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Field Trips

2010 Field Trip Schedule

We are in need of field trip leaders.

No expertise is needed, simply an interest in nature and the desire to share it with others.

If you would like to lead a trip, please contact Mona Bearor.



Monthly "Coffee Walks" at the Betar Byway in South Glens Falls Great Blue Heron by Gordie Ellmers
What? Birding walks led by members of Southern Adirondack Audubon. Each will last about one and a half hours.

We will meet for coffee afterwards at the Peppermill to talk about the birds we see.
When? The first Friday of each month at 9am.
Where? Meet at the gazebo near the parking lot at the end of First St. in South Glens Falls
Who can attend?       Anyone with an interest in learning more about the birds in our area - you! Great Blue Heron
By Gordie Ellmers
©2010
Monthly Birding on the Towpath in Hudson Falls

We will meet in the morning, form a carpool, then drive along the Towpath, a gravel road off Route 196 in Hudson Falls, stopping at times to get closer looks. With its varied habitat, this road supports an excellent variety of birds.
Reservations are required. - contact Pat Walters 518-793-1960.  Meeting time & place will be given upon registration.

1st Saturday of every month May through September: 
Saturday May 8, 2010
Saturday June 12, 2010
Saturday July 3, 2010
Saturday August 7, 2010
Saturday September 4, 2010




Green Heron by Gordie Ellmers
                                                                                                                                                                         
Green Heron by Gordie Ellmers
©2010
________________________________________________________________________________



2010 Field Trip Reports

Washington County Waterfowl, Sunday, March 21, 2010

Members of HMBC and SAAS look for waterfowl on the Hudson

Fifteen enthusiastic birders enjoyed unexpected sunshine as they scoured the Hudson in search of waterfowl and early migrants.  The river hosted low numbers of ducks – Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Mallard, and Black Ducks being the most numerous; a smattering of Bufflehead added interest.  A small marshy area yielded views of a single Northern Pintail, a lone American Wigeon, and Green-winged Teal, while a small pond offered more teal, Wood Ducks, a mostly cream-colored leucistic Mallard, and a Great Blue Heron.  At the roadsides we found Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy, Red-bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, and a Song Sparrow singing on territory, in addition to the expected blackbirds, crows, and jays.  Not to be left out, a single Killdeer circled above our heads and called as we tallied checklists on our return to the meeting place, making our total for the trip 41 species.  -Mona Bearor & Joyce Miller                              

Members of Southern Adirondack Audubon and Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club
identify waterfowl on the Hudson River at Fort Miller.

2009 Field Trip Reports

Canoe and Kayak on the Battenkill, Saturday, October 17, 2009

    The scenic beauty of the Battenkill River, combined with blue skies and rapidly warming weather, made our October field trip a thoroughly enjoyable event.
    Battenkill Valley Outdoors owners, Lisa and Don, welcomed us with open arms in spite of the spate of last-minute weather related cancellations that reduced our group by more than half.  They provided a shuttle that took us to the put in point upriver. 
I watched from shore as the other canoes and kayaks glided into line behind Don, our guide for the trip, savoring the early morning stillness and quiet beauty of the moment as boats and people melded together, briefly silhouetted against the mountains.   
    Short stretches of rapids and twists in the river tested our navigational skills and added a little excitement to our trip, but I learned that birding by canoe or kayak offers its own challenges.  Canoeing downstream with a deceptively quick river current makes it rather difficult to identify fast-moving songbirds. 
    However, Great Blue Herons, hawks, mergansers, Wood Ducks and a kingfisher that chattered noisily at us offered trip participants fine views, and we saw and/or heard chickadees, sparrows, goldfinches and three species of woodpeckers, as well as a dozen other common birds.  One sharp-eyed young paddler even spotted a Winter Wren.  
    By the time we had reached the end of our journey we were anxious to return to Long Lodge for lunch.  There’s nothing like a morning spent on the water to whet appetites, and the luncheon provided by Sue and Tim Quillio of Spoonful Catering proved up to the task of sating them.  The Quillios outdid themselves with a gourmet lunch featuring lamb bundles and a wild rice/cranberry/walnut salad that had trip participants raving.  It truly was a culinary delight! 
    I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Battenkill Valley Outdoors and Spoonful Catering for making our October canoe-kayak trip and catered lunch a success. 
    Again, thank you Lisa, Don, Sue & Tim… we look forward to seeing you next year! 

