo of last
fall’s major flight evident; Tobay 13 Apr, unus
on barrier beach.
House Wren; arr southern end RICH 19 Apr.
Winter Wren; max 8 southern end RICH 13
Apr.
Marsh Wren; arr Tobay 13 Apr.
Golden-crowned Kinglet: first migrs arr mid
Mar.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: arr 3 PP 12 Mar
(AxW), early.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; arr CHP 2 Apr.
Veery; arr HG 15 Apr, very early.
Gray-cheeked Thrush; arr CP 7 May.
BICKNELL’S THRUSH: calling CP 9 May,
compared to simultaneously calling Swainson’s
Thrush (fide TF); FP 18 May, based on
plumage and calls (DF, mob).
Swainson's Thrush: arr CP 2 May; reported in
V good numbers from western parks, max 30
FPlSMay.
Hermit Thrush: reported in good numbers;
peaked 20-30 PP 12 Apr (RJ); last migr VSSP
18 May (BBe), late.
Wood Thrush: arr CP 26 Apr; nested VSSP.
Gray Catbird: many overwintered; notable
influx noted CP 25-26 Apr; “explosion” PP 2
May; “many hundreds” CP 3 May.
Brown Thrasher; many overwintered; migrs
arr mid Apr.
Am. Pipit: JBWE 23 Mar (BF); JBSP 5 Apr
(RJK).
Cedar Waxwing; widely reported thru; max
100+ PP4Mar.
WARBLERS
Blue-winged Warbler: arr 2 Apr Snug Harbor
RICH (MSh), record early; next CP 23 Apr.
“Lawrence’s” Warbler: PP 6 May (fide R
Badia).
Tennessee Warbler: arr CP and PP 3 May.
Orange-crowned Warbler: LCP 14-21, 24
Mar, prob same bird; MLUA 22, 25 Mar; WPP
23,29 Mar, 8, 9 Apr, cont from winter; CP 2
May; Jam Bay 6 May, unus in spring.
Nashville Warbler: arr CP 19 Apr.
N. Parula; arr PP 12 Apr.
Yellow Warbler; arr CP 17 Apr.
Chestnut-sided Warbler: arr CP and SMSP
27 Apr.
Magnolia Warbler: arr CP 25 Apr,
Cape May Warbler: arr CP 24 Apr.
Black-throated Blue Warbler: arr CP 26 Apr.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: max 100+ Crooke’s
Pt RICH 3 Mar, from winter; spring migrs arr
early Apr, e.g. 50 Bay Pkwy JBSP 8 Apr.
Black-throated Green Warbler: arr CP 19
Apr.
Blackburnian Warbler: arr CP and PP 26
Apr.
Yellow-throated Warbler: PP 22 Apr (EG,
IC); CP 27 Apr (RDe et alf. Riverside P
NEWY 11 May (LJ, JN); CP 17 May (SSa, et
al)- IHP 23 May (KA).
Pine Warbler: arr PP 6 Mar, early.
Prairie Warbler: arr Southards Pd P, T
Babylon SUFF 13 Apr, early.
Palm Warbler: hypochrysea arr CCP 23 Mar.
Bay-breasted Warbler: arr CP 3 May.
Blackpoll Warbler: arr CHP 27 Apr.
Cerulean Warbler: arr upper Manhattan
NEWY, BHP, and FP 4 May; PP 10 May (ECr,
P Pane, SBl); FP 10 May; Peconic SUFF 10
May (KH); PP (RJ) & APP (BBe) 17 May; IHP
23 May (KA); many.
Black-and-white Warbler: arr TRiCP, Tobay,
and HLSP 12 Apr.
Am. Redstart: arr CP 26 Apr.
Prothonotary Warbler: m arr CP 26 Apr;
CLP 27 Apr (SWo, TDu); imm m Jam Bay 27
304
The Kingbird 200S September; 58 (3)
Apr (JA, KL); Willowbrook P RICH 1 May;
CRSPP 6 May (NL); PP 7 May (R Badia,
GW), 2 here 8 May; APP 11 May (AGi et al.);
Jam Bay 18 May (GS); PP 23 May; TRiCP 23
May; CLP 27 May; singing male exploring
nest hole at SSNC 30 May, not seen
subsequently.
Worm-eating Warbler: arr PP 20 Apr.
Ovenbird: FP 20 Mar (CFi), poss wintered;
CP 16 Apr, more likely arr date.
N. Waterthrush: arr Fuch’s Pd, Northport
SUFF 11 Apr.
Louisiana Waterthrush: arr CLP 25 Mar
(RA, CFa), early.
Kentucky Warbler; arr Brooklyn Botanical
Garden KING 2 May; up to 4 PP 4-10 May;
Mass 5 May; CP 7 May; FP 10 May; APP 12
May; Riverhead SUFF 15 May; Shelter I SUFF
to 18 May; APP 23 May; Jam Bay 24 May.
