There was moonlight last night but by this morning the sky was covered and the wind had come up from the northeast (although it was possible to hear the surf from the southeast). Was this because the storm was partly a nor'easter? Or was it because of the clockwise motion of the hurricane?
The early morning tide was extremely high; the pond overflowed and most of my usual paths around the pond and marsh were well under water. Most notably, there were a few hawks in the air: a medium-sized accipiter (probably a female Sharp-shinned judging by the cut of the wings), a Red-tailed Hawk over the creek being harassed by gulls, and the last of the Osprey -- presumably the same young bird that has been hanging around and overnighting on local dead trees.
Eric Salzman
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
calm before the storm
The past two days can be best characterized by the phrase 'calm before the storm'. The weather has been partly sunny, warm, dry and relatively windless. Although the various populations of visiting and/or wintering birds have thinned out somewhat, there are still some numbers of various species. There was a singing Marsh Wren yesterday and some Hermit Thrushes (tail wags included) as well. V-formation flocks moving overhead have all been Double-crested Cormorants. A impressive movement of seabirds on the far side of Shinnecock Bay must have extended a good half-mile along the barrier beach; although it did not take the classic V formation, it may have been D-c Cormorants (I can't think what else would be moving in such numbers at this time of year but perhaps some of the waterfowl have started to move). I haven't seen the Sapsuckers in a couple of days but the other four woodpeckers -- Hairy included -- are here (hurricanes create lots of yummy dead wood for woodpeckers).
I heard that mysterious three-note whistled song again this morning. I'm now thinking that it might be an aberrant sparrow song -- perhaps even a Song Sparrow!
Aldrich Boat Yard (our neighbor up the creek) has pulled almost all its boats out of the water and pulled in its floating docks as well. Last year, I believe some of their boats suffered significant damage during Hurricane Irene so they are taking no chances this year.
Eric Salzman
I heard that mysterious three-note whistled song again this morning. I'm now thinking that it might be an aberrant sparrow song -- perhaps even a Song Sparrow!
Aldrich Boat Yard (our neighbor up the creek) has pulled almost all its boats out of the water and pulled in its floating docks as well. Last year, I believe some of their boats suffered significant damage during Hurricane Irene so they are taking no chances this year.
Eric Salzman
Thursday, October 25, 2012
another rail call
Another mysterious rail call.
I was down at the marsh before dawn when a rail called something like the following: Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap (even) and then something similar but dropping in pitch. The tide was still fairly high and there was just so far that I could slosh around and of course I saw nothing. After waiting a while, I retreated to higher ground and heard the pattern once again, this time from a distance. This was not a Clapper Rail (although I suppose King Rail would be a possibility).
Sunrise was very striking as the fiery ball came up in a narrow opening below a heavy cloud cover. This threw an unreal reddish/orange light on the vegetation and cast the siskins and goldfinches (they were popping up all over the place) in lurid colors; it was like something a mad lighting designer might come up with. But it wasn't long before the sun vanished behind a thick layer of overcast.
Add a couple of species to the list of possible winter birds (see yesterday's blog). Small flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos and Golden-crowned Kinglets showed up this morning. Royal Terns continue to populate the creek. Now that Aldrich Boat Yard has pulled in all their boats (in advance of the predicted storms?) and even pulled up the floating docks, the terns are using the poles -- mostly occupied by gulls and cormorants until now -- as roosting places.
Eric Salzman
I was down at the marsh before dawn when a rail called something like the following: Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap (even) and then something similar but dropping in pitch. The tide was still fairly high and there was just so far that I could slosh around and of course I saw nothing. After waiting a while, I retreated to higher ground and heard the pattern once again, this time from a distance. This was not a Clapper Rail (although I suppose King Rail would be a possibility).
Sunrise was very striking as the fiery ball came up in a narrow opening below a heavy cloud cover. This threw an unreal reddish/orange light on the vegetation and cast the siskins and goldfinches (they were popping up all over the place) in lurid colors; it was like something a mad lighting designer might come up with. But it wasn't long before the sun vanished behind a thick layer of overcast.
Add a couple of species to the list of possible winter birds (see yesterday's blog). Small flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos and Golden-crowned Kinglets showed up this morning. Royal Terns continue to populate the creek. Now that Aldrich Boat Yard has pulled in all their boats (in advance of the predicted storms?) and even pulled up the floating docks, the terns are using the poles -- mostly occupied by gulls and cormorants until now -- as roosting places.
Eric Salzman
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
winter birds?
In spite of the overcast and drizzle, there were birds, birds, birds this morning -- passerines plus a woodpecker or two -- in the pine grove just in back of the pond and all along the marsh edge with chickadees and titmice, both nuthatches, a surprising number of Ruby-crowned Kinglets (no Golden-crowned), many Yellow-rumped (a.k.a. Myrtle) Warblers and the regular late October complement of sparrows -- White-throats, Song and Swamp. There are still good numbers of Pine Siskins along with lesser numbers of Am Goldfinches all around the marsh edge. And, of course, Mourning Doves, blackbirds (Red-winged and Grackles), Am Crows (with an occasional Fish Crow) and Blue Jays. Also Mockingbirds on each side of the property (they are year-rounders) and a loud Brown Thrasher or two calling from inside the woods. And the inevitable and highly successful Carolina Wrens -- also year-rounders.
I wonder how many of these birds are settled in for the winter (alas, I won't be around to check it out).
Eric Salzman
I wonder how many of these birds are settled in for the winter (alas, I won't be around to check it out).
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
siskins 'n' stuff
The Siskins are back!
Well, some of them anyway. Small flocks of a dozen or so birds have turned up with American Goldfinches, all feeding around the edge of the marsh. They're probably not returns but new birds coming in.
In fact, there was a substantial flight last night with a variety of new arrivals. I made it down to the middle of the marsh before sunrise but there was still a bit of water in the open pond at the middle with two Mallards swimming around; no shorebirds or rails. There was, however, a chucking Marsh Wren right in the marsh grass between my perch and the open water, first I've seen in a while. There was also a Winter Wren further up at the head of the marsh.
