Ten parties went afield on May 16 for the 2009 DOAS Spring Migration count. Various areas in Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie Counties were covered to find the greatest variety of birds at the height of spring migration.
A cumulative total of 123 species were recorded. No one reached the century mark this year. Andy Mason had 96 species, 94 of which were in the town of Jefferson, Schoharie County. Next were Cheryl & Joanne Boise with 92. Several parties were in the mid-80s, including the Delhi Bird Club with 86 species; Sandy Bright, Laurel Elder, Charlie Scheim, Mike Ulrichs, and Susan Young with 85; and Dave Kiehm, and Joanne & Tom Salo with 84.
Highlights included three Merlins, one found by the Boise sisters in Cooperstown in the neighborhood where one was observed last year; and a nesting pair in Oneonta's Wilber Park, presumably the same pair that successfully nested there last year. This expanding and increasingly urban species seems to like our area.
Other good birds included a Bufflehead found by the Boises, who also located Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at a nest on Otsego Lake. Julia Gregory had the only Sharp-shinned Hawk and Swainson's Thrush on the count. Julia also spotted two Bald Eagles to go along with the five found by the Delhi Bird Club. The DBC also had the only Solitary Sandpiper and Black-billed Cuckoo. Cuckoos were in short supply this year--only one Yellow-billed was found---by Dave Kiehm and the Salos.
The party of Rod Carter, John Davis, Dick DeRosa, and Marion Karl turned up a single Red-bellied Woodpecker; Randy Lynch and Eleanor Moriarty had a Philadelphia Vireo; and the Delhi Bird Club had a Pine Grosbeak.
Lingering Pine Siskins were counted by five parties, but through migrant warblers were scarce with only a few Tennessee, Blackpoll and Bay-breasted reported. Surprisingly, Cedar Waxwings showed up from only one group. Swallows were also low, with rough-winged and bank each seen by one group, and Cliff Swallow by two.
On the bright side, meadowlarks were reported by five parties, Wood Thrush by nine, and bluebirds by eight.
Participants other than those already mentioned include: Fran Darrah, Bruce & Janice Downie, Larry Duckwall, and Betty New. Delhi Bird Club participants include: Lauren Beck, Nancy Cannon, Cynthia Cobbe, Lucille Courtney, Georgina & Larry Dake, Margo Graham, Heidi Hartman, Betty MacGibbon, Katherine Mario, Ray Sprague, and Cynthia & Frank Waterman.
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Total: 4116, Total Species: 123.
Note: Total counts for each species were not reported by all parties. If a species was reported as sighted only, one individual was included in totals.
Reported by Andy Mason