Trip Highlights

The weather was just about as close to perfect as a June morning can be, with abundant sunshine and a welcome cooling breeze, when ten Allen Bird Club members visited the Southwick Wildlife Management Area.  The site is renowned for hosting many grassland species, and it did not disappoint on this occasion.  We tallied 34 species and had excellent views of many of them, including Willow Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Grasshopper Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Blue-winged Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Prairie Warbler and Indigo Bunting.  A Chestnut-sided Warbler teased us, singing repeatedly from cover, but declining to come out in the open.  The catch of the day was unquestionably the Blue-wing, and not just because the species has been unusually scarce in our area this season:  for one member of our party, this confiding Blue-winged Warbler was her 200th life bird in the lower 48 states. We all congratulate her on reaching this milestone, and wish her luck as she aims for 300!

Click below to view total species list.

The drive after leaving our meeting spot seemed longer than usual, and we arrived at Bloomingdale Bog around mid-morning.  Despite warm temperatures, a pleasant breeze made walking on the path comfortable.  Here we had to tune our ears to the voices of species that breed in the north and we soon heard Nashville and Palm Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatch and White-throated Sparrows.  Seeing them was more difficult.  On Floodwood Pond Road, our next stop, we did see two separate Common Loons where we “always” see them.  A local birder told us there was a pair with babies, but we missed the babies.  Here we also heard Winter Wren, Blackburnian, BT Blue and BT Green warblers, Blue-headed Vireo, and a Yellow-throated Vireo too.

Sandy Point Motel in Long Lake is a welcome place to stay as our rooms overlook the lake and we usually hear loons calling during the night and early morning.  This time some of us also heard a Barred Owl calling early.  We began Saturday on Sabattis Circle Road which has become one of the favorite spots of the trip.  Again, it was mostly birding by ear, but we did see a Flicker and Scarlet Tanager at an open parking area.  At the marsh we searched for Bittern, and tried calling for it.  Nothing.  Then, one of us suggested we try one more time, as he had seen it “right here” last year.  A bittern flew right over us from one marsh to another!  

Then, at Tupper Lake marsh we kept our eyes open for Sandhill Cranes we had seen there last year, and very shortly after we arrived one flew distantly and out of sight!  

Then it was on to the Massawepie Mire where we always hope for Olive-sided Flycatcher or Black-backed Woodpecker.  They did not appear but we had looks at Nashville Warbler, and heard a close Canada.  Later we riled up a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a few of us scared a Ruffed Grouse into the thick undergrowth. At a bog adjacent to the mire, we had nice looks at Lincoln’s Sparrow, a Broad-winged and Red-shouldered Hawks. Also along the road into the mire, we were delighted by a pair of “dancing” Sapsuckers, who chased each other around and around a tree close to the road, a behavior new to us.

With time left in the afternoon we tried a new location from the Adirondack Birding Festival itinerary.  Horseshoe Lake Road promised mixed habitats but it might prove more productive earlier in the day.  Here, though, on a short walk beside a railbed, a few startled another Grouse, this one with some young ones, and they flew off in all directions while mom perched in a tree close to the path.  Unfortunately, not all of us saw the bird, even after we quietly circled back later.  Next time…

Sunday, again, we made a stop at what was once Shaw Pond “just in case” and were rewarded with the sound of Wilson's Snipe.  We headed next to a trail we discovered last year, the Minerva Rail Trail. This year proved to be just as magical.  Soon after entering the trail one of us spotted a Great Egret flying off behind the tree line.  Then another announced that his Merlin app was noting the call notes of Black-backed Woodpecker.  A couple of us spotted the woodpecker fairly close, but it quickly flew away and out of sight.  Although it made it “on the list” it was not a great look.  However, GREAT looks are what we had next, this time of a very cooperative and “curious” Least Bittern.  Almost forgotten was the Virginia Rail we had just moments previously.  All of this while we were serenaded by a chorus of Winter Wrens.  Further down the trail we first heard, then saw a couple of Pied-billed Grebes, and we commented that we typically don’t get to hear them.  