Many sparrows are in: lots of the regulars (White-throated and Song, both singing, plus Swamp) plus a few Chipping Sparrows, numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos and at least one beautiful adult White-crowned Sparrow. There was also a pod (I'd hardly call it a flock) of thrushes. All the ones I could see had reddish tails and these were probably mostly Hermit Thrushes; but there were one or two that had grayish rather than whitish eye-rings and distinctly did not wag their tails (a Hermit Thrush giveaway) and might have been Bicknell's Thrushes; tough call. Yellow-rumped Warblers are everywhere from the ground to the tops of the trees (where they perform flycatcher-like flights to catch insects).
Both nuthatches are still here (White-breasted almost seem to outnumber Red-breasted). Also Ruby-crowned Kinglets (but the Golden-crowned all seem to have passed through). A pair of Cedar Waxwings came zipping overhead, the first that I've seen in a long time.
A remarkable first-of-the-season was a flocklet of four calling Snow Geese high overhead -- the advance guard of what is sure to be a big deal a little later in the season.
Eric Salzman
Well, some of them anyway. Small flocks of a dozen or so birds have turned up with American Goldfinches, all feeding around the edge of the marsh. They're probably not returns but new birds coming in.
In fact, there was a substantial flight last night with a variety of new arrivals. I made it down to the middle of the marsh before sunrise but there was still a bit of water in the open pond at the middle with two Mallards swimming around; no shorebirds or rails. There was, however, a chucking Marsh Wren right in the marsh grass between my perch and the open water, first I've seen in a while. There was also a Winter Wren further up at the head of the marsh.
Many sparrows are in: lots of the regulars (White-throated and Song, both singing, plus Swamp) plus a few Chipping Sparrows, numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos and at least one beautiful adult White-crowned Sparrow. There was also a pod (I'd hardly call it a flock) of thrushes. All the ones I could see had reddish tails and these were probably mostly Hermit Thrushes; but there were one or two that had grayish rather than whitish eye-rings and distinctly did not wag their tails (a Hermit Thrush giveaway) and might have been Bicknell's Thrushes; tough call. Yellow-rumped Warblers are everywhere from the ground to the tops of the trees (where they perform flycatcher-like flights to catch insects).
Both nuthatches are still here (White-breasted almost seem to outnumber Red-breasted). Also Ruby-crowned Kinglets (but the Golden-crowned all seem to have passed through). A pair of Cedar Waxwings came zipping overhead, the first that I've seen in a long time.
A remarkable first-of-the-season was a flocklet of four calling Snow Geese high overhead -- the advance guard of what is sure to be a big deal a little later in the season.
Eric Salzman
Monday, October 22, 2012
water birds of marsh & creek
Another beautiful morning with a late sunrise and a low tide that enabled me to get well into the marsh. Amazingly enough, at exactly the same spot as yesterday's dowitcher, a seemingly identical, good-sized, long-billed shorebird jumped up and flew to the other side of the open pond in the middle of the marsh. Another dowitcher? No, this bird lacked the white lozenge on the back and it flew up with a short, harsh, toneless scraping sound. Not a dowitcher but a Wilson's Snipe, an amazingly similar bird in the same spot. And the first Wilson's Snipe of the year for me.
But that wasn't all. Almost immediately, just a few steps away, a similarly sized bird (bigger body, shorter bill) flew up and low into the dense vegetation. A medium-sized rail -- Virginia Rail again, no doubt.
Water birds continued to dominate the day. A Wood Duck pair, male and female, were in the pond just about where four of these gorgeous creatures dropped in yesterday. And Royal Terns continued to hold the creek. These southern birds (their nearest nesting grounds are usually listed as Maryland although there may be a few birds breeding further north) come to Long Island is a post-breeding dispersal as early as mid-May and their numbers only seem to increase in the fall.
Where oh where did the siskins go? As several readers have pointed out, Shai Mitra saw something around 20,000 Pine Siskins moving west along the barrier beach (he was at Robert Moses State Park at the western end of Fire Island). Obviously 'our' siskins could not resist joining up with the crowd moving on; not a single one is left after a visit (probably by several hundred birds) of more than three weeks.
Eric Salzman
But that wasn't all. Almost immediately, just a few steps away, a similarly sized bird (bigger body, shorter bill) flew up and low into the dense vegetation. A medium-sized rail -- Virginia Rail again, no doubt.
Water birds continued to dominate the day. A Wood Duck pair, male and female, were in the pond just about where four of these gorgeous creatures dropped in yesterday. And Royal Terns continued to hold the creek. These southern birds (their nearest nesting grounds are usually listed as Maryland although there may be a few birds breeding further north) come to Long Island is a post-breeding dispersal as early as mid-May and their numbers only seem to increase in the fall.
Where oh where did the siskins go? As several readers have pointed out, Shai Mitra saw something around 20,000 Pine Siskins moving west along the barrier beach (he was at Robert Moses State Park at the western end of Fire Island). Obviously 'our' siskins could not resist joining up with the crowd moving on; not a single one is left after a visit (probably by several hundred birds) of more than three weeks.
Eric Salzman
Sunday, October 21, 2012
some birds leave, some drop in
Where are the Siskins?
Since the spell of bad weather in the past couple of days, the flocks of Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches have vanished, leaving behind a few Goldfinches, some House Finches and no siskins at all.
There are still fair numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers along with various sparrows: Song, Swamp, White-throated and Savannah (the latter the first of the season here that I identified for sure). A steady parade of Royal Terns on the creek suggests that their numbers are actually increasing.
A magic moment came a little later in the day when a flock of six Wood Duck came circling overhead. It suddenly occurred to me that they wanted to come into the pond but were deterred by my standing figure. I sat down (we have a couple of chairs on the bank) and almost immediately they dropped in -- four gorgeous males and two handsome females in their Sunday finest -- tucking themselves into a well vegetated corner.
But the big surprise was a Short-billed Dowitcher in the open water pond at the center of the marsh first thing in the morning. This bird flushed a short distance at my approach, revealing the lozenge-shaped white mark on its back. It landed not far away behind a clump of grass and, after a bit, it began to feed at a near edge and showing its rather stout longish bill, head markings and some of its tail. It didn't call so I suppose I should call it 'dowitcher sp' but either way, it is a new bird for the property. Dowitchers are common enough on the ocean side of Shinnecock but they simply don't turn up on our side -- at least not until now. This is species #240 for the property!
