Adirondacks, New York

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.