| OVERVIEW
This week’s Almanac covers many of the Hudson Valley Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs). It also includes a white pelican sighting in Westchester County. While the location is arguably just outside the Hudson River watershed, it was close enough and rare enough to mention.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
 12/26 – Westchester County: Five days ago, while birding at sunset, Bert Pooth discovered an American white pelican sitting at the south end of an island in Playland Lake. It was a rare sighting for Westchester with only four previous occurrences. The pelican stayed at Playland Lake for Christmas, but headed south in midday today when it was spotted flying over Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. [Photo of white pelican courtesy of Carena Pooth]
– Carena Pooth
[White pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) are a bird of the Great Plains up through central Canada. While every year or so, one or more turn up somewhere in the Northeast, they are a rare sighting in the watershed. Pelicans are strong flyers with the ability to soar at great heights and cover long distances. Their presence here generally occurs when blown off course either in migration or drawn here from the Great Lakes area by nor’easters. Rich Guthrie]
NATURAL HISTORY ENTRIES
12/23 – Saratoga County, HRM 200: I did a zigzag drive through three Northumberland farmlands this afternoon. Almost all of the snow was gone. Among the 29 species I counted were Canada geese (245), a light-phase rough-legged hawk, a merlin on top of the tallest tree at Welcome Farm, and two northern harriers. One was a female “butterflying” over the fields, diving a couple of times, once staying to deal with prey. The second one, a male, “gray ghost”, was in the fields near the main farm on Goff Road.
– Ron Harrower (Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club)
12/23 – Staatsburg, HRM 87: We had some excitement this afternoon. Looking out the window we saw a rough-legged hawk “mantling” a tufted titmouse that it had just taken. We were surprised that it was not an Accipiter (bird hawk) standing over a freshly killed songbird. We watched through the window enthralled as the hawk proceeded to pluck and eat its prey a scant 20 feet from us. It was a truly exciting observation but one that we hope will not be repeated at our bird feeder.
– Linda Lund, David Lund
[“Mantling” is raptor behavior most often seen when its prey is on the ground. The hawk covers the catch by spreading its wings, presumably as a way of protecting its prey from thieves. Tom Lake]
 12/23 – Ulster County, HRM 76: I had a melanistic chipmunk at my bird feeder in Kerhonkson today. I have seen many melanistic gray squirrels but I have never seen a melanistic chipmunk before. [Photo of melanistic chipmunk courtesy of Jeremy Baracca]
– Jeremy Baracca
[Melanistic or “black” chipmunks (Tamias striatus) have increased melanin resulting in black fur. They share this trait with the gray squirrel (also family Sciuridae) where increased melanism is more common. Biologists have suggested that black squirrels (black chipmunks?) may have a selective advantage (natural selection) over gray squirrels due to an increased tolerance to cold resulting from their black, heat-absorbing, fur. Tom Lake]
12/24 – Rensselaer County, HRM 138: I was driving by Nassau Lake in midday when I noticed two large dark birds in the crown of a tree. One of them was feeding on a catch. They were backlit so it was not easy to identify them but, knowing they were not crows, I pulled over to get a different vantage point and was delighted to see a pair of adult bald eagles – their white heads were unmistakable.
– Mary Ellen Grimaldi
 12/24 – Dutchess County, HRM 96: I was out and about birding this morning near Strever Farm Road when a gorgeous golden eagle flew over. I was in just the right place at the right time. [Photo of golden eagle courtesy of Justin Schmidt]
– Justin Schmidt
[Eastern Dutchess County has been a wintering ground for a small number of golden eagles in past years, usually in the Pawling-Amenia corridor to Stissing Mountain. Deborah Tracy-Kral]
12/24 – Ulster County, HRM 96-86: We had another record-breaking number of species for our 68th annual Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir Christmas Bird Count (December 16). The new high total of 89 species exceeded last year’s record 84, and was well above our ten-year average of 76. The tally was compiled by 15 field parties, 44 field observers, and four feeder watchers.
Abundance also set a new record high with 22,300 individual birds including an incredible 3,504 American robins. This greatly exceeded our previous high count of 16,092 and our ten-year average of 13,242. Highlights included our first record of a greater white-fronted goose that was associated with a large flock of Canada geese. This advanced our 68-year cumulative number to 147 species. Three species were recorded for only the second time in this count’s history, a golden eagle, canvasback, and a white-winged scoter on Ashokan Reservoir.
