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September 2013 Tours and a few other Sightings

***For photos taken in September 2013, see the photographic blog post, “September 2013 Photographs”.***

September 1, 2013
On a drive of Sabattis Circle Road in Long Lake (26 species):

Wild Turkey with young
Great Blue Heron
Broad-winged Hawk
American Kestrel
Belted Kingfisher
Black-backed Woodpecker – male & female
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper – singing
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler – singing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler – singing
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow – no tail juvenile
White-throated Sparrow
American Goldfinch

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September 2, 2013
A few species at dawn outside our Long Lake home:

Common Loon – calls echoing up our mountain (The Pinnacle) from the lake
Pileated Woodpecker
Winter Wren – singing (juvenile observed)
Swainson’s Thrush – several migrants
Hermit Thrush – calling
Ovenbird

Other wildlife – a male deer, two females, and a fawn are regulars each day, also a flock of 17 Wild Turkeys (often they are all together), and an Eastern Coyote has been hunting along the edge of our lawn.

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September 3, 2013
Hanging Spear Falls Trail (High Peaks area)

This was an afternoon berry picking trip, but I still noted a few species:
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Scarlet Tanager

The suspension bridge over the Hudson River is still out 2.5 years after it washed out in the floods of April 2011. I had to wade across. Also, the boardwalk over Lake Jimmy washed out this year in flooding, so the trail has been re-routed around the lake (to the north).

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September 4, 2013
Whiteface Mountain summit at dawn (high winds), Bloomingdale area, and Tupper Lake Causeway (44 species):

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Amer. Black Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Wild Turkey
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Amer. Kestrel – 2
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Amer. Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee – 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren – singing
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Bicknell’s Thrush – 15 to 20 birds calling (one song)
Amer. Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler – singing
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Amer. Goldfinch

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September 6, 2013
On a tour with a birder from North Carolina, we visited Sabattis Circle Road (including Sabattis Bog), Tupper Lake Marsh, Lake Durant, Moose River Plains, and Raquette Lake. Here are the 46 species found:

Wood Duck
American Black Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Wild Turkey
Common Loon – an adult on Lake Durant, and an adult with a chick on Raquette Lake
Great Blue Heron – many
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 4
Cooper’s Hawk – 2
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher – several
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1 adult and 1 juvenile
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker – many
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Gray Jay – heard
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee – Helldiver Pond
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch

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September 7, 2013
On a tour with a couple from Virginia, we visited Whiteface Mountain at dawn, and lowland mixed and boreal habitat areas. Here are the 42 species found:

Double-crested Cormorant – on Lake Flower
Turkey Vulture
American Kestrel – male
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Gray Jay – 12! (Groups of 4, 3, and 5); including one Gray Jay with a mushroom cap in its bill!
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee – still feeding young!
Boreal Chickadee – 8! (Groups of 5, 2, and 1)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren – singing
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bicknell’s Thrush – 15 calling birds!; one partial song at dawn
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing – feeding young!
Nashville Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
American Goldfinch

We also found large Moose tracks!

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September 9, 2013
On a hike at Massawepie Mire with David Buckley, we found the following 45 species:

Canada Goose – a few flocks overhead
Wood Duck
Common Loon
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk
Amer. Kestrel
Merlin
Black-billed Cuckoo – great views! It was giving its amphibian-sounding call (heard also on migration)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker – male
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Gray Jay – 7 (groups of 2 and 5)
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee – 7 (groups of 3 and 4)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren – singing
Golden-crowned Kinglet – singing
Veery – several migrants foraging among Amer. Robins (lots of skirmishes between these 2 species), Cedar Waxwings, and White-throated Sparrows
Swainson’s Thrush – 1
Hermit Thrush – several
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula – singing
Magnolia Warbler – several
Cape May Warbler – 3 observed
Yellow-rumped Warbler – abundant
Blackburnian Warbler – 1
Pine Warbler – 1
Palm Warbler – abundant
Common Yellowthroat – several; some singing
Wilson’s Warbler – 1
Scarlet Tanager – 1
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow – several observed, and one sang once!
White-throated Sparrow – abundant
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch

We also observed a Bobcat at 10:30 a.m.!

