Huge numbers of Pine Siskins continue at our feeders - they are consuming over 10 pounds of Thistle seed a day. I haven't figured out how much weight they are consuming of the sunflower heart seeds, but it is less than 10 pounds per day. Others still feeding birds in Long Lake are reporting the same experience - they can't keep their feeders filled. A pair of Raccoons were a problem for several nights, so we brought the feeders in at night and they finally disappeared. One night, I was photographing the Raccoons on our front porch, and one tried to get around me to enter the house - it could obviously smell the bird seed just inside the door!
The mouse population appears to be increasing and Barred Owls are heard outside our home nearly every night. The excellent cone crop on most coniferous tree species led to an exciting winter for irruptives, but the Red Squirrels also benefited and it will be a difficult nesting year for many birds as a result (often, more than half of the Black-backed Woodpecker nests are predated in such years). I've been noting a very quiet, almost inaudible, vocalization that Gray Jays give near their nest site. I really need good recording equipment! Some recent observations (first of the season: *): April 28, 2016 Long Lake (Hamilton Co.) Barred Owl - outside our home Black-backed Woodpecker - a pair in the same tree at the Round Lake Trailhead. I watched them for a long time until a Broad-winged Hawk's sudden appearance overhead led them to fly off. Gray Jay - I bushwhacked to an area where Gray Jays usually find me and 2 Gray Jays came over for food, but also, seemingly, to just hang out. I had traveled the night before to give a presentation, and had little sleep after arriving home late, so I laid down in the grass and slept on and off for 1.5 hours. It was sunny and in the 50s - a perfect day. The Grays Jays stayed with me quietly vocalizing and were in the trees nearby every time I woke up - wonderful companions. It was the most peaceful time I've had in a long time. At one point, I was awakened by what sounded like people, but it was a Common Raven viciously attacking a Broad-winged Hawk (the ravens have young in nests right now). The last time I heard that vocalization, a raven was attacking a Golden Eagle outside our home over a decade ago. Also, two adult Bald Eagles soared around overhead. Blue-headed Vireos, Winter Wrens, and Yellow-rumped Warblers sang nearby. *Barn Swallow - over Little Tupper Lake April 27, 2016 Long Lake Gray Jay - 5 (1 along Rt. 30, 2 at the Round Lake Trailhead, and 2 at Sabattis Bog) *Brown Thrasher - Little Tupper Lake outlet/Round Lake inlet Palm Warbler - many at Sabattis Bog *Rusty Blackbird - at least 3 at the Little Tupper Lake inlet (more were unseen in the muddy marsh below them) Red Crossbill - birds heard calling near the Little Tupper Lake outlet/Round Lake inlet April 26, 2016 Long Lake Black-backed Woodpecker - 1 at Sabattis Bog Gray Jay - 4 (1 Rt 30, 2 at the Round Lake Trailhead, and 1 at Sabattis Bog) Palm Warbler - many singing in what appeared to be winter conditions with 3 inches of snow on the ground! On a half-day tour with 2 birders from White Plains & Garnet Hill, NY, on April 25, 2016 we visited Newcomb and Minerva (both in Essex Co.) with their goal of finding a Black-backed Woodpecker. We had a great morning and found 6! Here are some of the 32 species found: Black-backed Woodpecker - 6 (including 2 pairs) Gray Jay - 1 Boreal Chickadee - at least 3 Brown Creeper Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird - Newcomb Hermit Thrush Yellow-rumped Warbler *Black-throated Green Warbler - 2 singing in Newcomb (This is one day earlier than the early date listed in "Birds of Essex County, New York") I continued to go birding the rest of day since it was beautiful out. Additional sightings in Long Lake: Ruffed Grouse - 5 along Sabattis Circle Road Common Loon Osprey - carrying a stick Broad-winged Hawk - 3 (including a pair) Barred Owl - 2 Gray Jay - 6 Boreal Chickadee - another flock found in Minerva later in the afternoon Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler April 22, 2016 Long Lake Osprey - mating several times in their nest on Minnow Pond (a nest they took over from Great Blue Herons) Black-backed Woodpecker - 2 (1 along Route 30 and 1 at Sabattis Bog) Gray Jay - 5 Bohemian Waxwing - 5 at the Little Tupper Lake inlet! *Swamp Sparrow April 21, 2016 Newcomb *Blue-headed Vireo April 20, 2016 Long Lake and Tupper Lake (Franklin Co.) Bald Eagle - adult eating a fish along the Raquette River in Tupper Lake *Wilson's Snipe - marshes in Tupper Lake Gray Jay - 7 *Chipping Sparrow - Tupper Lake *White-throated Sparrow - Long Lake Palm Warbler - several birds feeding in the road by Sabattis Bog April 18, 2016 Owling in Long Lake (cold, calm, and clear) I couldn't sleep and went owling from midnight to 1:30 a.m. On Sabattis Circle Road, I heard several Barred Owls echoing along Little Tupper Lake - also Common Loons, Amer. Woodcocks, Wood Frogs, and Spring Peepers all vocalizing under a brilliant star-lit sky. I saw two different Snowshoe Hares along the road. On my drive back, I stopped in one spot along Route 30 and heard a howling Coyote. I howled too and we went back and forth for a long time - a primal experience. I doubled back since I forgot to stop in a few locations to listen for Northern Saw-whet Owls - I didn't hear any. I stopped again where the Coyote had been howling, and didn't hear it, but a *Northern Saw-whet Owl* was tooting! It was a wonderful ending for this nocturnal excursion! For those interested in Corvids, this interesting article was a headline on the Huffington Post site 2 days ago - I particularly enjoyed the last paragraph - a quote from Kevin McGowan - perfectly stated!: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/big-brain-cognitive-function_us_5718f789 e4b0479c59d7447e I added many photos of the above sightings to my Facebook page below. Joan Collins President, NYS Ornithological Association Editor, New York Birders Long Lake, NY (315) 244-7127 cell (518) 624-5528 home http://www.adirondackavianexpeditions.com/ http://www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian -- 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/ --