– Steve M. Chorvas, Kyla Haber, Mark DeDea
12/25 – Minerva, HRM 284: In the open fields we got about 15 inches of light, fluffy, and altogether pleasant snow. A beautiful white Christmas for sure.
– Mike Corey
12/25 – Coxsackie, HRM124: Early this morning while walking to the Coxsackie Boat Launch, I twice heard the distinct call of a common loon. Though I questioned their presence on the river with so much ice, I soon spotted a single common loon flying through the snow directly overhead. What a pleasant surprise on this white Christmas morning. Two adult bald eagles were perched together in a tree just across the river. By day’s end, the total number of loons flying downriver was at four.
– Brenda Inskeep (Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club)
 12/25 – Westchester County, HRM 35: On our Christmas Day bird walk, Karalyn Lamb spotted a female or a young male snowy owl as it made a brief appearance (one hour). We had a young birder with us, Rion, for whom this was a life bird. [Photo of snowy owl courtesy of Rion]
– Anne Swaim, Larry Trachtenberg
12/26 – Newcomb, HRM 300: Close to a foot of snow had fallen here over the last two days. We definitely had a “White Christmas!” The downside of this serious winter weather is the forecast that predicts upcoming air temperatures and windchills well below zero.
– Julie Slayback
12/26 – Coxsackie, HRM124: A gorgeous adult light-phase rough-legged hawk was perched, then kiting at times, at the Coxsackie Creek Grasslands. A northern shrike was also spotted beyond the railroad tracks. A second light-phase adult rough-legged hawk, and a northern harrier, worked the field.
– Brenda Inskeep (Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club)
12/26 – Kingston, HRM 92: While scouting for tomorrow’s 7th annual NYUD Christmas Bird Count, I located a dark juvenile snowy owl and two cackling geese in large flock of Canada geese (575) gathered around the mouth of the Rondout Creek. Included in the 31 species we counted were eight bald eagles.
– Mark DeDea, Wendy Tocci, Peter Relson, Dave Hayes
12/26 – Esopus Meadows, HRM 87: In late afternoon, a very large flock of Canada geese was in the river by the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse. Common goldeneye and common mergansers were mixed in. An adult bald eagle flew past heading upriver where it found its mate, joining her in a riverside perch. Both wore blue leg bands indicating they were banded as nestlings somewhere in New York State.
The evening ended with a small flock of eight Canada geese and two snow geese making an abrupt turn and heading downriver with one of the adult bald eagles on their tail.
– Jim Yates
12/26 – Highland, HRM 75: The air temperature in midday was 15 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and, coupled with a frigid west wind gusting to 25 miles-per-hour (mph), created a windchill of -20 degrees F. We counted 18 black vultures still in their night roost despite a fresh white-tailed deer roadkill a hundred feet away. New world vultures are not the best of fliers and often require thermals (warm air rising) to give them lift. These vultures were likely in a quandary: tumble out of the roost, or stay in the tree and ignore the roadkill.
– Tom Lake
[On Friday the 13th of October, I counted 13 black vultures in a kettle directly over this night roost. Their numbers had swelled by five since then. Tom Lake]
12/26 – Dutchess County: Bluebirds are often found in the middle of winter, especially in bushes and trees that still have some fruit left from the summer. Right now, however, they are having trouble finding water to drink. You can help them by providing water – they need it as much as they need food. Today I had six eastern bluebirds at my birdbath, both males and females. A heater helps to keep the water liquid, but frequently adding warm water works as well. Birds and other animals resort to eating snow when they cannot find liquid water, using energy that could otherwise be used to find and consume food, much of which is buried beneath the snow in these tough times. So take a few minutes each day and provide a little water for the wild ones.
– Carena Pooth
 12/26 – Putnam County, HRM 52: It was a cold day and the downy woodpeckers were taking their turn at my suet feeder in Mahopac. Later, a red-bellied woodpecker arrived to take its turn. Soon after, five eastern bluebirds arrived to share the suet with the red-bellied woodpecker. The bluebirds stayed a while feeding on the suet and picking up the crumbs from the snow on the ground. We’ve had bluebirds before, but this was the largest number I have had at my feeder. [Photo of bluebirds and red-bellied woodpecker courtesy of Jim Steck]
– Jim Steck
12/27 – Newcomb, HRM 300: The onset of winter has given us a whirlwind of cold weather. Nine inches of snow had just fallen and was now coupled with -14 degrees F air temperature. This is all making for an uptick of hot chocolate consumption in between sled runs.
