Joe Giunta, Debbie Martin and I (Sy Schiff) went looking for early Spring migrants this morning. First, the snow is still deep and it's very slick in places making for difficult walking. The macadam paths are a mixed bag, clear in some parks, partially open in others with black ice on them everywhere. Be careful out there. Furthermore, there ain't no migrants yet.
We started at Hempstead Lake SP, quickly noticed a BROWN CREEPER, tested the terrain and left. The Cardinals and Carolina Wrens were singing. Nice start for the season. At Walker St., Massapequa Park, the parking lot is a mess of ice, mud and ruts. We walked north to the cattails and found the lingering ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. A COMMON GRACKLE high in a tree may be a migrant. At Pittsburg, the pond, mostly free of ice held MALLARD, BLACK DUCK, 2 NORTHERN SHOVELER, RUDDY DUCK, male RING-NECKED DUCK,1 male and 5 female COMMON MERGANSER and an AMERICAN COOT. South along the stream mid way to Clark St. a male WOOD DUCK was feeding with a dozen Mallards. Good to be out. Sy -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