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September 13, 2013
A few species outside our Long Lake house at dawn:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Winter Wren
Amer. Robin
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Scarlet Tanager

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September 14, 2013
On a drive along Sabattis Circle Road:

Great Blue Heron
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Gray Jay – two different places
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler – feeding young in a family group
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Ovenbird
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

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September 15, 2013
At the Tupper Lake causeway with Pat & John Thaxton, after our Northern NY Audubon board meeting, we observed a western (brown) Palm Warbler migrant, and a Common Yellowthroat.

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September 17, 2013
Some of the species along Powley Place Rd. in southern Hamilton Co.:

Ruffed Grouse – drumming
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Hermit Thrush
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler – western (brown) migrant
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

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September 18, 2013
Outside our Long Lake house, Swainson’s Thrush migrants continue to be observed. A juvenile, female Ruby-throated Hummingbird continues at our feeders (see below…9/8 is the typical late date for our home).

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September 23, 2013
This was the last day I observed the juvenile, female Ruby-throated Hummingbird at our Long Lake feeders! I was able to take photos of the bird that day. This is a record late date for our location, and it came close to the late date for our county. (I returned from a trip to Iowa on 8/26/13 and all the males were already gone.)

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September 24, 2013
Thirty-three species from outside our Long Lake house and along Sabattis Circle Road:

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Wild Turkey
Bald Eagle
Amer. Kestrel
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo – feeding young
Gray Jay – 6 (groups of 3 and 3)
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Amer. Robin
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
**White-crowned Sparrow – first of the season
Rusty Blackbird – vocalizing near Sabattis Bog
Amer. Goldfinch

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September 25, 2013
Out at 1 a.m. listening to migrants overhead; outside our house at dawn; along the Northville-Placid Trail (S) in Long Lake; and back outside at 9:30 p.m. for more migrants!

At 1 a.m. – many Common Loon vocalizations echoing up from the lake, two Barred Owls vocalizing back and forth, lots of migrant birds flowing overhead including Swainson’s Thrushes, two coyote packs howling, and the spectacular stars (with the Milky Way band evident) and moon!

At dawn – Blue-headed Vireo, Brown Creeper (singing), Winter Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush, American Robin (eating the Hawthorn tree berries), Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Blackpoll Warbler.

Along the N-P Trail – Boreal Chickadee and Winter Wren

Back out at 9:30 p.m. – Common Loons and two Barred Owls vocalizing again, plus migrants overhead.

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September 26, 2013
Forty-five species found at the Tupper Lake Causeway and Massawepie Mire:

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Amer. Black Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Ruffed Grouse – 2
Common Loon
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Amer. Kestrel
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue-headed Vireo – singing
Gray Jay – 4 (groups of 2 and 2)
Blue Jay
Amer. Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee – at least 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper – singing
House Wren! (This is the 3rd time I’ve found this species at Massawepie over the years.)
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird (Tupper Lake)
Hermit Thrush
Amer. Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler – many
Palm Warbler – many
Common Yellowthroat
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow – several
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Amer. Goldfinch

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September 28, 2013
Thirty-four species were found at the Tupper Lake Causeway, Mountaineer Trail (at Massawepie), Viewing Deck at Massawepie, and Deer Pond at Massawepie:

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Amer. Black Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Ruffed Grouse – 2 (one was drumming)
Common Loon – Long Lake and Deer Pond
Great Blue Heron
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker – 5 along the Mountaineer Trail – calling and drumming
Gray Jay – 2
Blue Jay
Amer. Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper – singing
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Amer. Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler – singing
Common Yellowthroat
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Amer. Goldfinch

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September 29, 2013
My husband George and I took our pontoon boat to Kempshall Landing along Long Lake. We bushwhacked up the north side of Blueberry Mountain and came down the south side cliffs. We followed a remnant tote road between Blueberry Mountain and Landing Hill back to the Northville-Placid Trail. There are many active beaver locations along the tote road. We followed the N-P Trail back to our boat by sunset. I counted TWENTY-ONE Common Loons to our north at Camp Islands!!! This is the largest gathering I’ve observed on Long Lake.

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September 30, 2013
Outside our Long Lake house at dawn, a Blue-headed Vireo and Brown Creeper sang.