The “Big Day” and the Bashakill Area Association Spring Warbler Walk.

On Friday Lance Verderame and I completed our “Big Day” for Sullivan County. We both had other obligations for the weekend, and we chose to complete our count on Friday in spite of the terrible weather forecast. The forecast held true, and it rained the entire day up to about 4pm. We started our day on Haven Road at 5am and finally ended on Pine Kill Road at 9:15 pm! As cold and wet as it was, we had one of our best days ever! Highlights of the day included Orchard Oriole at the Deli Fields, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Gumaer Falls Road, Red Crossbills on Gumaer as well, Red-breasted Merganser (bottom) on the Neversink River and three Common Terns (below) on Swan Lake! We had 24 species of warblers, the Cape May seen only by me. Bay-breasted, Cerulean, Prothonotary, and Tennessee some of the other great finds. A Great Egret at Morningside Park was unexpected. We were fortunate to have the Eastern Screech-owl present and in the evening, we ended the day with some night birds that couldn’t be had in the morning due to the pouring rain. Woodcock, 11 Common Nighthawks and a single Whip-poor-will were a nice ending to a really long, productive day. Lance and I had a blast! We ended the day with 129 countable birds as well as a few extras that only one of us were able to see. Great Birding!

Today, I led the Bashakill Area Association Spring Warbler Walk. A dozen eager birders joined me at the Stop Sign Parking Lot to embark on a warbler search. At first it was a bit quiet, but once the sun came out things picked up nicely. The highlights were a very cooperative Prothonotary Warbler and a Canada Warbler as well. A Wilson’s Warbler at the parking lot gave us a run for our money as it spent most of its time feeding in blooming oak blossoms. Identifying looks were finally had by all. When we were done there, we made a visit to the Mamakating Environmental Education Center. A nice break there was followed by some great birding at the Horseshoe Parking Area. Cerulean Warblers, American Redstarts, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and my FOS Lincoln’s Sparrows were seen (below). Thanks to Jeannie Cimorelli for the heads up on the sparrows. Just down the road, the Eastern Screech-owl was present again for a lucky few as the Acadian Flycatcher called nearby. Another great morning!

An eventful few days!

On Monday there was considerable migration in our area. Many new species arrived and more were to come. At the Apollo Plaza our first push of shorebirds settled in. Lesser Yellowlegs, Least and Solitary Sandpipers, Killdeer and Semipalmated Plover were all present. At the Bashakill we had a good influx of warblers. Blue-winged, BT Blue and Green, Northern Paruala, Cape May and Bay Breasted Warblers, Blackpoll and Black and White Warblers as well as Cerulean, Yellow, Pine, Yellow-rumped and American Redstart were all seen in the best numbers so far this season. There wasn’t much movement on the water, but some of the lakes and reservoirs still have Common Loons and Double-crested Cormorants. All of the regular passerines are in in good number too. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager and especially Baltimore Oriole is abundant. Both Cuckoos are easily found! I had my FOS Whip-poor-will Monday evening as well. All of this led up to today when a massive migration took place over Sullivan County. 4,000,000 birds were reported in the air over the county. Once again the double-edged sword went into action. Not only did those birds fly right on over, they took out many the migrants that had already been on the ground. That said we had a few birds drop in. Scotty and Gary Zylkuski came upon the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER back in the beaver pond along the Stop Sign Trail! It was singing vigorously and seemed to be right back at home. Hopefully this will lead to another successful breeding season for the birds. Also new were a single Canada Warbler and Wilson’s Warbler, also seen by Scott and Gary. As for me, I had my first two Tennessee Warblers at the Nature Trail and the first Acadian Flycatchers along the road near the Horseshoe Parking area. So even though migrants were few, we all got a few good birds! Butterflies are starting to pick up too. I’ve had a dozen species since my return, a beautiful Pine Elfin (second below) the nicest for me.

Linnean Society Annual Bashakill Bird Walk!

