Photo by Dave Kiehm
Few humans showed up for our annual Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway walk, but birds were in abundance, and the weather was cooperative for most of the walk. We saw and/or heard at least 34 species (plus two we couldn't confirm and one that remains a mystery).
Several species seemed to be putting on shows for the gawking humans. Male Redstarts in particular seemed to be everywhere, in plain view. Two males sang and displayed fanned tails in a territorial battle. One pair (male + female) foraged together, the male occasionally stopping to sing. Several Baltimore Orioles showed off their striking black-and-orange plumage, each singing his own unique song.
At one point, we distinctly and repeatedly heard the song of a Black-throated Blue Warbler. The problem was it was in the wrong habitat. We've heard them sing on the other side of the river before, where it is completely wooded; this one was in the relatively narrow band of deciduous trees along the Greenway. It sang for several minutes, flitting around, allowing only fleeting glimpses, then disappeared. We don't know of any other bird that mimics the BTB, yet it didn't seem right to hear its song right there. So we report this bird with an asterisk.
Then there was the Mystery Bird. It's not often that we see a bird fairly well, from different angles, and hear its song over and over, yet have no clue what it could be. (See the separate post on osbirds.)
A complete list of species follows: Catbirds, Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireos, Orioles, Kingfisher, Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles, Downy Woodpeckers, Song Sparrows, American Redstarts (First Of Season), Ovenbird (FOS), Chickadee, Goldfinch, Mourning Dove, Red-eyed Vireo (and a possible Blue-headed, but this was not confirmed) (FOS), Mallard, Common Mergansers (pair), Least Flycatchers (FOS), Killdeer, Downy Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Spotted Sandpipers (the river is still quite high, so we saw none foraging, but they were very vocal and we saw a couple flying over the water), * Black-throated Blue Warbler, E. Phoebes, Tree Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, N. Flicker, Juncos, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Cardinals, Common Yellowthroats (FOS) (great views of one male, who was alternately singing and dropping down to forage), Crow (one being chased by a Grackle), Blue Jays, Rock Pigeon.
Sandy Bright
With morning temps in the low 20's, it was tough to be enthusiastic about our prospect for good birding but the morning turned out to be a spectacular outing. Not much but the Song Sparrows were singing to start, but walking slow and scanning the variety of cover turned up a large variety of birds. Song Sparrows were the most common species but a large number of White-throated Sparrows and juncos were mixed in. Fully molted Goldfinches glowed from high perches as they sang. Our "trophy" bird of the day was a Northern Shrike perched above the busy sparrows. We all got great, close looks at this spectacular bird. We were also treated to great looks at at least one if not a pair of Broad-winged Hawks that seemed to have claimed the area as their territory. At one point we saw one of the hawks carrying nesting material. Other birds seen were: Cardinal, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Titmouse, Red-tailed Hawk, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Hairy Woodpecker, Tree Swallow, Phoebe, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Crow, Blue Jay, and Chickadee. We also saw a red fox, deer, skunk cabbage and trout lilies.
Dave Kiehm
Twenty cold-hardy bird watchers participated in what has become our annual winter owl trip. Although the Short-eared Owls had departed the area a couple weeks earlier, we did find Eastern Screech Owls and Barred Owls. Numerous Red-Tailed Hawks were observed. The highlight of the day was a pair of Bald Eagles sitting on a nest near Otsego Lake. We also had great looks at hundreds of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks. Robins were also abundant. At the Cooperstown docks, we also spotted a male Redhead Duck and two Common Mergansers mixed in with the Coots and Mallards. Thanks to all who participated.
Bob Donnelly
This past weekend, DOAS surveyed local lakes and rivers as part of the NY State Ornithological Association’s annual waterfowl count. Areas covered include West Branch Delaware River: Delhi to Deposit, Cannonsville Reservoir, Otsego Lake and tributaries and surrounding ponds, Susquehanna River: Portlandville to Unadilla including Goodyear Lake, Ouleout Creek including East Sidney Lake, Buckhorn Lake, Unadilla River and tributaries: Leonardsville to Sidney, Wharton Creek, and Butternut Creek.
Totals: Mute Swan: 2, Canada Goose: 813, Mallard: 511, American Black Duck: 57, Mallard/Black Duck hybrid: 1, Northern Pintail: 1, Common Goldeneye: 2, Hooded Merganser: 21, Common Merganser: 95, American Coot: 41. Total: 1544.
Other sightings of interest included Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Pileated Woodpecker, Wild Turkeys, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, dark phase Rough-legged Hawk, Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, Raven, and a muskrat.
Thanks to participants Matt Albright, Kay Crane, John Davis, Bob Donnelly, Kathleen Griswold, Eric Knight, Kathy Mario, Andy Mason, Ed McGittigan, Meredith & Paul Hudson, Eleanor Moriarty, Bob Miller, Katie Ray, Tom and Joann Salo, and Cynthia Waterman.
Andy Mason
Twenty participants spotted 30+ Bald Eagles and one Golden Eagle on Saturday's field trip to the Delaware County rivers and reservoirs. Maximum at one location was nine Balds soaring over the Cannonsville Dam above Deposit.
A variety of waterfowl was also sighted, including a couple of goldeneyes, Common and Hooded Mergansers, and good numbers of Black Ducks.
Andy Mason