Lake Lauderdale Park with biologist/naturalist, Howard Romack, Saturday, September 19, 2009

  Highlights of our trip included a live white-footed deer mouse, the capture of a wood frog near a vernal pool, and live animal displays.  At all times we were treated to a lively and fascinating discussion of the park’s ecology, plants, and animals during our rambling walk along the park’s wooded trails.
    We saw why chickadees love goldenrod, discovering at the same time where to look for the bait in winter that fish love—join us next year to learn the secret for yourself! We learned that wood frogs, not peepers, are the earliest harbingers of Spring.  In fact, they are sometimes frozen into the ice when temperatures drop and the pond skims over again.  But don’t worry – their body chemistry works almost like anti-freeze to keep them alive until the ice melts and they can once again go on their way. 
    The live animal displays at the picnic shelter afterwards were wonderful!  We saw many of the area’s native turtles, salamanders, frogs, and snakes as well as part of Mr. Romack’s extensive collection of butterflies and other insects.  A Box Turtle and a five-year-old endangered Spotted Turtle (unfortunately no longer found here) came out of their shells to say hello.
    Participants could hold newly hatched half-dollar sized Snapping Turtles that were rescued from being run over as they crossed a road to find a safe place to spend the winter.  They also had the opportunity to hold a six foot long Black Rat Snake.  That wasn’t quite as popular, but we appreciated its beauty nonetheless.
    Everyone commented on how much they enjoyed this trip and we look forward to another trip with Mr. Romack in the Spring.
Spotted Turtle
Howard Romack shows the group a Spotted Turtle, a "Species of Special Concern" which is no longer believed to be found in our area.   Photo by Laurie LaFond

  

PCB Study Field Work, Hadley Park
with Sara DeLeon
June 10, 2009

Sara DeLeon taking weighs a Chestnut-sided Warbler

    Sara DeLeon, a PhD candidate at Cornell University, has been studying the effects that PCBs have on birdsong. Her studies have focused on Song Sparrows and Black-Capped Chickadees found near the Hudson River.  The concern is that because the females are attracted to the males with the best songs, PCB-exposed birds might lose out on mates, which could pose serious problems for bird populations.

    Because some of us helped keep feeders full at Hudson Point in Queensbury and in Hadley to attract the birds for her project, Sara graciously agreed to let us watch her work in the field.

    Six participants observed Sara catch birds in a mist net in Hadley Park. Nature doesn’t always co-operate; sparrows and chickadees were unavailable that day.  Sara was happy to net a Chestnut-sided Warbler to demonstrate her work. She weighed the bird, took blood samples from the brachial artery, collected feather samples, and explained banding techniques. We were given the opportunity to hold it, and to try out her recording equipment.

    Sara’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and demonstrations made this a fascinating and enjoyable outing.

Birding  at Merck Forest,Rupert, Vt
with Laurie LaFond and Pat Walters
May 2, 2009

Baltimore Oriole by Gordie Ellmers
Baltimore Oriole © Gordie Ellmers 2007

Eight avid birders joined leaders Laurie LaFond Pat Walters on Saturday, May 2 for a great day of bird watching at Merck Forest in Rupert, Vermont.

Birding started right at the parking lot:  phoebes and vireos flitted through nearby tree branches, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers flew from trunk to trunk, hunting for insects, and the loud song of an Ovenbird rang from the woods.  A Sharp-shinned Hawk circled above us as we headed for the trail. 

A few hundred yards from the visitor center the woods open up to a panoramic view of 1800’s-style farm buildings nestled amidst lush green pastures and surrounded by mountains clad in varying shades of the yellow-greens of Spring.  This spectacular scenery served as a backdrop for the chorus of multi-hued songbirds that chirped, trilled, warbled and twittered as they flitted in and out of the foliage and fields.  Binoculars glued to our eyes, we identified a variety of sparrows and finches, as well as swallows, a Killdeer, a male Yellow Warbler, and a brilliant orange and black male Baltimore Oriole. 