This morning, I led a field trip around the Bashakill for the New York City Linnean Society. We’ve been conducting this walk for at least the last fifteen years. Today was a challenge. It rained the entire morning. Eleven die hard birders joined me for the walk, not deterred by the rain. It was a very productive morning. We managed to hear both Common Gallinules and Virginia Rais in the marsh, but the best spot was the orchard where we had ten species of warblers, highlighted by two beautiful male CAPE MAY WARBLERS! There were plenty of other too, Black-throated Blues and Greens, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped and more. Back along Haven Road we had a mix of shorebirds including both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpipers. At the Stop Sign Trail, we had a number of Veery and my FOS SWAINSON’S THRUSH! We made a stop at the Mamakating Environmental Education Center where everyone enjoyed a warmup and the many exhibits they have there. We made a final stop at the Horseshoe Parking Area where we had a lot more birds including our only CERULEAN WARBLER of the morning. By now, four hours had passed, and we were all willing to call it a morning, retreat to our cars and get warmed up again. As usual, the group from the Linnean Society are a wonderful, dedicated group of people who really enjoyed their visit to the Bashakill!

Catching up!

I got home Tuesday afternoon and spent some time at the Bashakill eager to see some of the abundance of birds that had arrived since I had left. That’s exactly what happened. I had ten new year species in just over an hour. Since then, birds continue to arrive, and I have been finding many of them. I have added 35 species in just three days. Highlights have included American Bittern, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Great-crested Flycatcher and many more. On the butterfly front, I’ve had ten species since Tuesday and hope that with some warming weather there will be many more. The next two weeks should be explosive with both birds and butterflies. Lots will be happening since many Field trips and bird walks will be taking place as well as the “Big Days”. Look forward to seeing you out there!

A most unexpected event!

Today is our last full day in Florida. I wanted to make the most of it and got out early to try for more butterflies and birds. I had done so well with butterflies that I thought sure that I wasn’t likely to get anything more, but I was enjoying what I was seeing so much I devoted the morning to them. I had about the same things at my #2 spot “Bay Place” that I went to first, nothing new. I then went to the “Loch Harbour”, the field within sight of our condo. As usual it was alive with butterflies, and I was trying to find a pair of skippers from yesterday that haven’t been positively ID’d yet. As I worked my way around, I came upon a Delaware Skipper. My first of the trip, but quite common. A bit further I came across a TROPICAL CHECKERED SKIPPER! Only the second I’ve ever seen and the last was well over ten years ago. Two new butterflies, guess I was wrong about “nothing new”. I then checked the spot for yesterday’s unknown skippers without success. I decided to fan out a bit to see if I’d come across them. I’d only gone twenty feet or so when I nearly gasped! On a patch of daisy’s right at my feet I saw a GREAT PURPLE HAIRSTREAK!!!!! I might be exaggerating to call it one of the “Holy Grail” butterflies, but it is very difficult to find, and I never even entertained that I would ever see one in my lifetime! Not only was I seeing it, it was amazingly confiding! I was able to walk around it and take photos from every direction. I could bend the weeds it was on for a better angle etc. etc. Every once in a while, it would suddenly fly out a couple of feet and then land back in the daisy’s only a foot or two from where it had been. It fed constantly giving all sorts of great views. I spent an entire half hour with this butterfly trying in vain to get a flight shot when it would take off. I wasn’t nearly quick enough, and it didn’t happen. Why a flight shot? Its the upper surface of the wings that are an amazing purplish blue! I could only see it while it would fly around. Once it landed, it appeared black again, but still beautiful with its array of black, red, blue and orange colors! The butterfly finally took off, flying far across the field and I was still in awe of what had happened. I will probably never see this butterfly again, but it was an experience I’ll never forget!

Another nice morning!