The trip always ends with a drive through the grasslands near Fort Edward, and it’s almost like they don’t want to be “outdone” by the Adirondacks.  They do put on a show, this year giving us close looks at Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, more American Bitterns, a Green Heron, a rookery of Great Blue Herons, Thrashers, a “gray ghost” Harrier, and at the very end, a Merlin.  On our way out of the grasslands, along the canal, we added two Osprey to the list, bringing our trip total to 113.  Another Adirondacks trip for the history books…  Click below to view complete species list.

We had a great turnout of six people for our recent bird walk at Heather's Place (Ruel Farm) in Granby, MA. Heather shared a fascinating history of the farm, including their past, present, and future projects.

The farm offers a wonderful variety of habitats. In the grasslands, we saw Kestrel and Swallow boxes, and at the small beaver pond, we observed Kingbirds and Pewee flycatchers. We also walked a mile-long loop through a wooded area filled with Oak and Pine trees.

We spotted a total of 36 species during our two-hour walk, including several woodland birds such as Ovenbirds, Wood Thrushes, Veeries, and Scarlet Tanagers. A highlight of the trip was seeing the "Bear Tree," a giant Sycamore with a large hole in the trunk where a female Black Bear hibernates each year.

It was a successful outing and a wonderful day for birding. There is definite potential during migration for a variety of warblers. Click below to view species list.

Five members set out to explore the sanctuary trails on a cool, cloudy morning, with air fresh as could be and ears alert.  We walked just over a mile and enjoyed the songs and calls of 40 species in all.  Highlights included a very close Pileated Woodpecker working away at a stump near the parking area, hearing the song of the Louisiana Waterthrush, and getting a Blackpoll Warbler (FOY for some).  Click below to view complete species list.

More sun than clouds greeted us at Parker River NWR, along with a light cool breeze to make 60 degrees feel like the perfect temperature for birding.  There were 10 members in all and we identified 82 species.  

After a brief stop at Joppa Flats Audubon Center, we hit Lot 1, where Purple Martins galore were swooping around and occasionally returning to the nests, where others were poking their heads out in anticipation of a food delivery. Other highlights here included Bald Eagle and Osprey flyovers, a Black-billed Cuckoo vocalizing, and the sounds of a Saltmarsh Sparrow at a visit to the boat ramp.

Our idea was to head to Hellcat next to try for the reported Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Least Bittern and a wealth of interesting warblers.  We spent three hours here walking the the boardwalks and the dikes, but came up empty on the YC Night Heron and Least Bittern.  Some birds of note there were Marsh Wren, Orchard Orioles, Parula, Magnolia and Blackpoll Warblers.

We did a quick stop at the Bill Forward Pool Blind, getting Gadwall, GW Teal, and Willet. Then we were off to Sandy Point with hopes of getting the 4 parking spots we needed, and we did!  The walk down the beach gave us wonderful views of at least 10 different Piping Plovers, which delighted the photographers in the group.  We also spotted a small group of Black Scoters on the water and a Common Loon, and flyovers of a White-winged Scoter, 10 Glossy Ibis, an Osprey, and many Least Terns.  

Emerson Rocks was our next destination and we found ample parking there, too.  Terns were resting on the beach, mostly Common Terns, but we were able to pick out 2 Roseate Terns and several Least Terns as well. There were just two species of shorebird here, a Black-bellied Plover in breeding plumage and a White-rumped Sandpiper, both gave us great scope views.

Stage Island Trail added Bobolink to our list and made us work hard in vain to identify a flycatcher that did not vocalize, though most of us thought it was a Willow Flycatcher.

While traveling down the dusty road, we decided to try again for the Yellow-crowned Night Heron from the Hellcat boardwalk.  To our amazement, we found two, both very difficult to spot, but also very rewarding to add to our list.

To complete a long day of birding, our last stop was at the Salt Pannes, where we picked up a Dunlin, Semipalmated Plovers, and Semipalmated Sandpipers.  Hooray for a great day of birding on the coast with an enthusiastic group of birding buddies! Click below to view complete trip list.