The trail meandered through fields and meadows before it re-entered the woods, where we encountered a variety of woodpeckers, vireos, warblers and more.  We were fortunate to have several people good at birding by ear, for their skills helped us identify several species that were difficult to spot.  A Black-throated Green Warbler and a Black-throated Blue Warbler sang to us from the treetops, hidden by the rapidly growing foliage.  Our sound experts also identified a Winter Wren – a rare treat - but not even our best spotters could locate this elusive and uncommon little brown bird in the pile of downed trees and brush where it likes to forage.


A secretive Wood Thrush put our spotting abilities to the test, but most of us were eventually rewarded with a sight of its cleanly spotted white breast and rust-colored back and tail.  Other favorites included a beautiful male Eastern Towhee who warned us to “drink your tea” and a sweet-voiced male Blackburnian Warbler.  This bright orange, white and black warbler delighted the group with his antics among the treetops in his quest for insects.

Finally, as I listened to a twelve-year-old young man happily explain to us the difference between the call of the Northern Flicker and that of the Pileated Woodpecker (the Pileated is deeper), I was reminded that our shared enthusiasm and the willingness of other birders to share their knowledge is what makes birding field trips (whether I lead a trip or participate) one of my favorite pastimes.  Our fieldtrip to Merck Forest was a great day of birding and an enjoyable, memorable outing for all.  Many thanks to all who participated. 

The 3000 acre Merck Forest & Farmland Center encompasses three mountains, two ponds, a 200 acre demonstration farm and miles of hiking trails.  The working farm offers visitors a variety of organic products, from organic vegetables, meat and eggs to wool blankets and organic maple syrup.  Go to www.merckforest.org to learn more.

-Submitted by Laurie LaFond




Winter Birds of the Ft. Edward IBA

Saturday, January 17, 2009


Snowy Owls by Gordie Ellmers - copyrighted image!

Snowy Owls ©2009 Gordie Ellmers

                                                  
Nineteen birders braved temperatures in the teens to participate in the January 17 tour of the Fort Edward Grasslands Important Bird Area.  We were primarily on the look-out for winter raptors, and we were not disappointed!  Sightings of Rough-legged Hawks were common.  We saw them perched in trees or soaring across snow-covered fields on the hunt for voles and other small prey.

A Cooper’s Hawk perched in a clump of trees along one road provided some birders with a rare visual treat – especially when it flew right over our cars!  Surprisingly, however, we saw only one Red-tailed Hawk.  Other birds we saw were Red-bellied, Downy, and Hairy Woodpeckers; Eastern Bluebird; American Robin; American Tree and White-throated Sparrows; Purple and House Finches; Pine Siskin; White-breasted Nuthatch; and American Goldfinch.

The highlight of the day was observing the three Snowy Owls that have been wintering in the grasslands.  The first, an adult male, was perched on the roof of a house.  He stared right back at us – nonchalant, periodically turning his head to look around.  He was still there when we left after twenty minutes or so.  Everyone enjoyed the extended view.

Farther along the road another Snowy with lots of dark barring – either a juvenile or a female – perched on a rooftop about fifty feet from the road.  Binoculars glued to our eyes, we watched with awe as it suddenly launched itself from the roof, swooped down to the ground, snagged a vole in its talons, and returned to the same perch to devour it!

Part of the group had gone on to watch a third owl, another adult male.  The owl that had been eating its meal took off and flew toward the third owl.  The third owl then took off toward this owl.  They appeared to be heading straight for each other, but the male veered off and landed on a phone pole and the owl that originally had been eating settled on his original rooftop perch.

Dusk was settling as we ventured toward Blackhouse Road to look for endangered Short-eared Owls.  We caught a glimpse of one “shortie” as it flew away.  We waited, searching the fields and tree line with binoculars until it grew too dark to see.  That proved to be our only Short-eared Owl but we all agreed that it had been a great day of birding!

We had such a response to this trip that we had a lengthy waiting list.  We decided to have an impromptu second trip to the grasslands, on February 7, for these people.  We saw many of the same birds, plus the weather was much more pleasant!  We saw two of the three Snowy Owls, but were unable to observe any Short-eared Owls.  This, however, didn’t prevent us from having a great time!
by Laurie LaFond and Jason Goldsmith
________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                   

                                                         
Vince Walsh Winter Tracking

Saturday, January 31, 2009         

SAAS offered this free program at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, underwritten by a grant from Stewart’s, Inc.  It was well-received, with 12 people in the morning class, and 13 registered for the afternoon session.  Jackie Donnelly, an afternoon participant, wrote this account for her online nature blog, and allowed us to share it with our readers.
                                                                 

