Fall 2011

Very wet weather continues, including flooding in late Sept, fouling up our usual Wood Duck count (note pun). Note also the remarkable numbers of warblers including some pretty rare ones; and late hummingbirds. Get ready for winter finches–Pine Siskins and Snow Buntings are already here. Report winter bird sightings to Lance Verderame, 8 Elm Hollow Rd., Livingston Manor, NY 12758  or by email to or use our handy online reporting form.

Very wet weather continues, including flooding in late Sept, fouling up our usual Wood Duck count (note pun). Note also the remarkable numbers of warblers including some pretty rare ones; and late hummingbirds. Get ready for winter finches–Pine Siskins and Snow Buntings are already here. Report winter bird sightings to Lance Verderame, 8 Elm Hollow Rd., Livingston Manor, NY 12758  or by email to Lance at flybynight9@hvc.rr.com.

CANADA GOOSE - 4029 Summitville fire tower hawkwatch 10/5, counted overhead flying south (RD, RS);  67 Wurtsboro 11/5 at ponds (AB)
BRANT - 1 Morningside L 10/20 (LV);  22 Neversink Res 10/29 flyovers (LV)
WOOD DUCK - 1st count 9/30: 42--very low #s, Bashakill flooded, counted from Rt 17/209 (RD VF); 2nd count 10/6: 165 total, Haven Rd, still very low #s due to flooding (RD RS AB)
GADWALL - 9 Nvrsink Res 10/15 (LV); 8 Swan L 10/30 (JH)
MALLARD - 212  Neversink Res 9/3 (LV); 243 Wurtsboro 11/5 at ponds (AB)
N PINTAIL - 1 Wurtsboro 10/22 to 10/24 at ponds; a pair on 10/27 (AB)
WH-WING SCOTER - 2 Kiamesha L 11/23 (JH)
BLACK SCOTER - 1 Neversink Res 11/5 (LV)
LONG-TAILED DUCK - 3 Neversink Res 11/5 (LV)
COM GOLDENEYE - 10 Kiamesha L 11/23 (JH)
C MERGANSER - 225 Swan L 11/23 & 80 on Yankee L (JH, AB, P & SB)
RUDDY DUCK - 20 Neversink Res  & 13 Morningside L 10/15 (LV); 12 Kiamesha L 10/15 & 15 on 10/21 (RS RM LV)
W TURKEY - 18 Wurtsboro 8/15 hen with 4 chicks (AB); 18 Old Liberty Rd 9/26 (RS)
RED-THR LOON - 2 Kiamesha L 11/23 & 1 on Yankee L (JH, P & SB, AB)
C LOON - 10 Rondout Res 10/26 (VF RB); 1 Kiamesha, 2 on Yankee L & 2 on Swan L 11/23 (JH, P & SB, AB)
HORNED GREBE - 2 Anawana L 10/1 (LV); 5 Kiam. 10/15 (LV); 2 Nev. Res 10/26 (VF RB); 10 Kiam.10/18 (JH)
D-C CORMORANT -  21 Neversink Res 8/27 (LV)
GR BLUE HERON - 1 fishing in the brook at Claryville in early Nov (CB); 1 Bradley 11/17 at pond (RM)
GREAT EGRET - 1 Bashakill 9/2 South Rd boat launch (SB); 1 Morningside L 9/26 & 10/15 (LV RS RM)
BALD EAGLE -  46 Summitville hawkwatch, our 2nd highest season total after 2009 (JH); 1 Liberty 10/15 adult being harassed by 103 crows (RD); 1 Monticello 11/5 perched on a tree on my street (Hamilton Rd) (PC)
N HARRIER - 1 Bashakill 8/29 (SB); 1 Hunter Rd 11/6 m (LV)
SHARP-SHIN H - 781 Summitville hawkwatch; our 2nd highest season total after 2007 (JH); 1 Liv Manor 9/19 his yard (LV); 108 Summitville 10/17 hawkwatch max daily total (JH)
N GOSHAWK - 1 Parksville 10/9 Cooley Rd bog, adult (LV)
BROADWING - 1833  total Summitville hawkwatch, our 3rd highest season total after 2009 & 2010 (JH RD); 28 Bashakill 9/24 Nature Trail (SB, MBC)
GOLDEN EAGLE - 4 Summitville 10/16 hawkwatch (max daily total) (JH)
PEREGRINE F - 1 Bashakill 9/24 Nature Trail (SB, MBC)
AM COOT - 5 Neversink Res 10/15 (LV); 2 Kiamesha L 10/21 (RS RM)
LESS YELLOWLEGS - 7 Morningside L 10/20 (LV)
SOLITARY SANDP - 1 Neversink Res 9/19 pond in woods between Neversink & Rondout Res (Peter Oberlink)
BAIRD'S SANDP - 1 SCCC 10/2 (LV)
PECTORAL SANDP - 2 SCCC 9/3 (LV); 3 SCCC 10/2 (LV)
DUNLIN - 28 Mornings L 10/27 (JH); 1 Mornings L 11/5 (LV)
BUFF-BR SANDP - 1 Wurtsboro 9/8 airport; a juv bird (LV)
LAUGHING GULL - 2 Summitville fire tower 9/29, in flight; details submitted; 2nd county record (JH only observer)
BONAPARTE'S GULL - 1 Kiamesha L 11/23 (JH)
BLACK TERN - 7 Morningside L 8/25 (JH)
M DOVE - 27 Parksville 9/8 Cooley Mt Rd feeders (SR); 52 Woodbourne 11/5 Rose Rd (RM)
YELL-BILLED CUCKOO - 1 Bashakill 9/24 orchard near Main Pkg lot (SB, MBC)
E SCREECH-OWL - 1 Wurtsboro 10/10 hd (AB); 1 Bashakill 10/31South Rd (P & SB)
GR HORNED OWL - 1 Youngsville 11/3 Stump Pond Rd (RD); 1 Bashakill 11/5 Melrose Farm (P & SB)
BARRED OWL - 1 Liv Manor 9/3 hd outside of window (KH)
