Upstate New York Summary

Travis and I spent the morning of Saturday 1/12 at Montezuma NWR. The highlight were a group of Tundra Swans. We first ID'ed them as Trumpeters, neither of us have seen either. After much deliberation we changed our ID to Tundra based on lores and a juvenile we saw in the group. Funny enough the next day someone sighted 800 Tundras making our 12 seem weak.  The weather was warm for January but the wind was blowing. We walked about 3 miles and saw very little. A disappointing day but glad we stopped anyway.

On a side note; on our way to Syracuse we stopped to try to track down the Gyrfalcon seen in Hadley, MA to no avail. A Gyr was seen on Sunday 1/13 at Montezuma. Damn! That's what keeps us coming back I guess.  Anyway, we missed the Gyrfalcon but did spot a Vesper Sparrow (Lifer for both), Horned Larks, a Bald Eagle, and a load of Savannah Sparrows.

We drove through the Clifton Park area along the Mohawk River on Sunday 1/13 trying to track down the previously mentioned Sandhill Cranes. We started at bridge along Towpath Road and worked our way along the river, crossed south onto Crescent Rd. We gave up on the Sandhills somewhere around the dam and started hunting gulls. In addition to our poor gulling abilities it seemed like we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing but Herrings, Great Black-backed, and Ringbills.

At Canal Lock 4 we had better luck. Travis had heard this was a good place for Gulls. We stopped on Clark Ave near Peebles Island. As we pulled down the road Travis pointed and laughed at what looked like a plastic white goose on a front lawn. To our surprise it turned its head. A lone snow goose! Not a rare bird here by any means but still surprising to see at such a close distance. We didn't log anything else of note but that was worth the stop.

The "Plastic Goose"

Snow Goose (Photo: Devin Hefferon)

Birding Montezuma

Travis and I are birding at Montezuma NWR this morning. The wind is whipping but thankfully the temperature is above freezing. Everything is iced over so highlight so far is two bald eagles and 12 Trumpeter Tundra Swans(lifers for both).

Hadley Bald Eagle

One of six on the weekend.

Bald Eagle at 500 yards

Sandhills in Saratoga

Two Sandhill Cranes have been frequenting the area of Clamsteam Road in Clifton Park, NY. Notification came courtesy of Larry Main.

Travis and I are headed to Syracuse this weekend and will try to stop in to see these birds. This would be a life bird for me so keep your fingers crossed!

Sandhill Crane (Photo Courtesy of Larry Main)

Sandhill Crane (Photo Courtesy of Larry Main)

Fresh Pond

A few highlights from today at Fresh Pond, Cambridge:

Lesser Scaup -1 Female
Canvasback - 1 Male(with Scaup)
Red-throated Loon - 1
Coopers Hawk-1
Eastern Screech Owl- 1

Checklist Here

Eastern Screech Owl

Eastern Screech Owl

Warbler Winter

It was an interesting morning at Great Meadows NWR in Concord. Travis and I arrived around 8 and were greeted by a flock of 30+ Common Redpolls feeding on the dike trail.

Later, along the river near the boat launch, we ran into a palm warbler who was hanging out with a pine. Shortly after, Travis located a common yellowthroat on the north side of the eastern pond.

Strange to see all the warblers right now but I like the little reminders of Spring and warmer weather.

Checklist here:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12502001

PS. Everything is frozen except the river so don't count on many waterfowl  unless the weather warms up.

2012 Summary

2012 was the year of the bird for me. After a long hiatus from birding I came back in full force (well almost).  I submitted my first eBird Bird Log on April 15th and since then submitted 172 more. Thats about one checklist every other day. While I fell short of the Massachusetts Top 100 birders of 2012, I have confidence I'll get there(perhaps not next year with a baby on the way). It was a great year. I really enjoyed getting back to a hobby I loved and returning to the outdoors. I got to spend some quality time with my best friends and see some new places I might never have visited.

Below is a summary of my 2012 birding:

Here's to next year. May it be a "Big Year."