Vince measures a branch to determine animal size
Vince Walsh measures a branch to determine animal size.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Clarkin

How can you tell a grey squirrel's print from that of a cottontail rabbit?  In the squirrel's print the front feet are placed side by side; in the rabbit's they're one in front of the other.   Okay.  I already knew that.  But did I know why?  No, I didn't. But I do now, thanks to Vince Walsh, ardent naturalist, highly skilled tracker, founder of Kawing Crow Awareness Center in Greenfield, NY, and one of the most engaging wildlife teachers I've ever met.

 

The leader of a tracking workshop conducted at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve, Vince not only knew his stuff, he also knew how to get the rest of us really engaged in tracking, even to the point of kneeling down to sniff the yellow snow.  Was it fisher pee?  Well, maybe. There was a fisher trail.  But why would it pee right there where its trail crossed the hard-packed snowshoe path?  Could it be a dog?  Dogs also trot along this path.  What does dog pee smell like?  Many of our group of about a dozen probably knew the answer to that, but only one of us put her nose right down there (not me, for once!) and pronounced the verdict: “Dog!”  So you see, you can't always tell just by looking.  Vince urged us to use our noses, ears, fingers, brains, and imaginations.

For example, imagine the rabbit escaping the fox: she scoots this way, then that, zigzagging across the grass until she dives down into her hole.  That's why her front feet are placed one behind the other, to enable faster turning.   Does the squirrel zigzag across the grass as he high-tails away from your chasing dog and zips up the nearest tree?  Not on his furry life!  He plants those little front feet together and scoots in a beeline, as straight and fast as he can.  

We learned a lot of other things too, and had a lot of fun.  Many thanks to the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, a sand plains and pitch pine preserve I often visit in warmer weather, when wild lupine and milkweed support the endangered Karner Blue butterflies.   Thanks again to Vince Walsh, teacher and tracker extraordinaire.  I plan to visit him, too, at his Kawing Crow Awareness Center.  He knows just an awesome amount of stuff about nature, including where some ancient black tupelos grow. Eight-hundred-year-old black tupelos!  I want him to take me there. 

[Editor’s Note:  Jackie Donnelly wanders the woods and waterways of Saratoga County, recording her observations with her camera.  She shares her adventures through her online nature blog, and invites SAAS members to join her.  Please visit www.saratogawoodswaters.blogspot.com ]


  

2008 Field Trip Reports

Saturday, October 4           Birding at the Helen Buckner Memorial Preserve in Westhaven, Vermont

A field trip to the Helen Buckner Memorial Preserve on October 4th produced life birds for most, and a good time for all!  Chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers called and flitted through the trees as we hiked a woodland trail amidst peak fall foliage of glowing scarlet, crimson and gold.  Emerging at one point into a broad meadow, we were rewarded with stunning views of Bald Mountain and sightings of a variety of birds, including dozens of Cedar Waxwings, a Nashville Warbler, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.   The trail re-entered the woods and gradually climbed 200’ to a broad, grassy area with good views of the Poultney River and surrounding lands.  Our trip to the preserve ended with an exciting view of an endangered Peregrine Falcon circling overhead! 

After the hike we drove to the nearby pier on South Bay, where we hoped to see migrating waterfowl.  We were surprised and delighted by the arrival of an immature Bald Eagle!  All binoculars were glued to the raptor as it demonstrated its masterful fishing technique.  Suddenly, an adult Bald Eagle appeared on the scene!  The adult, with its classic white head and tail shining in the late afternoon sunlight, chased the youngster until it dropped the fish.  The adult dove, raking the waves with its talons in an unsuccessful attempt to snag the fish.  Both birds made a few passes over the spot where the fish had disappeared before flying off up the lake.  Seeing the Bald Eagles, and being able to observe their natural interaction, was the perfect ending to a great day of birding!  
Immature Bald Eagle by Gordie Ellmers

Juvenile Bald Eagle with fish by Gordie Ellmers
Photo taken at South Bay on Jan 19, 2008