Eric Salzman
Since the spell of bad weather in the past couple of days, the flocks of Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches have vanished, leaving behind a few Goldfinches, some House Finches and no siskins at all.
There are still fair numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers along with various sparrows: Song, Swamp, White-throated and Savannah (the latter the first of the season here that I identified for sure). A steady parade of Royal Terns on the creek suggests that their numbers are actually increasing.
A magic moment came a little later in the day when a flock of six Wood Duck came circling overhead. It suddenly occurred to me that they wanted to come into the pond but were deterred by my standing figure. I sat down (we have a couple of chairs on the bank) and almost immediately they dropped in -- four gorgeous males and two handsome females in their Sunday finest -- tucking themselves into a well vegetated corner.
But the big surprise was a Short-billed Dowitcher in the open water pond at the center of the marsh first thing in the morning. This bird flushed a short distance at my approach, revealing the lozenge-shaped white mark on its back. It landed not far away behind a clump of grass and, after a bit, it began to feed at a near edge and showing its rather stout longish bill, head markings and some of its tail. It didn't call so I suppose I should call it 'dowitcher sp' but either way, it is a new bird for the property. Dowitchers are common enough on the ocean side of Shinnecock but they simply don't turn up on our side -- at least not until now. This is species #240 for the property!
Eric Salzman
Saturday, October 20, 2012
sounds in the fog
Who was that guy who was lamenting the disappearance of autumn fogs in the NY Times? He should come out here if wants to see autumn fog. We had a doozy this morning accompanied by warm temperatures with just a slight breeze from the south carrying the amazingly loud sound of the surf through the dense air. 'Sunrise' is late -- after 7 am these days -- but overcast skies and low-lying fog guarantee that no sun will be seen; even the opposite side of the creek was invisible and the trees on the far side of the marsh were merely shadows against the white sky.
Rails prefer the gloom and, since the tide was low, this was a perfect time to look for rails in the marsh. Of course, I couldn't see much and all I could hear was a rhythmic call that didn't sound anything like a rail. Except that it was coming from the marsh. This was mainly a two-note DID-dik, repeated over and over and sometimes with the last part extended. I decided to wait and see if anything would turn up (there wasn't much else to see in the fog) and, sure enough, a medium-sized rail came running across the open area in the middle of the marsh. It was too hard to make it out at first but eventually it came back, working its way along the open edge. By this time, it was light enough to make out the details; it was a Virginia Rail. The Virginia Rail is famous for its 'kicker' call but this was a rhythmic two-note call, DID-dik, sometimes extending into several notes: DID-dik-dik-dik-dik but without the ending part that is usually attributed to the 'kicker'. Although the two-note vocalization is described as an 'alarm call', this bird was anything but alarmed, walking calmly along the edge and dipping in the adjacent pools of water (to drink? to catch insects?). After watching the creature for about 20", another series of DIK-dik calls started up in another part of the marsh not far away. A second bird; my guess is that these are contact rather than alarm calls.
Eventually, the visible rail disappeared into the marsh grass and there were no further calls from either bird. Time to move on. Not that visibility had improved very much. I could identify many birds by sound, notably two or three Ruby-crowned Kinglets plus the usual collection of chinking White-crowned Sparrows, chipping Yellow-rumped Warblers, complaining Robins, etc. One call I could not identify was a low, toneless 'CRWK', apparently coming from flying birds on the creek. This is not the usual call that Royal Terns make in the sunshine but perhaps they somehow use this sound to find their way around in the fog! But perhaps it was something else entirely.
The fog cleared at almost exactly 9:30 and shortly thereafter a large and active feeding flock appeared in the woods led by Chickadees and Titmice but also including at least two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Downy Woodpecker, active and noisy Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. No siskins or goldfinches seen or heard and the 'CRWK' calls were gone but Rocky Raccoon was visible back on his favorite sleeping perch.
Eric Salzman
Rails prefer the gloom and, since the tide was low, this was a perfect time to look for rails in the marsh. Of course, I couldn't see much and all I could hear was a rhythmic call that didn't sound anything like a rail. Except that it was coming from the marsh. This was mainly a two-note DID-dik, repeated over and over and sometimes with the last part extended. I decided to wait and see if anything would turn up (there wasn't much else to see in the fog) and, sure enough, a medium-sized rail came running across the open area in the middle of the marsh. It was too hard to make it out at first but eventually it came back, working its way along the open edge. By this time, it was light enough to make out the details; it was a Virginia Rail. The Virginia Rail is famous for its 'kicker' call but this was a rhythmic two-note call, DID-dik, sometimes extending into several notes: DID-dik-dik-dik-dik but without the ending part that is usually attributed to the 'kicker'. Although the two-note vocalization is described as an 'alarm call', this bird was anything but alarmed, walking calmly along the edge and dipping in the adjacent pools of water (to drink? to catch insects?). After watching the creature for about 20", another series of DIK-dik calls started up in another part of the marsh not far away. A second bird; my guess is that these are contact rather than alarm calls.
Eventually, the visible rail disappeared into the marsh grass and there were no further calls from either bird. Time to move on. Not that visibility had improved very much. I could identify many birds by sound, notably two or three Ruby-crowned Kinglets plus the usual collection of chinking White-crowned Sparrows, chipping Yellow-rumped Warblers, complaining Robins, etc. One call I could not identify was a low, toneless 'CRWK', apparently coming from flying birds on the creek. This is not the usual call that Royal Terns make in the sunshine but perhaps they somehow use this sound to find their way around in the fog! But perhaps it was something else entirely.
The fog cleared at almost exactly 9:30 and shortly thereafter a large and active feeding flock appeared in the woods led by Chickadees and Titmice but also including at least two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Downy Woodpecker, active and noisy Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. No siskins or goldfinches seen or heard and the 'CRWK' calls were gone but Rocky Raccoon was visible back on his favorite sleeping perch.
Eric Salzman
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Casa Basso
Last night was the annual Eastern Long Island Audubon Society (ELIAS) dinner at the Casa Basso in Westhampton. This was an unusual treat for me as all my life I have regarded the picturesque statues of the Casa Basso -- starting with the two duelling musketeers in front of the castle-like main building -- with a sort of awe. When I was a kid, these statues (and there used to be a lot more of them) indicated that we were soon arriving at East Quogue (no highways in those days except, of course, Montauk Highway). And yet, in all these years, I had never been inside!
