This afternoon Ann Mitchell & I looked for the Townsend's Solitaire. We arrived about noon and found about half a dozen birders in the vicinity on the paved roads. A couple said they had seen the bird earlier for about 15 minutes perched atop a deciduous tree 100 yards to the west. Soon after we arrived a birder located it atop a mid-size deciduous tree immediately on the east side of E Lake Rd at the intersection just south of W Kendaia Rd. We were not among the birders who got a good look before it dropped down into the cedars. We spent the next half hour taking turns waiting and watching this area and checking tree tops from other vantages along the roads. Eventually, Ann & I decided to walk the small road closest to where it had been seen. After we passed the area it had been, we saw a suspicious bird fly from behind us overhead and to the north. The bird was the right size, dark-tailed, and flew rather zigzag. Ann saw lighter areas on the flight feathers. We followed and about 1pm I found the TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE from W Kendaia Rd perched atop a bare ash about 30 yards to the north and a couple hundred yards east of the intersection with E Lake Rd. It stayed perched for a couple minutes while we had scope views and I found 3 other birders and got them on the bird, but when it flew we could not see where, perhaps just dropping down to feed. Anyway, its territory seems to include this area near the north border of the park, and there may be good views of those treetops from Lake Hill Dr in the adjacent housing development as well.
--Dave Nutter
Shortly after 8am today David Weber reported that the TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, discovered on 9 December by Tim Lenz, continues at Sampson State Park. The park is in the Town of Romulus in Seneca County on the east side of Seneca Lake. From the park entrance on NYS-96A go west to the large traffic circle, go half-way around the circle, continue west until the road ends in a T, turn right on East Lake Road, and go north about 1 mile. The bird has been along both sides of East Lake Road about 100-200 yards south of the gate which is the north boundary of the park. Patience, rather than playback, is the key. Between bouts of feeding on berries and skulking in the junipers, the bird periodically perches briefly atop large deciduous trees as well as junipers to scan the area. Association with Cedar Waxwings may just be to oust them from its winter territory. If we don't disturb this bird, and its food supply lasts, it may stay a long time.--Dave Nutter--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Archives:Please submit your observations to eBird!--
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Cayugabirds-L List Info:
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