Saturday,  August 16                  Invasive Species on the Betar Byway

On Saturday, August 16, five enthusiastic “students” joined leader, Drew Monthie, for a walk along the Betar Byway in South Glens Falls.  Sixteen species of invasive plants were identified as Drew led discussion about how invasive plant species threaten natural habitats.  The group learned that the introduction and spread of invasives was largely caused by man’s intervention in the environment; methods of control to counteract those errors were covered as well.  As always, Drew made it an interesting and informative morning for those who attended.  A list of invasive plant species follows:
Japanese Spirea – Spirea Japonica
Norway Maple - Acer platanoides
Japanese Barberry – Berberis thunbergii
Double-file Viburnum – Viburnum plicatum
Oriental Bittersweet - Celastrus orbiculatus
Porcelainberry - Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
Multiflora Rose - Rosa multiflora
Asiatic Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
Japanese Knotweed - Polygonum cuspidatum
Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria
Tartarian Honeysuckle – Lonicera tatarica
Yellow Flag (Louisianna) Iris - Iris pseudacorus
Garlic Mustard - Alliaria petiolata
Black Locust - Robinia pseudoacacia
Spikenard - Aurelia Racemosa
Glossy (Tall-hedge) Buckthorn - Rhamnus frangula



Saturday, May 31                      Washington County Grasslands with Laurie LaFond and Jason Goldsmith

Jason & Laurie’s birding field trip to the Washington County Grasslands was a winner!  Sightings included favorites such as Bobolinks and Killdeer, as well as Savannah Sparrows, Swallows, Kingbirds and a single Meadowlark.  Baltimore Orioles, Yellow Warblers and a very vocal Common Yellowthroat (another Warbler species) brightened our day.
 

A pair of Bluebirds - perhaps taking a break from nesting duties – preened together from their perch on a dead tree near the road.  A little later, we watched with rapt attention as half a dozen Mockingbirds displayed their aerobatic skills, chasing each other across the fields and at times passing right over our heads.  A red fox kit took advantage of the distraction they provided to sneak through the grass and cross the road in front of us!  An Eastern Phoebe and a Great Crested Flycatcher flitted in and out of brush along the road in their hunt for flying insects.
 

At our last stop - a field where several threatened Upland Sandpipers had recently been spotted - a bird turned the tables on us.  It seems quite humorous that while our group was intently searching the field with binoculars for even a glimpse of this rare bird, we eventually turned around to discover an Upland Sandpiper watching us from a lawn across the road!  The bird didn’t seem too skittish, and everyone got a good look at it through both their binoculars and our club spotting scope.  This sighting was a life bird for many and we were all excited to see it!  All participants agreed it was a great trip, and we look forward to the next one.

Bobolink
Bobolink
© 2008 Gordie Ellmers


Killdeer
Killdeer
© 2008 Gordie Ellmers
      Upland Sandpiper
Upland Sandpiper
by  Mona Bearor



Saturday, May 17                                                      Gull Bay Heron Rookery with Laurie LaFond and Jason Goldsmith

A clear spring day and a cast of hundreds set the stage to make our May 17th field trip to the Gull Bay Nature Preserve a rousing success!

A Barred Owl held the audience spellbound with a stellar preening performance from a tree along the trail.  He followed that performance with an encore of blinking owlishly and mugging for the cameras from a grassy verge less than ten feet from the trail! Mary Ann Dorvee provided a great photo below!  Great Blue Herons on 30 active nests gave a solid performance at the rookery.  Most still appeared to be incubating their eggs, but some perched on adjoining tree limbs or made occasional landings, takeoffs, and fly-bys.   However, it was the surprise appearance of two tiny white downy heads in one nest that stole the scene! A Scarlet Tanager gave the stars a run for their money with a distinctive solo. 

Supporting cast was wonderful, with colorful favorites like the Cardinal, Baltimore Orioles, Black-throated Green Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and Great Crested Flycatchers putting on a fine act.  Special guests included a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireos and cameo appearances by a Red-shouldered Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk.  Meadowlarks gave a sneak preview of the grasslands show from fields bordering the preserve, where Bobolinks bobbed in to say hello.  The gliding flight of a male Northern Harrier gave trip participants an added thrill.  A quick side trip to Trillium Trail yielded special appearances by a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and an American Redstart. 

The total number of species positively identified was 40, along with a probable Black & White Warbler and a Warbling Vireo.

Trip leaders Laurie LaFond and Jason Goldsmith would like to thank those who turned out for this spectacular show – we probably wouldn’t have been there to see it without you!