N SAW-WHET OWL - 7 Youngsville (banding 11/2 at Renee's house) (K & CH, RD);  total banded at Stump Pond Rd: 40 new, 2 Foreign recaptures (RD); total banded at Elm Hollow Rd, Liv Manor: 32 new, 4 foreign recaptures (LV)
R-T HUMMINGBIRD - 1 Youngsv 10/3 last here (RD); latest reported: 2 Bashakill South Rd 10/7 (P & SB)
OLIVE-S FLYC - 1 Bashakill 8/29 Main trail (SB); 1 Bashakill Nature Trail 9/3 & 9/23 (LV)
YELLOW-THR VIREO -14 at Bashakill 9/17 among 15 warbler sp near Main pkg lot, lg #s (Jim Clinton)
PHILA VIREO - 2 Bashakill 9/2 Nature Trail (SB); 1 Main pkg lot 9/17 (Jim Clinton); 4 Bashakill 9/17 Nature Trail, also 9/24 (SB, MBC, LV); 1 Main Trail orchard 10/1 (SB)
NORTHERN SHRIKE - 1 imm Clement & Airport Rd Liberty 11/24 & 11/25 (JH AB SB)
BLUE JAY - 189 overhead at Haven Rd on 10/6: (RD, RS, AB); on 10/9 Main pkg: 180 on "Big Sit" (RD, AB, VF)
HORNED LARK - 1 Hunter Rd 11/13 (LV); 6 same place 11/25 (SB)
GOLD-CR KINGLET - 3 Hunter Rd 10/1 (LV); 1 Wurtsboro 11/3 (AB); 1 Roscoe 11/5 low--wonderful view (MG)
GRAY-CH THR - 1 Nature Trail 9/24 (SB, MBC)
SWAINSON'S THR - 1 Nature Tr 9/2 & 2 at orchard 10/1 (SB)
AM ROBIN - 37 Stump Pond Rd 8/24, feeding on wild cherries (RD); 12 Liv Manor 9/23 in crabapple (KH)
GR CATBIRD - 1 Hilldale Rd 8/31 feeding yg (RS); 1 Liv Manor 9/22 in crabapple (KH); 1 Wurtsboro 11/2 late (AB)
BR THRASHER - 1 Hilldale Rd 8/31 (RS); 2 Bashakill 9/17 Nature Trail (LV); 12 Bashakill 10/1 Main Trail/orchard (SB); 2 Bashakill 10/17 Main Trail (SB)
AM PIPIT - 3 Neversink Res 10/29 (LV); 10 on Woodard Rd 11/25 (SB)
BLUE-WING W - 1 Bashakill 9/2 horseshoe pulloff (SB)
GOLDEN-WING W - 1 Bashakill 9/3 Nature Trail (LV)
TENNESSEE W - 1 Bashakill 9/17 among 15 warbler sp Main pkg lot 9/17 (Jim Clinton); 1 Hunter Rd 10/1 (LV); 1 Bashakill 10/1 Main Trail orchard (SB); 1 Bashakill 10/14 South Rd in wild Cherry tree (P & SB)
NASHVILLE W - 1 Bashakill 9/17 Nature Trail, also 2 on 10/1
(LV); 1 Liv Manor 9/19 his yard (LV); 1 Bashakill 9/24 orchard & 1 on 10/1 (SB, MBC); 2 Hunter Rd 10/1 (LV); 1 Morningside Pk 10/15 (LV); 1 Liv Manor 10/23 (LV)
N PARULA W - 1 Bashakill 9/2 horseshoe pulloff (SB); 5 Bashakill Nature Trail 9/17 (LV); 1 orchard 9/24 (SB, MBC); 1 10/14 South Rd (P & SB)
CAPE MAY -1 Bashakill Main pkg lot 9/17 (Jim Clinton) PRAIRIE W - 1 Bashakill same place 9/17 (Jim Clinton)
BLACKBURNIAN W - 1 Bashakill 9/2 Nature Trail (SB)
PALM W - 1 Bashakill Main pkg lot 9/17 (Jim Clinton); 4 Bashakill 10/1 orchard (SB); 1 Hunter Rd 10/23 (LV)
BAY-BR W - 1 Bashakill Nature Trail 9/3 (LV); 1 Main pkg lot 9/17 (Jim Clinton); 1 Nature Trail 9/24 (SB MBC)
BLACKPOLL W - 1 Bashakill 9/3 Nature trail, also 9/23 (LV); 1 Bashakill Main Trail orchard 9/24 & 3 on 10/1 (SB, MBC); 1 Fir Brook 10/16 (LV)
WORM-EATING W - 1 Bashakill among 15 warbler sp nr Main pkg lot 9/17 (Jim Clinton)
LA WATERTHRUSH - 1 Bashakill 9/2 Nature Trail (SB); CANADA W - 1 Bashakill 9/3 Nature Trail (LV)
E TOWHEE - 1 Wurtsboro 8/21 (AB); 4 Bashakill South Rd garden 10/14 (P & SB); 2 Hunter Rd 11/13 (LV)
TREE SP - 1 Hunter Rd & 2 Liv Manor 11/5 (first reports) (LV)
VESPER SP - 2 Bashakill Haven Rd 10/17 (SB JH); 1 Liv Manor Central School 10/23 (LV)
SAVANNAH SP - 2 Morningside Park 10/1 (LV); 1 Hunter Rd 10/30 (see next species) (LV)
GRASSHOPPER SP - 1 Hunter Rd 10/30 feeding with a Savannah Sp after snow storm (LV)
LINCOLN'S SP - 1 Bashakill Main pkg lot 9/17 (Jim Clinton); 3 Westbrookvile 9/18 deli fields (LV); 1 Mornings Park 10/1 (LV); 1 Hunter Rd 10/1 (LV); 1 Basha 10/12 South Rd garden (P& SB)
WH-CR SP - 1 Montic. landfill road 10/2 (LV); 3 South Rd 10/13, 2 on 10/14 (P & SB); 1 Nature Trail 10/17 (SB)
SNOW BUNTING - 11 Hunter Rd & 1 Neversink Res 10/29 (LV); 27 Hunter Rd on 10/30; 3 Haven Rd 11/25 (SB)
N CARDINAL - 8 Wurtsboro 10/16 (AB); 8 Monticello 11/5 Fisk Ave (DM)
RUSTY BLACKBD - 2 Bashakill 10/1 Main Trail orchard (SB)
BR-H COWBIRD -  2 Woodbourne 11/5 Rose Rd (RM)
PINE SISKIN - 3 Parksville Cooley Mt Rd feeders 10/12 & 10/13, 1 on 11/4 (SR); at Fir Brook: 3 on 11/5 & 8 on 11/13 (LV); 33 Parksville Cooley Rd bog 11/14 (in 2 flocks of 25 & 8) (LV)