Well, I made it last night. To my slight disappointment, the actual restaurant is in a 'new' building next to the Musketeer Castle that you see from the road. But it was a pleasant experience; good company (some old friends) and a pleasant program. The somewhat Italian accented food wasn't bad and I celebrated the occasion by drinking Compari and soda, my favorite Italian aperitivo. Saluti a tutti quanti!
Because of the dinner and a slightly-later-than-usual bedtime, I got up a little later than usual this morning -- in time, though, to certify that most of yesterday's birds were still here: siskins, goldfinches, warblers (mostly Yellow-rumps; one Common Yellowhthroat), House Finches, various sparrows, both nuthatches and both kinglets (which I had reported missing yesterday but were certainly here this morning). All five woodpeckers as well -- one legacy of last year's Hurricane Irene is that we have plenty of wood for woodpeckers! Also Rocky was back up on his Pitch Pine sleeping post as he has been most of the week. When Rocky is up there, all's well with the world.
Eric Salzman
Well, I made it last night. To my slight disappointment, the actual restaurant is in a 'new' building next to the Musketeer Castle that you see from the road. But it was a pleasant experience; good company (some old friends) and a pleasant program. The somewhat Italian accented food wasn't bad and I celebrated the occasion by drinking Compari and soda, my favorite Italian aperitivo. Saluti a tutti quanti!
Because of the dinner and a slightly-later-than-usual bedtime, I got up a little later than usual this morning -- in time, though, to certify that most of yesterday's birds were still here: siskins, goldfinches, warblers (mostly Yellow-rumps; one Common Yellowhthroat), House Finches, various sparrows, both nuthatches and both kinglets (which I had reported missing yesterday but were certainly here this morning). All five woodpeckers as well -- one legacy of last year's Hurricane Irene is that we have plenty of wood for woodpeckers! Also Rocky was back up on his Pitch Pine sleeping post as he has been most of the week. When Rocky is up there, all's well with the world.
Eric Salzman
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
birdies galore
There were birds everywhere this morning -- perhaps the biggest influx of the year. Large numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers joined the Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches along the edges of the marsh and pond and the warblers were also widely distributed in the woods as well. There were two 'new' birds -- new for the season that is. The first sound that I heard coming from the marsh in the morning as the sun was coming up was the clapping of a Clapper Rail and I actually saw the bird (or another one of the same species) walking up and back across the open area in the middle of the marsh. I've heard various rail calls from the marsh this fall but this was the first time that I could clearly identify the call with a Clapper.
The other 'new' bird was a White-crowned Sparrow.
For the rest, lots of everything else. The main missing character was Rocky Raccoon who was not in his Pitch Pine retreat for the first time this week.
I heard the mystery song again this morning: three or four clear and separated whistled notes repeated several times before it stopped. A couple of correspondents have suggested that it might be a Tufted Titmouse. This fits in with my old theory that, if you hear a song you can't identify, it belongs to a Titmouse. However I must say this is quite different from any titmouse song that I have ever heard.
Eric Salzman
The other 'new' bird was a White-crowned Sparrow.
For the rest, lots of everything else. The main missing character was Rocky Raccoon who was not in his Pitch Pine retreat for the first time this week.
I heard the mystery song again this morning: three or four clear and separated whistled notes repeated several times before it stopped. A couple of correspondents have suggested that it might be a Tufted Titmouse. This fits in with my old theory that, if you hear a song you can't identify, it belongs to a Titmouse. However I must say this is quite different from any titmouse song that I have ever heard.
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
a 'jar of nuthatches'?
The weather patterns of late seem to be repeating themselves. After a light rain last night (a front coming through?), the wind shifted to the northwest. There was still heavy cloud cover this morning but the skies had completely cleared by the end of the morning.
The only new bird -- not a rarity but a welcome visitor -- was a beautiful male Black-throated Blue Warbler in the trees facing the pond. The day's other warblers were the expected Yellow-rumped and a single Common Yellowthroat.
An odd and amusing sight: a Blue Jay trying to chase away a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that was working on its favorite Pitch Pine. The woodpecker finally did fly away leaving behind a neat matrix of holes drilled into the pine bark. Did the Jay think it was some kind of hawk?
Speaking of hawks, I was looking at a 'jar of nuthatches' (apparently that's the correct collective term; I looked it up), consisting of both White-breasted and Red-breasted, when all of a sudden a Sharp-shinned Hawk exploded out of somewhere (he/she must have been examining the same 'jar of nuthatches' from some nearby tree branch) and gave chase to one of the Red-breasted. Did it catch it? I have no idea. The whole thing happened so quickly that I didn't even get my binoculars up.
Kevin Brennan, a neighbor on Randall Lane and a new birdwatcher, has been reporting an Osprey overnighting on a bare stump in his back yard. This is not particularly close to the water and I thought it might be actually be another raptor. But early this morning as I emerged from the woods onto Randall Lane, there it was sitting on the bare stump and calling loudly. Definitely an Osprey. In fact, a young one -- perhaps from the Pine Neck nest -- still in its spotty immature plumage.
All the regulars of recent vintage were still on hand: Royal Terns, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches. Swamp, White-throated and Song Sparrows. Lots of birds feeding on the ground including Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe and Yellow-rumped Warbler. One good-sized, handsome yellow-and-black Box Turtle surprised me basking in the sunshine by the house with head, neck and legs extended. I've been seeing a lot of turtle-nibbled mushrooms but this was the first live turtle in quite a few weeks.
Eric Salzman
The only new bird -- not a rarity but a welcome visitor -- was a beautiful male Black-throated Blue Warbler in the trees facing the pond. The day's other warblers were the expected Yellow-rumped and a single Common Yellowthroat.
An odd and amusing sight: a Blue Jay trying to chase away a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that was working on its favorite Pitch Pine. The woodpecker finally did fly away leaving behind a neat matrix of holes drilled into the pine bark. Did the Jay think it was some kind of hawk?