Mourning Warbler: arr Snug Harbor RICH
22 May; PP 23-24 May; 2 CP 23 May, up to 6
here 28 May; APP 23 May; 2 FP 25 May; Jam
Bay 30 May; SSNC 30 May; 2 APP 31 May;
FP 31 May.
Com. Yellowthroat: NRSP 14 Mar, prob
overwintered?; arr CP 19 Apr.
Hooded Warbler: arr PP 12 Apr; many
widespread reports thru, inc 6 NRSP 24 Apr;
4+ CP 4 May.
Wilson's Warbler: arr JBWE 24 Apr.
Canada Warbler: arr CP 2 May.
Yellow-breasted Chat; Rocky Pt SUFF 25
Mar, 2 here 26 Mar (BCK), prob wintered in
Region; arr? PP 26 Apr; Jam Bay 24 May.
TANAGERS - WEAVERS
Summer Tanager: f Ridgewood Res KING 20
Apr (DLa); ad m PP 7 May; m FP 10-17 May;
Egypt Beach, EH 10 May; PP 10 May;
Willowbrook P RICH 11-14 May; imm m
Riverside P NEWY 14 May; Jam Bay 14 May;
FP 16 May; imm m MP 16 May; Westhampton
SUFF 20-21 May; PP 23 May; ad m CP 24
May.
Scarlet Tanager: arr CP and PP 26 Apr.
WESTERN TANAGER: CP 26 Mar-12 Apr
(MP; mob!).
E. Towhee: 8+ TRiCP 6 Apr (CS, S Swain),
poss wintered locally; migrs noted
supplementing winterers in Reg 12-13 Apr.
Am. Tree Sparrow: last report 2 NRSP 24
Apr.
Chipping Sparrow: arr JBWE 30 Mar (BBe).
Vesper Sparrow: FT 10 Apr (RKe); CP 11
Apr (R Bate, et al.); GKP 13 Apr (SWo); DOP
The Kingbird200% September; 58 (3)
13 Apr (AxW); RMSP 13 Apr; MLUA 21 Apr
(RV); VSSP 30 Apr (BBe); Dell Water RICH 5
May (MZ); 2 Gabreski Airport, Westhampton
SUFF, breeding loc.
Lark Sparrow: Greenwood Cemetery KING 3
May (JBo), unus in spring.
Savannah Sparrow: first migrs supplementing
winterers noted 11-12 Apr.
Grasshopper Sparrow: arr first wk May;
breeding birds inc 2 Grumman 18 May; GA 20
May; 23 Napeague SUFF 25 May.
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow: Jam Bay 10
May (TWB, GaB); CCP 25 May (PJL, SSM).
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow: arr GCP 2
May.
Seaside Sparrow: arr 2 GCP 24 Apr.
Fox Sparrow: last report CP and southern
RICH 14 Apr.
Lincoln’s Sparrow: arr CP 2 May.
White-throated Sparrow: migrs
supplementing winterers noted around 24 Apr,
White-crowned Sparrow: JBWE thru 9 Mar.
Dark-eyed Junco: migrs supplementing
winterers noted around 10 Apr.
Snow Bunting: 2 JBWE 6 Apr (SSM, PJL),
late.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: GCP 26 Mar (PJL),
wintered locally or v early arr?; arr CP 20 Apr.
Blue Grosbeak: imm m PP 3 May (PD, mob);
m PP 7 May; m Radar Access Rd, Calverton
SUFF 21 May thru (MHi), prob breeder; PP 23
May; singing m road to Kismet Fire I SUFF
25-26 May (EsCu); f Cedar Pt CP SUFF 26
May (W«&GBe).
Indigo Bunting: arr JBWE 21 Apr,
PAINTED BUNTING: f Cedarhurst feeder
NASS 6 May (CW, ph to PJL).
Dickcissel: ad m CP 10-11 May (LB, mob),
rare in spring.
Bobolink: arr CP and PP 2 May.
E. Meadowlark: at least 15 cont from winter
at Grumman, breeders reported from here thru
mid May.
Rusty Blackbird: max 12+ Willowbrook P
RICH 15 Apr (TBr et al); 10 APP 24, 29 Apr;
smaller numbers reported widely.
Boat-tailed Grackle: cont to increase, esp
between Gilgo and Jam Bay.
Orchard Oriole: arr CP 19 Apr.
SCOTT’S ORIOLE: from winter,
rediscovered near and in Tompkins Sq P
NEWY end Mar {fide LS), singing here 1-2
Apr (R Bate, ABo, mob).
Baltimore Oriole: ad m PP thru 4 Mar (AxW),
Shelter I SUFF 17 Mar, wintered; arr 18 Apr.
305
Purple Finch: spring arr supplemented
wintering birds beginning of Apr.