– Ruth Olbert
12/27 – Glens Falls, HRM 209: The air temperature fell to -20 degrees F today establishing a new record low for the date.
– National Weather Service
12/27 – Coxsackie, HRM124: I watched three rough-legged hawks – two dark phase, one light phase – work the fields just off Route 9W in Coxsackie. They hovered, circled, and perched on snags offering excellent views.
– Brenda Inskeep (Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club)
12/27 – Ulster-Dutchess counties: Forty-three birders conducted our seventh annual Ulster-Dutchess (NYUD) Christmas Bird Count and ended up with a new high total of 97 species including 16 species of waterfowl. The 20,792 individual birds were nearly 3,000 more than our average for the previous CBCs. Seven species were added to our composite list raising our total after seven counts to 120. Exceptional finds included a soaring golden eagle, a vocalizing long-eared owl, and an unexpected red-headed woodpecker.
– Mark DeDea
[Our Christmas Bird Count “circle” is very unique in that it covers approximately 30 miles of Hudson River shoreline mostly in Ulster and Dutchess counties, a portion of Columbia and a small bit of Greene. Mark DeDea]
12/27 – Manhattan, HRM 1: During a midday low tide, The River Project staff checked our fish ecology survey traps for the final time of 2017 in Hudson River Park at The River Project’s sampling station on the lighthouse tender Lilac at Pier 25. There was ice on the ropes that secured our traps that we carefully broke off to keep the lines from snapping when the cold weather worsens. Although we caught no fish, we did catch the usual suite of invertebrates such as isopods, amphipods, shrimp, sea squirts, hydroids, colonial tunicates. The next time we check our traps, after the New Year, we will begin our 9th year of continuous winter trap checking.
– Nina Hitchings
12/28 – Newcomb, HRM 302: The air temperature fell to -23 degrees F today. While very cold, it was still six degrees warmer than the record low of -29 degrees for the date.
– National Weather Service
12/28 – Glens Falls, HRM 209: The air temperature fell to -20 degrees F tying the record low for the date.
– National Weather Service
12/28 – Battenkill, HRM 193: I canvassed the Salem area today finding a bald eagle and the highest single-day count ever of dark-eyed juncos, horned larks, and white-throated sparrows. The best bird of the day was a belted kingfisher perched on a telephone wire overlooking the small, but rapidly flowing Black Creek. Black Creek has been a great spot for waterfowl in spring and fall and has sections that are actively flowing during the harshest winter weather, freezing long after the Hudson River.
– Scott Varney (Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club)
[I love this area, a unique spot between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the foothills of the West Mountain Range. This is a much-used migratory route for many species of waterfowl and raptors and is a great location for peregrine falcons, both golden and bald eagles, rough-legged hawks, merlins, and other diurnal raptors. Black Creek also creates the bulk of the Hebron Preserve, a great source of spring migrant warblers. Scott Varney]
12/28 – Albany County, HRM 143-137: Our 32nd annual Albany County Christmas Bird Count (conducted December 17) totaled 71 species besting our all-time average of 68. Highlights included white-winged scoter, red-shouldered hawk, rough-legged hawk, white-crowned sparrow (second time on the count), and rusty blackbird (second time on the count). Species found in relatively high numbers included 64 common goldeneye (2nd highest ever) and 52 red-winged blackbirds (highest ever).
– Alan Mapes (Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club)
12/29 – Newburgh, HRM 61: I was able to bird the Newburgh waterfront this afternoon at low tide. Gull numbers were increasing and the quality (diversity) was improving as well. Within the 1,000 or more gulls that were continually moving about due to increasing bald eagle activity, I was able to find four Iceland gulls. Three of them were first-cycle and one a second-cycle bird. There was also an adult lesser black-backed gull. Gull presence should continue to heat up as the weather continues to cool down.
– Curt McDermott
[While “cycle” is related to year-class, in gulls it is a reference denoting cycles of molt (new feathers). The first-cycle birds in this case were birds-of-the-year (similar to young-of-the-year in fishes), born this past summer. The second-cycle bird was in its second winter, although really 1½ years old at this point. Curt McDermott]
12/29 – Delmar, HRM 143: I walked to the big field at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in late afternoon. Three black vultures flew over the north end of the field headed toward Voorheesville (I have seen at least 20 in that general area). At least 1,000 American robins also went over, headed east on their daily roosting flight.