Speaking of hawks, I was looking at a 'jar of nuthatches' (apparently that's the correct collective term; I looked it up), consisting of both White-breasted and Red-breasted, when all of a sudden a Sharp-shinned Hawk exploded out of somewhere (he/she must have been examining the same 'jar of nuthatches' from some nearby tree branch) and gave chase to one of the Red-breasted. Did it catch it? I have no idea. The whole thing happened so quickly that I didn't even get my binoculars up.
Kevin Brennan, a neighbor on Randall Lane and a new birdwatcher, has been reporting an Osprey overnighting on a bare stump in his back yard. This is not particularly close to the water and I thought it might be actually be another raptor. But early this morning as I emerged from the woods onto Randall Lane, there it was sitting on the bare stump and calling loudly. Definitely an Osprey. In fact, a young one -- perhaps from the Pine Neck nest -- still in its spotty immature plumage.
All the regulars of recent vintage were still on hand: Royal Terns, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches. Swamp, White-throated and Song Sparrows. Lots of birds feeding on the ground including Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe and Yellow-rumped Warbler. One good-sized, handsome yellow-and-black Box Turtle surprised me basking in the sunshine by the house with head, neck and legs extended. I've been seeing a lot of turtle-nibbled mushrooms but this was the first live turtle in quite a few weeks.
Eric Salzman
Monday, October 15, 2012
siskins a-plenty
There are two or three flocks of between 3 and 5 dozen Pine Siskins roving the upland marsh edge in the morning. As I come sauntering by, they fly up from the High Tide Bushes (or wherever it is that they are feeding) and into the branches of an adjacent tree -- usually an almost bare oak which now sports a crop of siskins instead of crumpled oak leaves. As they fly, you can hear their characteristic twitter -- sometimes even before you can see the birds. Whereas earlier there were many Am Goldfinches as well -- sometimes mixed in, sometimes in separate little flocks -- goldfinch numbers are now way down, leaving the field to the siskin flocks.
There's a Sharp-shinned Hawk or two in the area. One apparently succeeded in separating one of the siskins from the flock and was chasing it out over the pond. I suspect that it would have caught the poor thing if I hadn't been standing there. Oddly enough, a noisy Kingfisher, came shooting by at the same time (a rather bold move, I would have thought). These distractions were enough to let the siskin escape. The hawk darted back into the woods and then reappeared (it or another one) on the other side of the marsh -- still looking for dinner, no doubt.
Rocky Raccoon (or Rocky, Jr.) has been up on his Pitch Pine sleeping post for the past two days, his striped tail dangling down one side and his masked snout visible on the other. A young male Virginia Deer has been hanging around the house to the dog's intense displeasure. This animal (the deer, that is, not the dog) has become so inured to both human and canine presence that it simply looks around as if curious as to what all the fuss may be. I have to go out and practically kick in the rear to get it to trot away.
Eric Salzman
There's a Sharp-shinned Hawk or two in the area. One apparently succeeded in separating one of the siskins from the flock and was chasing it out over the pond. I suspect that it would have caught the poor thing if I hadn't been standing there. Oddly enough, a noisy Kingfisher, came shooting by at the same time (a rather bold move, I would have thought). These distractions were enough to let the siskin escape. The hawk darted back into the woods and then reappeared (it or another one) on the other side of the marsh -- still looking for dinner, no doubt.
Rocky Raccoon (or Rocky, Jr.) has been up on his Pitch Pine sleeping post for the past two days, his striped tail dangling down one side and his masked snout visible on the other. A young male Virginia Deer has been hanging around the house to the dog's intense displeasure. This animal (the deer, that is, not the dog) has become so inured to both human and canine presence that it simply looks around as if curious as to what all the fuss may be. I have to go out and practically kick in the rear to get it to trot away.
Eric Salzman
Sunday, October 14, 2012
a strange song
There's a bird around which I believe to be a chickadee that whistles a three- or (occasionally) four-note song -- more like what one would expect from a Carolina Chickadee than from a Black-capped! These are all clear, separated notes without the stutter (on a single note) that you often hear in a normal Black-capped Chickadee two-note song. I have heard this new song now several times -- always in the same place, just off the property in a neighbor's garden -- but I have been unable to actually see this bird in the act of singing. Do Black-capped Chickadees ever sing like this? I'm not sure that, even if I could get a look at the bird, that it would be possible to tell what it was for sure; the visual differences between the two species are very slight. We are not very far from the Carolina's range in mid-to-southern New Jersey but my impression is that Carolinas are simply not found north of the Raritan River in New Jersey. On the other hand, there are reports of hybrids (from the contact zone between the two species) which might learn a Carolina song. Anyone have any up-to-date information on this?
If it's not a chickadee, I have no idea what it might be! If it is a Carolina Chickadee, it would be a great find but I am not sure how I could ever prove it!
There are still a few Eastern Phoebes around and they seem to hunt in small groups. Two of the birds in one such group turned out to be Hermit Thrushes; both thrushes and phoebes were hunting on the ground and perching on low, leafless branches.
A few Yellow-rumps and some siskins and goldfinches, at least one Winter Wren and a large, unidentified hawk (probably a Red-tailed) were around but, in the face of the warm weather and gusty southwest winds, there was relatively little activity compared to yesterday.
Eric Salzman
If it's not a chickadee, I have no idea what it might be! If it is a Carolina Chickadee, it would be a great find but I am not sure how I could ever prove it!
There are still a few Eastern Phoebes around and they seem to hunt in small groups. Two of the birds in one such group turned out to be Hermit Thrushes; both thrushes and phoebes were hunting on the ground and perching on low, leafless branches.
A few Yellow-rumps and some siskins and goldfinches, at least one Winter Wren and a large, unidentified hawk (probably a Red-tailed) were around but, in the face of the warm weather and gusty southwest winds, there was relatively little activity compared to yesterday.
Eric Salzman
Saturday, October 13, 2012
a new bird
Yesterday, with a cold front moving in, I wondered what the morrow would bring. Well it brought in a new bird for this East Quogue/Weesuck Creek property. This was a lone RUSTY BLACKBIRD sitting right out in the open on top of the lone Pitch Pine on the bank of our pond next to the marsh next to the creek. It was making a steady, creaky call -- which is what called it to my attention in the first place. This was a grayish, female-plumaged bird with a beady pale eye and a small, slightly decurved bill. Sibley says the females hold this plumage only through August so perhaps this was an immature bird. Not counting a couple of stray parakeets and eliminating the two Little Egret sightings as possible aberrant Snowies, the Rusty makes 239 species for the place.