Out birding and butterflying again. Before I left the condo a pair of Sandhill Cranes paid us a visit. I’m not sure what they wanted, but it seemed like they wanted something. We had just come in from the yard when I heard loud bugling right outside. I looked out through the sliding glass doors to see to cranes standing there. I went out to take their picture and they bugled like crazy, coming ever closer. That was the first time I’ve had that happen. They weren’t twenty feet away and showed no sign of fear. I had been told they come right up on the yards but didn’t think they’d be that confiding. They walked around for some time, eventually moving on down the beach. Afterward, I went to one of my favorite butterfly fields on Bay Place. While I was finding lots of butterflies, I suddenly had something scamper through the low weeds near me. When they finally came into view it was a pair of Common Ground Doves! I had only seen one pair since our arrival and wasn’t able to get a photo of them, so I was glad to see these two and get some so so shots at least. When they finally came out fully into the open, they took off for parts unknown. While at the field, I found a butterfly I was sure I hadn’t seen before, and it turned out to be a Southern Dogface! (second below) A lifer for me!

A nice day!

Today I had some target birds I wanted to see as well as wanting to check some butterfly spots. I headed to a pond that they’ve been reported Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. It took a few minutes until I spotted a couple in the distance. There were lots of other birds too, but I was hoping for closer views of the ducks. I decided to leave to check the next spot, but before I reached the car seven more BBWD’s flew in and landed much closer. I got some decent shots and then headed to the second location where I saw two additional ducks and my first Black-crowned Night-heron of the trip. I then headed to one of my favorite butterfly fields where I finally found a really cooperative Zebra Swallowtail! Lots of great photos! While I was checking out the tremendous number of butterflies, I spotted a Five-lined Skink! I’ve seen them before, but these things are lightning fast! I did manage a couple shots before it was gone for good. Also, a nice find was a five-foot Black Racer! In keeping with its name, it was gone before I could get even one shot! Also, at the butterfly field were perhaps the highest number of Hairstreaks I’ve ever had in one spot. I had 13 Oak Hairstreaks and 2 Gray Hairstreaks! Definitely a high number.

Finally got the Zebra’s!

Today I decided to work my way around Lake Weir. I’ve birded and butterflied several spots around the lake, but I wanted to see if I could find some things that have been reported that I haven’t seen. It worked out great for everything. Stopping at a few locations I wanted to see if I could find terns. I had seen one on the lake at a great distance the other evening but couldn’t say which one. This morning, I found four FORSTER’S TERNS at Hampton Beach! I also had my first Killdeer of the trip. At my butterfly field I immediately spotted two ZEBRA SWALLOWTAILS! (above) I’ve seen one or two a day since I’ve been here, but I can’t even get close to them. Today, though they aren’t the greatest, I got several photos of this beautiful butterfly. When I got to my next stop, I had the same experience with ZEBRA LONGWINGS! (below) One finally cooperated, and I was able to get many photos of it. Those were two of my targets to get photos for this trip. I have seen them both many times but had no photos left from back in the day when I was able to get them. Now I have photos in my reports! Overall it was a great day, I had 47 species of birds around the lake and 20 Species of butterflies!

Still at it!

It’s been a busy few days. Lots of birds and butterflies to be seen. I’ve been spending a lot of time over at or near the Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area. Its quite a birdy area and is even better for butterflies right now. I picked out a lot with lots of disturbed areas of sand. It is really weedy, and the butterflies love it. I’ve had 18 species at this spot so far. A field right near our condo is another great spot, I’ve had 22 species there. My highlights so far are the life butterflies I’ve gotten. Ceraunus Blue, Whirlabout, Phaon Crescent (below), Southern Skipperling and Ocola Skipper thus far. Of species I’ve had in the past, the Hairstreaks are my favorite. I’ve had Oak, Red-banded, White-M and Gray Hairstreak so far. The weathers been great and I’ve seen lots of good birds too. One of my favorites is the Swallow-tailed Kite, I see one or two each day while I’m out. I should be visiting Apopka Wildlife Drive on Friday and we’re going to do Silver Springs as well. Not enough time in a day!

Purple Gallinules!

After talking with our friend Bob Wexler yesterday I had to head back to Emeralda Marsh this morning to try for the Purple Gallinules in a spot he told me about. He was sure I’d find them and get closer views than I’d had at Ocklawaha a few days ago. I headed over and walked to the spot he’d told me to and found the gallinules almost immediately. I had a total of four and had much better looks and photo ops than earlier in the week. I spent quite a bit of time with them, hoping I might see some young since so many of the Common Gallinules have chicks already, but never saw any chicks. Great morning!