December 4, 2016 | 
Author Species lists from May 2016 tours are below. Many photos from the trips are posted at https://www.facebook.com/adirondackavian
May 31, 2016
A Dawn Tour up Whiteface (in high winds!) with two birders, one from Newcomb, NY and one from Arizona. We also visited lowland boreal habitat. Here is our list of 61 species:
Wild Turkey
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Broad-winged Hawk
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Gray Jay – 4 (2 adults and 2 adorable juveniles!) – They came to our hands for raisins and bread!
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow – adorable!
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bicknell’s Thrush – singing & calling; one view at dawn, and several flyby views
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Scarlet Tanager
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
(Mammals observed on my drive to meet clients: Gray Fox, 2 different Red Fox kits, and a Raccoon.)
*****
May 29, 2016
Young Birders Enjoy Bicknell’s Thrush and More!
by Eamon Freiburger, age 16
With great anticipation, eleven young birders and their parents made their way to Wilmington, the town at the base of Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks, on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. Joan Collins, NYSOA president and professional birding guide, had set aside two days of her busy May calendar (in case the weather didn’t cooperate the first day) to offer the young birders a chance at seeing Bicknell’s Thrush and several hard-to-find boreal specialties of the area. The trip was a tremendous success! Here is a report written by 16-year-old Eamon Freiburger, who joined both NYSOA and NYSYBC at age 12 and has already served the young birders as club President and Records Chair. – Carena Pooth, NYSYBC Adult Chair
Early Sunday morning, the NYSYBC met at the tollhouse at Whiteface Mountain with Joan Collins, our trip leader and guide for the day. The toll road up the mountain normally opens at 9, but we were allowed to go up earlier for this trip because Joan has special access. Everyone was excited, because the target bird on Whiteface Mountain was Bicknell’s Thrush, a very rare and local bird that is increasingly endangered by climate change and many other threats.
As the sun started to rise, the caravan went up higher and higher until Joan heard a Bicknell’s Thrush singing at the Lake Placid overlook. It stopped singing as soon as we got out, but we also heard several Blackpoll Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Our next stop was just a little further up the road and this is where some lucky young birders were treated to a glimpse of a Bicknell’s Thrush perched on a dead snag! Unfortunately it only gave a fleeting look, but there were more to come as we drove higher. We pulled off at another turn, where we all enjoyed the morning sun rising over the Adirondacks. More Bicknell’s Thrushes sang around us, and it was a frustrating but exciting game to locate them. Sometimes they would be calling only about 10 feet away from us, but the forest was so thick that they remained hidden. Eventually, every young birder and most of the parents were able to get a glimpse at a Bicknell’s. Two Yellow-bellied Flycatchers gave us great looks, and many Blackpoll and Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen as well. We descended back to a spot where Boreal Chickadees were building their nest, but we got only a brief look at one of them.
Leaving the mountain around 8:45, we continued on to Bloomingdale Bog for more boreal specialties. We made several stops along the road that we traveled to reach the bog, and we got great looks at a Black-throated Blue Warbler, two Red-eyed Vireos, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and a Mourning Warbler that flew over. We also heard several Northern Waterthrushes, a Cerulean Warbler, Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, and a Common Loon! At another spot, we were lucky enough to see a female Black-backed Woodpecker peek out of a nest hole that Joan had previously discovered. Unfortunately, these woodpeckers have a very high nest predation rate, and Red Squirrels, one of the top culprits, were seen in the area. Hopefully this nest will be a success!
At Bloomingdale Bog, we heard three Lincoln’s Sparrows and a Palm Warbler, two of the special birds that nest in the bog. Another boreal specialty that everyone enjoyed watching (and feeding!) was Gray Jay. More than half a dozen of them followed us on the trail. Joan had brought some raisins and chunks of bread, and if you held these out in your hand and remained still, the Gray Jays would land on your hand and feed. The looks on everyone’s faces were priceless when the jays landed on them! It was also interesting to see the juvenile jays which had just fledged, because they are a very sooty gray and don’t look like their parents, which are a much lighter gray and white. Another treat was a female Black-backed Woodpecker that flew over us and landed on a dead snag, which everyone got great looks at. Some people also saw the male Black-backed foraging out in the bog. The thunder clouds rolled in at this point, so we headed back to our cars to escape the oncoming storms. The rain held off though, starting only about fifteen minutes after we left.