A sparrow with broad gray eyebrows and well-defined breast streaks was a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, only the second one I've ever seen here. Also seen: White-throated, Swamp and Song Sparrows as well as Dark-eyed Junco, and Eastern Towhee. Two Brown Thrashers have been here for several weeks; I hear them more than I actually see them.
There were good numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers all along the front row of trees and bushes facing east and they were mixed in with Pine Siskins and a few Goldfinches. All three feed on the same seeds, they all flash yellow. and the warblers and siskins both have breast streaking (surprisingly enough, the Yellow-rumps are actually slightly larger than the siskins and goldfinches which are about the same size!).
Two birds that arrived in some numbers were Eastern Phoebes (all along the front range but also widespread in the woods and even by the house) and White-breasted Nuthatches (which are getting almost as common as the Red-breasted). On the other hand, the two kinglets, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned, have seemingly vanished; did they just move out with the onset of colder weather? A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was working methodically on a Pitch Pine -- presumably in order to suck some sap; Pitch Pine sap is delicious stuff!
A surprising sight was a Merlin chasing a Red-winged Blackbird; the blackbird seems rather large to be suitable prey for the falcon. On the flip side of this, a handful of crows were dive bombing a Red-tailed Hawk that was trying to climb up the thermals over Pine Neck. Eventually it managed to shake off its tormentors by spiraling high and then sliding down and away.
Eric Salzman
A sparrow with broad gray eyebrows and well-defined breast streaks was a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, only the second one I've ever seen here. Also seen: White-throated, Swamp and Song Sparrows as well as Dark-eyed Junco, and Eastern Towhee. Two Brown Thrashers have been here for several weeks; I hear them more than I actually see them.
There were good numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers all along the front row of trees and bushes facing east and they were mixed in with Pine Siskins and a few Goldfinches. All three feed on the same seeds, they all flash yellow. and the warblers and siskins both have breast streaking (surprisingly enough, the Yellow-rumps are actually slightly larger than the siskins and goldfinches which are about the same size!).
Two birds that arrived in some numbers were Eastern Phoebes (all along the front range but also widespread in the woods and even by the house) and White-breasted Nuthatches (which are getting almost as common as the Red-breasted). On the other hand, the two kinglets, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned, have seemingly vanished; did they just move out with the onset of colder weather? A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was working methodically on a Pitch Pine -- presumably in order to suck some sap; Pitch Pine sap is delicious stuff!
A surprising sight was a Merlin chasing a Red-winged Blackbird; the blackbird seems rather large to be suitable prey for the falcon. On the flip side of this, a handful of crows were dive bombing a Red-tailed Hawk that was trying to climb up the thermals over Pine Neck. Eventually it managed to shake off its tormentors by spiraling high and then sliding down and away.
Eric Salzman
Friday, October 12, 2012
rosy, aqua and purple
A rosy sunrise, no wind and only a few clouds on the horizon, with a beautiful aqua color on the creek and bay.
This morning's 'new' birds: a male and a female Purple Finch. A nice flock of 40-50 Pine Siskins came in with a few Goldfinches mixed in; they are feeding mostly on the Iva frutescens (Marsh Elder or High Tide Bush) which is in full seed and very widespread around the edges of the marsh. Both nuthatches and both kinglets are still here along with a quinfecta of woodpeckers (Downy, Hairy, Flicker, Red-bellied, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; only the rare Red-headed Woodpecker is missing).
A short visit to Dune Road as the weather was changing (winds came up and the skies were overcast) produced a fairly steady stream of falcons -- a dozen or so American Kestrels in less than 30" with one or two Merlin) -- and three or four Northern Harriers. Many Black Ducks feeding near Ponquogue Bridge and rafts of Double-crested Cormorants were taking to the sky and forming goose-like migrating flocks.
A cold front is moving in tonight. Wonder what the morrow will bring?
Eric Salzman
This morning's 'new' birds: a male and a female Purple Finch. A nice flock of 40-50 Pine Siskins came in with a few Goldfinches mixed in; they are feeding mostly on the Iva frutescens (Marsh Elder or High Tide Bush) which is in full seed and very widespread around the edges of the marsh. Both nuthatches and both kinglets are still here along with a quinfecta of woodpeckers (Downy, Hairy, Flicker, Red-bellied, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; only the rare Red-headed Woodpecker is missing).
A short visit to Dune Road as the weather was changing (winds came up and the skies were overcast) produced a fairly steady stream of falcons -- a dozen or so American Kestrels in less than 30" with one or two Merlin) -- and three or four Northern Harriers. Many Black Ducks feeding near Ponquogue Bridge and rafts of Double-crested Cormorants were taking to the sky and forming goose-like migrating flocks.
A cold front is moving in tonight. Wonder what the morrow will bring?
Eric Salzman
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
a Western visitor
In spite of the rain this morning, I went up to have a look at this rather exotic creature. This is not the first time it has turned up on Long Island but it is the first one that I have seen in these parts. The Rufous is the most northerly -- and presumably one of the hardier -- of the huge tribe of hummingbirds. Depending on the source, there are between 325 and 340 species of hummers of which only a couple of dozen have ever occurred in the U.S., mostly near the Mexican border. The Rufous, however, breeds from southeastern Alaska south to northern California and traditionally migrates through the Rocky Mountains to winter in Mexico. What is it doing in Noyac? Well you may ask. In recent years, it has started to winter in the U.S. on the Gulf Coast, in Florida, and now further north, helped no doubt by climate change as well as the ubiquity of subtropical gardens and hummingbird feeders in those places. Is this a lost bird with a bad compass that should be in Mexico by now? Or is it a winter arrival that will hang around until the spring and then return West to breed? We may never know but, whatever the explanation, it was an amazing sight. As is often the case with hummingbirds, the bird had a favorite perch some distance away where it would stage before coming in to feed. And, even in the rain, it would return, like clockwork, every twenty minutes to feed. Although the feeder had a perch, it much preferred to feed in its classic helicopter flight.
