Gary, Ann, Susan & I were among several Ithacans who joined the field trip sponsored by the Rochester Birding Association behind the signs at Montezuma NWR on Saturday 24 Aug.
We spent about 2 hours on the dike between Knox-Marsellus and Puddler marshes. Highlights included:
* a PEREGRINE FALCON harassing an immature BALD EAGLE high overhead. Later the roles were reversed, but I wonder if it was the same 2 birds. A Peregrine also strafed the mud flats, flew overhead fairly low, and flew south with an apparent bulging crop. I don't know if that was 1 Peregrein or more.
* BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS in an island of cattails in the middle of Puddler. At first I saw 3 immatures along the edge and one adult hiding within, but awhile later something prompted them all to vacate this shelter, and I think I recall that Jay counted 42 of them! It was like a circus clown car. The birds flew around briefly, then most appeared to return.
* A BROAD-WINGED HAWK high overhead.
* The continuing AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN which obligingly woke up and flew over the dike to swim & feed in Puddler.
* 4 adult and 1 immature SANDHILL CRANE striding together toward us in the distance on the mud flats.
* Shorebirds including: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPAMLATED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, STILT SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. (I did not see Jay's American Golden-Plover)
After lunch and a tour of the Wildlife Drive, we walked a short distance on the dike past the sign at Tschache Pool. In addition to the novel perspective, the main benefit was a seeing 2 different EMPIDONAX SP. I hope to get a chance to walk farther on this dike soon. We saw many expected birds there, including dozens of PIED-BILLED GREBES and a couple of very noisy BELTED KINGFISHERS.
After a visit to South Mays Point Road the field trip returned to Knox-Marsellus. We first viewed from East Road, then most of the group elected to return to Rochester, but several of us continued the field trip down from the overlook to the west dike, part of where I led previously. I was particularly happy that we could offer this opportunity to a group of very impressive birders of high school age visiting from around the US on a program with the Lab of O and led by Jessie Barry, Chris Wood, and Tim Lenz.
* from East Road Jessie pointed out a WILSON'S PHALAROPE, but we did not re-find it below, perhaps because we did not walk far enough south
* Chris Pointed out 4 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS flying west just north of us.
* Chris heard the call of an unseen BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER.
* A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER among a flock of flying peeps pointed out and photographed by students
* Several people saw a flock of flying AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS headed north (but I was not among them). Tim pointed out a single of this species just before he had to leave. This provided us good entertainment trying unsuccessfully to get a better look on our own.
* 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS flying around along with a MERLIN (which I missed)
* 2 adult and 1 immature SANDHILL CRANE unperturbed at our presence, and all the other birds were calm as well except a single noisy GREAT BLUE HERON.
It was a great day. Thank-you to Mike Tetlow and Donimic Sherony of Rochester Birding Association, Andrea Van Beusichem of MNWR, Jay, Jessie, Chris & Tim of the Lab of O, and all the students & other participants. I know I'm leaving out a bunch of birds, so feel free to chime in with your personal favorites.
We spent about 2 hours on the dike between Knox-Marsellus and Puddler marshes. Highlights included:
* a PEREGRINE FALCON harassing an immature BALD EAGLE high overhead. Later the roles were reversed, but I wonder if it was the same 2 birds. A Peregrine also strafed the mud flats, flew overhead fairly low, and flew south with an apparent bulging crop. I don't know if that was 1 Peregrein or more.
* BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS in an island of cattails in the middle of Puddler. At first I saw 3 immatures along the edge and one adult hiding within, but awhile later something prompted them all to vacate this shelter, and I think I recall that Jay counted 42 of them! It was like a circus clown car. The birds flew around briefly, then most appeared to return.
* A BROAD-WINGED HAWK high overhead.
* The continuing AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN which obligingly woke up and flew over the dike to swim & feed in Puddler.
* 4 adult and 1 immature SANDHILL CRANE striding together toward us in the distance on the mud flats.
* Shorebirds including: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPAMLATED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, STILT SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. (I did not see Jay's American Golden-Plover)
After lunch and a tour of the Wildlife Drive, we walked a short distance on the dike past the sign at Tschache Pool. In addition to the novel perspective, the main benefit was a seeing 2 different EMPIDONAX SP. I hope to get a chance to walk farther on this dike soon. We saw many expected birds there, including dozens of PIED-BILLED GREBES and a couple of very noisy BELTED KINGFISHERS.
After a visit to South Mays Point Road the field trip returned to Knox-Marsellus. We first viewed from East Road, then most of the group elected to return to Rochester, but several of us continued the field trip down from the overlook to the west dike, part of where I led previously. I was particularly happy that we could offer this opportunity to a group of very impressive birders of high school age visiting from around the US on a program with the Lab of O and led by Jessie Barry, Chris Wood, and Tim Lenz.
* from East Road Jessie pointed out a WILSON'S PHALAROPE, but we did not re-find it below, perhaps because we did not walk far enough south
* Chris Pointed out 4 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS flying west just north of us.
* Chris heard the call of an unseen BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER.
* A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER among a flock of flying peeps pointed out and photographed by students
* Several people saw a flock of flying AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS headed north (but I was not among them). Tim pointed out a single of this species just before he had to leave. This provided us good entertainment trying unsuccessfully to get a better look on our own.
* 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS flying around along with a MERLIN (which I missed)
* 2 adult and 1 immature SANDHILL CRANE unperturbed at our presence, and all the other birds were calm as well except a single noisy GREAT BLUE HERON.
It was a great day. Thank-you to Mike Tetlow and Donimic Sherony of Rochester Birding Association, Andrea Van Beusichem of MNWR, Jay, Jessie, Chris & Tim of the Lab of O, and all the students & other participants. I know I'm leaving out a bunch of birds, so feel free to chime in with your personal favorites.
--Dave Nutter
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