This was an incredible day of birding in some very cool and unique places. Joan Collins is a truly amazing trip leader and knowledgeable bird guide. A huge thanks from all who attended and enjoyed a wonderful day of birding!
*****
May 27 & May 28, 2016
Two days with a birder from Washington DC that featured a Dawn Tour up Whiteface and lowland boreal birding in forests and bogs. Here is our list of 84 species by day:
May 27, 2016 (71 species)
Canada Goose
Common Loon – 1
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle – 2 adults
Northern Harrier – male
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker – male at nest hole
Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Gray Jay – 3 (2 juveniles!)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee – 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Bicknell’s Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
White-winged Crossbill – 4 to 6
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Also, a Porcupine and Snowshoe Hare on Whiteface!
May 28, 2016 (66 species; * for new species from prior day)
Canada Goose
*American Bittern
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
*Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
*Philadelphia Vireo – 2 (watched one building their nest!)
Red-eyed Vireo
Gray Jay – 4 (3 juveniles!)
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee – 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
*Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
*Brown Thrasher
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
*Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
*Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
*Canada Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
*Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
*Scarlet Tanager
*Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
*Common Grackle
Purple Finch
*Red Crossbill 3 flyover flocks
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
*****
May 23, 2016
A Dawn Tour up Whiteface Mountain and lowland boreal birding with two birders from Arkansas. Here is our list of 60 species:
Canada Goose
American Black Duck – family group with 11 young
Ruffed Grouse – several including one dust-bathing
Wild Turkey
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Chimney Swift (first of the season for me)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker – 2 (foraging & calling female; and male at its nest site on eggs)
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee – 2 on Whiteface – nice views!
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Bicknell’s Thrush – nearly 30! – nice views of 2
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush
Amer. Robin
European Starling
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Scarlet Tanager
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Amer. Goldfinch
Also – Snowshoe Hare and Moose tracks!
*****
May 22, 2016
A half-day tour at Massawepie Mire with a group of birders from Ogdensburg. Here is our list of 52 species:
American Bittern
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Gray Jay – 2
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush – 2
American Robin
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
We also saw Snowshoe Hares and found Moose tracks!
*****
May 21, 2016
Northern NY Audubon Field Trip to Massawepie Mire. Here is our list of 55 species:
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk – 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Black-backed Woodpecker – 2 heard calling
Pileated Woodpecker
Merlin
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 2 (first-of-the-season)
Alder Flycatcher – 2 (first-of-the-season)
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Gray Jay – 2
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Veery – 2 (first-of-the-season)
Swainson’s Thrush – 1
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush – 1
American Robin
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Mourning Warbler – many (first-of-the-season)
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
*****
May 11, 2016
A half-day tour at Massawepie Mire with two birders from Glens Falls. Here is our list of 54 species:
Ruffed Grouse – several drumming
Wild Turkey
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Merlin – heard on our drive in (nesting near Deer Pond)
Least Flycatcher – many!
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Gray Jay – 4
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush – several
Wood Thrush – 1 singing!
American Robin
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow – many with nice views of several!
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – several
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
*****
May 10, 2016
Tour in the central Adirondacks in mostly boreal habitat with two birders – one from Syracuse and one from North Creek, NY. Here is our list of 62 species:
Canada Goose – with adorable young along the Raquette River in Tupper Lake!
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck – 8
Common Merganser
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Common Loon – 2
American Bittern – 4
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey – 3 (2 at a nest)
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Broad-winged Hawk – several including mate feeding along Sabattis Circle Road in Long Lake!
Sandhill Crane
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker – 5
Least Flycatcher – 4
Eastern Phoebe – several
Blue-headed Vireo
Gray Jay – 6 in Long Lake
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee – 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak – at least 2 in Newcomb with nice views of a female!