I should also mention that, like most of the hummers that turn up in the northeast, this one is either a young bird or possibly an adult female. In this plumage, the Rufous Hummingbird is virtually indistinguishable from Allen's Hummingbird, a native of coastal California (there is a tiny difference in one of the tail feathers but it is impossible to see except in very unusual circumstances). So there is a chance that this bird is an Allen's and it should be properly (or more cautiously) be referred to as a Rufous/Allen's. Still, the odds are that it's a Rufous.
This hummingbird (whichever one it was) chose a nice spot to hang out and not only because its host has hummingbird feeders. The surroundings are lush and leafy and the feeders are on a deck under an overhang so the birds can feed even in the rain. Other birds at the seed feeders included Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, both nuthatches, Titmice and Chickadees, Pine Siskins and a few Goldfinches. A dramatic moment occurred when a bird hit a pane of glass with a thump and was stunned. It was a vireo but which one? Wingbars, yellow underparts, white throat, olive back, somewhat grayish head with yellow spectacles. It was a first-winter White-eyed Vireo with a dark iris and, to my mind, very different from the Bell's Vireo which I have now seen twice in our neck of the woods. Oh yes, the stunned bird eventually recovered and flew off.
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
new arrivals
A gloomy morning, overcast with stiff northeast winds and little sprinkles of rain. Not so gloomy, however, as to faze our new arrivals: a bunch of Golden-crowned Kinglets (I could hear them before I actually got some good looks) and a few Dark-eyed Juncos. There was a small flock of Goldfinches (half a dozen birds) and a somewhat larger flock of Pine Siskins (a dozen or more). Royal Terns came up the creek as they do almost every morning. Other repeat birds included Eastern Phoebe (braving the winds by ducking further back into the woods), nuthatches (Red-breasted at least), Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped Warblers (staying low but giving themselves away by chipping) and a few sparrows (Swamp, Song, Chipping and, if you count it as a sparrow, Juncos).
Eric Salzman
Eric Salzman
Monday, October 8, 2012
a rosy sunrise, 'rumps and a flushing rail
It is quite amazing how individual each morning's sunrise is. This morning the sun rose all rosy and pink above puffy clouds and puffs of mist rising up from the bay, creek, the pond and even the open water area in the middle of the marsh. The dampness -- from rain in the night and a tremendous fall of dew -- was on every leaf and blade of grass but the sky was clear and blue for at the least the first few hours of the morning.
This was the first morning when there were numbers of Yellow-rumped (a.k.a. Myrtle) Warblers about but the influx was still way below the fall-outs of years past. Other warblers seen were Common Yellowthroat, Pine and Blackpoll. There were many Swamp Sparrows along with the usual Song and a few sparrows of undetermined flavor and vintage. Some American Goldfinches but nothing like the recent flocks of either Goldfinches or Siskins. But the following were also seen: Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatches (probably White-breasted too), Eastern Phoebe, N Flicker, Hairy, Downy & Red-bellied Woodpecker, Royal Tern on the creek.
Perhaps the most exciting moment was early in the morning when I first went out into the marsh. A medium-size rail flushed twice making a twittering noise as it flew up and dropped back down, both times too quick for me to get the binoculars up. The elongated shape indicated Virginia Rail rather than Sora and I'll just leave it at that.
Eric Salzman
This was the first morning when there were numbers of Yellow-rumped (a.k.a. Myrtle) Warblers about but the influx was still way below the fall-outs of years past. Other warblers seen were Common Yellowthroat, Pine and Blackpoll. There were many Swamp Sparrows along with the usual Song and a few sparrows of undetermined flavor and vintage. Some American Goldfinches but nothing like the recent flocks of either Goldfinches or Siskins. But the following were also seen: Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatches (probably White-breasted too), Eastern Phoebe, N Flicker, Hairy, Downy & Red-bellied Woodpecker, Royal Tern on the creek.
Perhaps the most exciting moment was early in the morning when I first went out into the marsh. A medium-size rail flushed twice making a twittering noise as it flew up and dropped back down, both times too quick for me to get the binoculars up. The elongated shape indicated Virginia Rail rather than Sora and I'll just leave it at that.
Eric Salzman
Sunday, October 7, 2012
white throats & yellow bellies
A cool, dry morning before the clouds and rain moved in. As I mentioned yesterday, the Goldfinch and Siskin flocks have disappeared. The front line -- by the pond and the main marsh -- was not active but there was a big mixed flock moving through the hurricane blasted woods near the head of the marsh and it included several Blue-headed Vireos and Ruby-crowned Kinglets (these two comprise the migratory eye-ring set) and the first White-throated Sparrows of the season. Also Chipping and Song Sparrows, Pine, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos and some canopy flitters moving too fast and too high to ID. There were also two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (hitching up the same dead stub!), Brown Creeper and, as almost every day this fall, both nuthatches. What else? Eastern Phoebe, Swamp Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat and one or two Siskins on Weesuck Avenue -- not close to where the flocks in and around the marsh had been.
A little later in the morning, Eileen Schwinn phoned to report two Bald Eagles circling over the creek. I rushed down to the water but they had already disappeared -- presumably migrants on their way.
Eric Salzman
A little later in the morning, Eileen Schwinn phoned to report two Bald Eagles circling over the creek. I rushed down to the water but they had already disappeared -- presumably migrants on their way.
Eric Salzman
Saturday, October 6, 2012
summer again
With the return of summer, the carduelis finches seem to have mostly disappeared. I did see one flock of a couple of dozen birds and another of three birds but I am not sure if they were Goldfinches or Siskins or both. Maybe the Siskins went back north or perhaps just to the other side of the creek. In any case, there were a few fall migrants still around: Brown Creeper, both nuthatches, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Swamp Sparrows,
The fall marsh is resplendent in color with turning Tupelos as a backdrop, the white seed bundles of Baccharis or Groundsel Trees (really bushes) making a strong display all along the edge the marsh and the Glasswort, widely distributed in the marsh, turning a glowing red. In the upland, Asters are in bloom including the very pretty blue ones as well as a couple of different white ones (and the inevitable Montauk Daisies, which are escaping their garden plantings).