Red Crossbill: late reports include 7 Barcelona
Neck SUFF 16 Mar (JGi, BMcC); 10 EH 1 Apr
(HMcG); 4 (2m, 2f) Maple Swamp SUFF 19
Apr (BA et al.) and 3 here 26 Apr (ABa, et al.);
2 Samoff Pres SUFF 6 - 7 May; Northwest
Woods EH 20 May (HMcG); intro.
Com. Redpoll: max 25 Gin Beach Mtk 10
Mar; last 16 Jam Bay and 3 CLP 22 Mar.
Pine Siskin: 3 SSNC feeder 18 Apr (PD); 12
CRSPP feeder thru 8 May; FP 8 May (CFi),
migr; PP 10 May (RC); CP 2"‘^ week May {fide
TF).
EXOTICS
South African Shelduck: Belmont L SP SUFF
10 Mar, present for many years.
Black-faced Lovebird; NY Botanical Garden
14 Mar (ABl).
European Goldfinch: HLSP 13 Apr (DF,
mob).
306
The Kingbird September; 58 (3)
STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS
Regional rarities appear in BOLD; county names are shortened to their first four
letters and appear in UPPER CASE letters; months are shortened to their first
three letters. In species accounts: number of individuals omitted implies that one
individual was reported; ! - details seen by Regional Editor; ad - adult; Alt -
Alternate plumage; Am. - American; arr - arrival or first of season; BBS -
Breeding Bird Survey; BOTS - bird of the season; CBC - Christmas Bird Count;
CO - confirmed nesting; Com. - Common; E. - Eastern; FL - fledgling; FY -
adult feeding young; I - Island; imm - immature; intro - see introduction to
report; juv - juvenile; L - Lake; max - maximum; mob - multiple observers; N. -
Northern; NYSDEC - New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation; NWR - National Wildlife Refuge; NYSARC - report to New
York State Avian Records Committee; P - Park; Pd - Pond; ph - photographed;
Pt - Point; Res - Reservoir; Ri - River; SP - State Park; spm - specimen; subad -
subadult; T - Town of; thru - throughout period; Twn - township; W. - Western;
WMA - Wildlife Management Area; y - young.
REPORTING REGIONS
Regional boundaries coincide with county lines, except at:
Region 1-Region 2 in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming Counties:
the boundary is NY Route 98 from Pt. Breeze to Batavia;
NY Route 63 from Batavia to Pavilion, and NY Route 19
from Pavilion to the Allegany County line.
Region 2-Region 3 in Ontario County:
the boundary is Mud Creek to NY Route 64, NY Route 64
from Bristol Center to S. Bristol Springs, and Route 21
from S. Bristol Springs to the Yates County line.
Region 3-Region 5 in Cayuga County:
the boundary is NY Route 31.
REPORTING DEADLINES
Winter Season: December, January, February
Deadline is 7 March
Spring Season: March, April, May
Deadline is 7 June
Summer Season: June, July, August
Deadline is 7 September
Fall Season: September, October, November
Deadline is 7 December
The Kingbird 200^ September; 58 (3)
307
The Kingbird 2008 September; 58 (3)
O
00
REGION NAMES AND NUMBERS
1. NIAGARA FRONTIER 6. ST. LAWRENCE
2. GENESEE
3. FINGER LAKES
4. SUSQUEHANNA
5. ONEIDA LAKE BASIN
7. ADIRONDACK-CHAMPLAIN
8. HUDSON-MOHAWK
9. HUDSON-DELAWARE
10. MARINE
Editor of The Kingbird
Shaibal S. Mitra
Biology Dept., College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314
Editor of New York Birders
Tim Baird
242 E. State St., Salamanca, NY 14779
Appointed Committees
Archives:
Phyllis R. Jones, Chair—9 Hallock Road, Pond Eddy, NY 12770
Awards:
Andrew Mason, 1039 Peck St., Jefferson, NY 12093
Conservation:
Gail Kirch—1099 Powderhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850
John Confer—651 Hammond Hill Rd., Brooktondale, NY 14817
Finance:
Berna B. Lincoln, Chair—P.O. Box 296, Somers, NY 10589
John J. Elliott Memorial:
Shaibal S. Mitra—Biology Dept., College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314
New York State Avian Records:
Angus Wilson, Chair
Send reports to:
Jeanne Skelly, Secretary for NYSARC
420 Chili-Scottsville Rd., Churchville, NY 14428
Publications:
Emanuel Levine, Chair—585 Mead Terrace, S. Hempstead, NY 11550
Waterfowl Count:
Bryan L. Swift
NYSDEC Bureau of Wildlife, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754
Web Site:
Carena Pooth—22 Brothers Rd., Poughquag, NY 12570
Elected Committees
Nominating:
Bill Cook, Tom Sarro, Kathryn Schneider (Chair)
Auditing:
Irving Cantor (Chair), Peter Capainolo, Isaac Grant
A
The Kingbird
Publication of NYS Ornithological Assoc., Inc.
RO. Box 95
Durhamville, NY 13054
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