– Alan Mapes (Hudson-Mohawk Birds Club)
 12/29 – Millbrook, HRM 82: This year marked the first full year for the trail cameras in the paths through the hedgerows of two of my fields. The cameras have motion detection and infrared sensors so we get 24-hour data. They recorded, in descending order of abundance, white-tailed deer, coyotes, wild turkeys, foxes, trespassers, raccoons, a black bear, and a bobcat. The bobcat showed up on February 5 at 9:12 PM, and again on April 3 at 12:41 AM. [Photo of bobcat in snow courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service]
White-tailed deer were most abundant just before and just after sunset except in June, when does were active throughout the day to nurse their fawns, and in August and September when deer were active at dawn as well as sunset. The trophy bucks with big antlers generally appeared well after sunset or before sunrise, perhaps explaining why they had survived enough hunting seasons to become trophy bucks.
– Nelson D. Johnson
WINTER 2018 NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAM
NOTE DATE CHANGE!
Thursday, January 11, 2018 from 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
Extinction: A Question of Adaptation (Where did all the “elephants” go?)
Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program’s Consulting Naturalist
Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry Street
2018 Saratoga READS series; no registration required.
Questions: e-mail Chris Alexander
Saturday, February 24 – 1:00 p.m
The Changing Ecology of the Hudson River Flyway
Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program’s Consulting Naturalist
Five River Environmental Education Center, Delmar
Hosted by the Audubon Society of the Capital Region with Southern Adirondack Audubon
For information, e-mail John Loz
HUDSON RIVER MILES
The Hudson is measured north from Hudson River Mile 0 at the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan. The George Washington Bridge is at HRM 12, the Tappan Zee 28, Bear Mountain 47, Beacon-Newburgh 62, Mid-Hudson 75, Kingston-Rhinecliff 95, Rip Van Winkle 114, and the Federal Dam at Troy, the head of tidewater, at 153. The tidal section of the Hudson constitutes a bit less than half the total distance – 315 miles – from Lake Tear of the Clouds to the Battery. Entries from points east and west in the watershed reference the corresponding river mile on the mainstem.
TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR OBSERVATIONS OR TO SUBSCRIBE
The Hudson River Almanac is compiled and edited by Tom Lake and emailed weekly by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program. Share your observations by e-mailing them to trlake7@aol.com.
To subscribe to the Almanac (or to unsubscribe), use the links on DEC’s Hudson River Almanac or DEC Delivers web pages.
Discover New York State Conservationist – the award-winning, advertisement-free magazine focusing on New York State’s great outdoors and natural resources. Conservationist features stunning photography, informative articles and around-the-state coverage. Visit the Conservationist webpage for more information.
USEFUL LINKS
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration online tide and tidal current predictions are invaluable when planning Hudson River field trips.
For real-time information on Hudson River tides, weather and water conditions from twelve monitoring stations, visit the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System website.
Information about the Hudson River Estuary Program is available on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html .
Smartphone app available for New York outdoor enthusiasts!
DEC, in partnership with ParksByNature Network®, is proud to announce the launch of the New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife App for iPhone and Android. This FREE, cutting-edge mobile app gives both novice and seasoned outdoorsmen and women essential information in the palm of their hands. Powered by Pocket Ranger® technology, this official app for DEC will provide up-to-date information on fishing, hunting and wildlife watching and serve as an interactive outdoor app using today’s leading mobile devices. Using the app’s advanced GPS features, users will be able identify and locate New York’s many hunting, fishing and wildlife watching sites. They will also gain immediate access to species profiles, rules and regulations, and important permits and licensing details.
NY Open for Hunting and Fishing Initiative
Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.
In support of this initiative, this year’s budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have gone largely untapped until now. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state’s fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.
This year’s budget also reduces short-term fishing licenses fees; increases the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; authorizes DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and authorizes free Adventure Plates for new lifetime license holders, discounted Adventure Plates for existing lifetime license holders and regular fee Adventure Plates for annual license holders.
Copies of past issues of the Hudson River Almanac, Volumes II-VIII, are available for purchase from the publisher, Purple Mountain Press, (800) 325-2665, or email purple@catskill.net |
Hudson River Almanac