A few days ago, at the Quogue Refuge, I was challenged by someone who complained that I would mention all these good or interesting birds but no one go see them since it was all on private property. But this is not true. First of all, I have had many guests coming to visit and some of them have had very good luck in finding birds. Additionally, I should mention that the entire southern half of the property has a conservation easement and, as the Samuel & Frances K. Salzman Preserve, is open to the public. It can be reached via the southern (or southeastern) leg of Randall Lane in East Quogue; there is a right-of-way which is the continuation of this leg and, as soon as you get inside the property, there is a sign marking the main trail. Alas, the town no longer maintains the trail but, even in its overgrown state, it is passable and leads eventually to the head of the marsh. The property, including the beach portion at the mouth of Weesuck Creek and the main marsh, can also be accessed from the town property at the end of Bay Avenue.
Eric Salzman
The fall marsh is resplendent in color with turning Tupelos as a backdrop, the white seed bundles of Baccharis or Groundsel Trees (really bushes) making a strong display all along the edge the marsh and the Glasswort, widely distributed in the marsh, turning a glowing red. In the upland, Asters are in bloom including the very pretty blue ones as well as a couple of different white ones (and the inevitable Montauk Daisies, which are escaping their garden plantings).
A few days ago, at the Quogue Refuge, I was challenged by someone who complained that I would mention all these good or interesting birds but no one go see them since it was all on private property. But this is not true. First of all, I have had many guests coming to visit and some of them have had very good luck in finding birds. Additionally, I should mention that the entire southern half of the property has a conservation easement and, as the Samuel & Frances K. Salzman Preserve, is open to the public. It can be reached via the southern (or southeastern) leg of Randall Lane in East Quogue; there is a right-of-way which is the continuation of this leg and, as soon as you get inside the property, there is a sign marking the main trail. Alas, the town no longer maintains the trail but, even in its overgrown state, it is passable and leads eventually to the head of the marsh. The property, including the beach portion at the mouth of Weesuck Creek and the main marsh, can also be accessed from the town property at the end of Bay Avenue.
Eric Salzman
Friday, October 5, 2012
Where are the fogs of yesteryear?
There have been other good birds around. Philadelphia Vireo again this morning -- a different bird from the last one (I think) with a whiter belly but with the classic green back, gray head, eyeliner, yellow throat and yellow undertail. And another Olive-sided Flycatcher yesterday morning fly catching from a high perch near the head of the marsh.
Also: Royal Tern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Belted Kingfisher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Northern Flicker, Hairy, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Eastern Phoebe, two Brown Thrashers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Swamp Sparrow.
On Tuesday, Derek Rogers of the Nature Conservancy in the Zoe de Ropp Sanctuary across the creek compiled a list of almost the same species plus two marsh species that I missed over here: Marsh Wren and a beautiful 'Sharptail' Sparrow (see Derek's photos) which, in spite of the strong breast streaks, he identifies as Nelson's. Note that the orange on the malar is the same color as the orange on the breast and also that the orange breast is very sharply defined, both features pointing to Nelson's (rather than Saltmarsh). I see Marsh Wren regularly but I haven't seen a Nelson's Sparrow in a couple of years. On the other hand, the Pine Neck (de Ropp Sanctuary) marsh is much bigger than our marsh.
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Siskins @ Shinnecock, Monarchs @ Mecox
Strolling along the edge-of-marsh trail at c. 7:30 am; a calm, quiet morning. Outside of the dependable singing Carolina Wrens, there's nothing doing. Suddenly 5 or 6 dozen Goldfinches jump up into the air and take off in a flutter. Except that this Charm of Goldfinches is more than Goldfinches. Amidst the Goldfinch calls, there is something different -- buzzier, lower, less sweet. About a dozen birds separate themselves from the main body of goldfinchiness and wheel around heading for the big Tupelo at the head of the marsh. I can actually see the yellow wing markings, streaky breasts and little sharp bills that mark them as Pine Siskins.In the same area, there was a group of four Ruby-crowned Kinglets working in the shrubbery with Eastern Phoebe, Swamp Sparrows, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrasher and a female-plumaged Scarlet Tanager not far away. A Merlin came zipping across the creek and marsh -- perhaps heading for the Goldfinches; this has been the most common raptor seen to date.
Along with milder weather, there has been an increase in the movement of Monarchs. While they are quite regular on this side of Shinnecock, the big numbers are out on Dune Road. This photograph was taken by Ellen Stahl yesterday evening at Mecox, one of the best gathering places for these butterflies in their fall migration.
Eric Salzman
Monday, October 1, 2012
Greetings to October
A beautiful clear fall morning provided a fine greeting for the month of October. So did the Goldfinches, still working the marsh edge in considerable numbers. Strikingly, one of them turned out to be heavily striped with a rather sharp-looking bill. A Pine Siskin! And then, a bit later in the morning, the one Pine Siskin metamorphosed into a flock of a dozen or more birds!! An October greeting indeed!!!
A small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers also came in with a few other things in tow -- notably a handsome Blue-headed Vireo. There were also some other warblers but most of them were zipping around and staying quite high. I picked out at least two Blackpolls in their (always confusing) fall plumage.
Last call for "Birds of Peru". This evening at 7:15 pm, I'm doing an illustrated program on an adventure from the Peruvian coast to Cusco and then down the Manu Road and the Mother of God River (Madre de Dios) into the gigantic Manu Biosphere Reserve, one of the wildest places still remaining on the earth. I call it Penguins to Parrots and if you come by, you'll find out why. The event is at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge and it is sponsored by ELIAS, the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society. But you don't have to be a member of anything to get in; the public is welcome.
Eric Salzman
A small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers also came in with a few other things in tow -- notably a handsome Blue-headed Vireo. There were also some other warblers but most of them were zipping around and staying quite high. I picked out at least two Blackpolls in their (always confusing) fall plumage.
Last call for "Birds of Peru". This evening at 7:15 pm, I'm doing an illustrated program on an adventure from the Peruvian coast to Cusco and then down the Manu Road and the Mother of God River (Madre de Dios) into the gigantic Manu Biosphere Reserve, one of the wildest places still remaining on the earth. I call it Penguins to Parrots and if you come by, you'll find out why. The event is at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge and it is sponsored by ELIAS, the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society. But you don't have to be a member of anything to get in; the public is welcome.
Eric Salzman
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