ANIMAL REPORTS: a bobcat was seen at the entrance to the Stop Sign trail at about 8:30 am on Sept 3 during a Mearns Bird Club field trip to the Bashakill (SB) and another bobcat on 10/30 in their South Rd driveway about 6:30 pm (S & PB); a bear destroyed feeders at Hilldale Rd 9/6 (RS); 1 large bear crossing Briggs Hwy 9/8 & at platform feeder Cape Pond 9/17 (MC); red fox in Rock Hill yard during Nov feeder count (B & BK); 3 chipmunks, 2 does and 3 fawns at Sue Rayano’s house all fall and into early Nov. Big Brown Bats (7 to 12) flying at dusk 8/30 to 9/13 while katydids were calling near Cape Pond (VF MC)

CONTRIBUTORS: P & SB - Paula & Scott Baldinger; AB - Arlene Borko; CB - Charles Breiner; RB - Rick Bunting; AC - Alex Cherviok; PC - Patricia Cocot; MC - Mary Collier; RD - Renee Davis; VF - Valerie Freer; MG - Marge Gorton; JH - John Haas; KH - Kate Hyden; CH - Charlie Hyden; B & BK - Betty & Bob Klein; RM - Ruth McKeon; DM - Deanna Mendels; SR - Sue Rayano; RS - Ruth Shursky; LS - Lynn Skolnick; GS - Ginger Smith; LV - Lance Verderame; MBC - Mearns Bird Club field trip.

REMINDER: Send information about your interesting birds or other wildlife via email to or use our handy online reporting form.
 
                                                                                                         —Valerie Freer