Species list for the trip:
Barred Owl by MAry Ann Dorvee Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove
Barred Owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Gray Catbird
Veery
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue Jay
American Crow
Blue-headed Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Scarlet Tanager
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole




 

Easter Sunday, March 23 - 8:00AM                     Waterfowl of the Hudson River with Joyce Miller and Mona Bearor

A crisp and sunny spring morning of waterfowl birding was enjoyed by 17 participants, equally representing Southern Adirondack Audubon and the Hudson Mohawk Bird Club. 


By noon we had tallied 43 species including Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Pintail, in addition to the expected goldeneyes, mergansers, and other more common duck species. A highlight for all, and a life bird for many, was the pair of Canvasbacks which cooperated in the early morning light to give excellent looks.  Also of interest were the four Tundra Swans seen near the Riverview Cemetery in Fort Miller; these elegant birds dwarfed the nearby Canada Geese and all participants were able to get great views of this species which is not often seen in our area.  A Red-bellied Woodpecker showed its brilliant red head in the morning light and a Great Blue Heron perched in the top of a tall tree at riverside was interesting to those who have never seen this species aloft.  We noted that Dark-eyed Juncos and Snow Buntings are still in the area, while Song Sparrows have returned and are joyfully singing their mating songs.  Brown-headed Cowbirds were overheard making plans to find nest space for this year’s eggs while a single Killdeer made its presence known.

 In the grasslands Red-tailed Hawks were plentiful; several Rough-legged Hawks gave good views and a single Northern Harrier interacted with the hawks.  Turkey Vultures soared in several spots.  The return trip offered an American Kestrel in Schuylerville and a Cooper’s Hawk in Queensbury bringing the trip total to 45 species.  A great morning enjoyed by a great group of birders!

Species List


                   

Great Blue Heron
Tundra Swan
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue Jay
American Crow
European Starling
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Snow Bunting
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow






                                              
Field trip participants
Field trip participants enjoy watching a pair of Canvasbacks on the Hudson

Tundra Swans on the Hudson in Fort Miller
Tundra Swans were the surprise of the day...
and a life bird for many!




  Saturday, February 23 - 9:00AM                       Snowshoe Walk at the Denton Preserve with Don and Nancy Polunci

Although we didn’t see many bird species, our snowshoe field trip in the Denton Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday, February 23 was enjoyable. Three people accompanied us on the 1.3-mile loop trail the day after a fresh snowfall. It was a great day to be outside!

Our best bird sighting was a Ruffed Grouse. We saw lots of tracks, including deer, rabbit, squirrel, and mouse.  Unfortunately, we did not see bobcat tracks, despite a previous spotting there last fall.

 

Nan and Don Polunci

Snowshoers at Dentopn Preserve





Saturday, January 26 – 8:30AM                        Wintering Birds of the IBA with Jason Goldsmith and Laurie LaFond


The SAAS Winter Raptor Field Trip was a great success, drawing seven enthusiastic beginning and veteran bird-watchers, in addition to the two co-leaders.  Excited participants are probably still talking about the highlight of the trip - a close encounter with a Red-tailed Hawk! 

Moderate temperatures, lots of sunshine and little wind made for a pleasant morning outing as we traveled a shortened version of the official IBA survey route. 

We saw about a dozen Rough-legged Hawks, half a dozen Red-tailed Hawks, a flock of about 20 Snow Buntings and one American Kestrel.  We were very fortunate to spot a Merlin (a medium-sized falcon).  It remained perched atop a telephone pole long enough for everyone to get a good look through binoculars and the spotting scope; it even stayed through all the photos.

The Red-tailed Hawk encounter occurred about half an hour into the trip (good timing, Jason!).  We happened upon a couple of bird banders working for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).  They had just trapped the 4-5 year old male Red-tailed seen in the photo.  They not only allowed us to observe and take photos while they recorded data such as the hawk’s sex and weight (roughly 2.2 pounds), but also explained things like how they determined its age.  This hawk had been banded previously, as had his mate, who weighed over three pounds (female raptors are about one third larger than males).   

Everyone seemed to have a good time, and we are all looking forward to the next birding field trip.   

by

Laurie LaFond

Red-tailed Hawk held by bander

Field trip participants with Red-tailed Hawk