Weed Walk Diary – June/July 2005
6/29: NEW IRELAND FCD – We were greeted by several singing E.Towhees. A quick accipter zipped over us defying i.d. but we did zero in on a B.Kingfisher, R-B Grosbeaks, Blue-winged Warblers and a stunning view of a perched Scarlet Tanager. After adding Wood Thrush, BH Vireo and Swamp Sparrow we went to Boland Pond where we saw Wood Ducks, Great Blue Herons and heard Marsh Wren. From here we walked Choconut Center Park and found a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper, Chimney Swifts, Warbling Vireos and young Tree Swallows being fed by parents. Returning, near the Mall, we saw our 48th species, a N.Mockingbird.
7/6: TOWN OF TRIANGLE – We hit several spots, birding mostly by car, seeing Turkeys, Green Herons, Am.Kestrels, Killdeer, RT Hummingbirds, Willow Flycatcher, E.Kingbirds, Cliff Swallows, E.Meadowlarks, Purple Finches and a few lingering Bobolinks where fields were still unhayed. Heading back along Whitney Pt. Reservoir, Dan spotted two large, dark soaring birds so we stopped and all piled out. Both were eagles, one an immature Bald Eagle and the other, astonishingly, a sub-adult Golden Eagle! We watched spellbound as they lazily spiraled around eachother, slowly moving up the reservoir. Occasionally the Golden extended his legs and the two would almost clasp talons. We all got close and exciting long looks at these, our 48th and 49th species of the day.
7/13: VESTAL WETLANDS – After the rain let up, we visited several parks and wetlands, coming up with 43 species. On the Susquehanna River we saw Wood Ducks, Mallards and C.Mergansers all with young plus Am.Black Duck, Great Blue and Green Herons, Spotted Sandpiper, B.Kingfisher, N.Flicker, Wood Thrush and Chipping Sparrows. An immature male Baltimore Oriole afforded us a close look as it feasted on honeysuckle berries.
7/20: JACKSON POND/AQUA-TERRA – We visited two parks on this perfect summer day, first walking around Jackson Pond where we saw a pr. of Brown Creepers, E.Phoebe, WB Nuthatches, Veery and Scarlet Tanager. Then off to Aqua-Terra to add RT Hummingbird, YB-Sapsuckers and several Indigo Buntings, ending the morning with a total of 38 species.
7/27: NANTICOKE LAKE – We were surprised to find access to the upper lake barricaded by huge dirt berms thus making the area inaccessible. Between the lower access and our road itinerary, we managed 40 species including several Red-tailed Hawks and Am.Kestrels, Alder Flycatchers, E.Kingbird, E.Bluebirds, Cedar Waxwings, Field Sparrows, E.Meadowlarks, House Wren on the road and our Bird-of-the-Day: Vesper Sparrows, one singing in a field near another perched along Howland Hill Road.
Weed Walk Diary is provided by members of the Naturalists’ Club of Broome County. This Weed Walk Diary was written by Marie Petuh. For information on the Naturalists Club, write P.O. Box 191, Vestal, N.Y. 13850.
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