The Search for the Tundra Swan

This sunday we had perfect conditions for a solid day of birding. The day started off with my first sighting of a Great Blue Heron standing knee deep in the Salt Marsh off of my house. I managed to capture a couple of photographs of the majestic bird standing in the marsh. I walked to the car where I spotted a Golden Crowned Kinglet fluttering across the woods, I couldn't identify the bird right away until I noticed its small "yellow crown" which rested upon its head and the streaks of yellow across its back and wings. I drove to the Ross School where I met up with the rest of the birding crew. We piled up into the back of Doc's car and sped off to Hook Pond. On the way we passed Town Pond and saw a group of at least 20 male and female Mallards, which can be identified by the males green heads and females light brown color. There were also two adult mute swans and one juvenile mute swan as well. When we reached Hook pond I noticed a Great Blue Heron, for the second time, take flight as we pulled in. While we were birding at hook pond, Doc told us to keep our eyes out for the Tundra Swan, which has a black bill opposed to the Mute Swan's orange bill. We also saw quite a few other marine fowl at Hook Pond, including a flight of Double-Creasted Cormorants, American Black Ducks, a Hooded, Canada Geese, Pide Bellied Grebe, and a female belted kingfisher (which was determined to be a female due to the red/orange color of its breast. When we left Hook Pond we decided to head to Georgica Pond where Doc figured there should be Tundra Swans. To our dismay we did not find any Tundra Swans, however we did see a flock of herring gulls, ring-billed gulls, sanderlings, and a lone Great Egret, which stuck out like a pickle compared to the other birds. While driving to our next destination we saw a red tailed hawk flying above in the sky roof, which was the second sky roof red tailed hawk that I have seen on the trip. On our final stop we managed to find what could be the coolest bird on the east coast. THE WILSON'S SNIPE! I small brown bird with an incredibly long bill and large eyes. At first it appeared that there were no birds to be found at the pond, but with Doc's expertise he managed to spot 3-4 relaxing under a tree. This was with out doubt the best part of the trip. So overall we had a very successful trip, even though we didn't get to spot one of the rare Tundra Swans.

Ornithology a branch of Zoology

With the sun beaming hard, a walk on the beach, and no tundra Swans,the birding trip felt as though fall was just beginning. Today we focused on water birds, and some good water birds we did find. At hook pond we contrasted the east end routine water species, mallard ducks, and mute swans with the new species we were inquiring to see. Right off the bat Julia confused the American Black duck with the female Mallard. However, apparently her confusion was quite impressive because American Black Ducks are confusion species with the female mallard. We quickly learned that female Mallards have lighter bodies which is the same molted streaking of brown on the head.

I was able to add the American Black Duck along with 9 more species to my life list:

Hooded Merganster (easily identifiable with the males large white patch on its crest)

Pied-billed Grebe (Small water bird, great divers, with dark brown body and head)

Mocking Bird (a common bird and i had the delight of seeing)

Laughing Gull (He stood on one foot as Doc laghed to give as a hint about the species)

Wilson's Snipes: I felt honored to see these guys. Wilson's snipes blend into their surroundings and rarely are out in the open. Not just one, but we had the honor of observing 3 Wilson's sniped at the side of the road. This shorebird has an extraordinary long bill, (i would say 3/4 its body length) short legs, brown with bold stripes on back and head.

Green winged teal (iridescent green stripe on wing, male brown and green head)

Norther Shovelers (beautiful shuffle like beaks)

Ruddy Duck (small duck with its large white cheek patches and black caps making them easy to identify)

It was also quite enjoyable to see my Belted Kingfisher friend chilling in the trees, observe 8 royal terns looking fly, and to have the pleasant accompaniment of the myrtle warblers song.

I also utilized my ears to aid me with the identification of Canada geese or double-crested cormorant flocks. The geese are easily identified by their annoying constant noises and fly in a flock with a tighter V shape.

Not all ducks are Mallards, and other things I've learned

What a fantastic day for waterfowl and decimating my previously held worldviews! The Ross Ornithologists headed out today for some serious birding, and birds we did find. Passing Town Pond in East Hampton, we spotted our first birds of the day, Mallards (Males rusty and gray with a green head, females mottled brown, both with a blue patch on wing lined in white) and Mute Swans. These birds also happen to be the only birds I could have previously identified in a pond My mind was then blown at Hook Pond in East Hampton, where we found American Black Ducks, which are similar to female Mallards, but with a darker body, lighter head, all yellow bill, and no white on the wing, a Hooded Merganser (a crazy looking black and white bird with a circular crest on its head), a Pied-billed Grebe (a small brown waterbird with a a short bill that can dive underwater for an insane amount of time), and flocks of Canada Geese and Double-crested Cormorants flying above. Our next stop, Georgica Pond, allowed for some sweet shorebird spotting- Royal Terns (with their orange beaks and crazy black tufted heads), Laughing Gulls (a medium dark gull with a black head and wingtips), Sanderlings, Ring-billed Gulls, and Herring Gulls. After Georgica, we were off on the road again, and we saw a Red-tailed Hawk through the moon roof of Doc's car. Excellent car birding! After scoping out some disappointingly populated ponds, we stopped at what was essentially a puddle on the side of the road to catch a glimpse of some adorable Wilson's Snipes. These medium sized, brown and white striped birds with exceptionally long beaks and large black eyes were well camouflaged in the grass, but Doc spotted them. Lastly, we swung by some golf course in Bridgehampton-ish to look at more ducks. SERIOUSLY, THESE WERE PRETTY MUCH THE COOLEST DUCKS EVER. We saw a Green-winged Teal, which had a gray body, rusty brown head, and bright green stripe through its eye and down its neck, Northern Shovelers, which have green heads, black backs, white and brown bellies, and crazy wide beaks, and... Ruddy Ducks, maybe? I don't know, I left my phone in the car. Anyway, pretty much the most mindblowing birding trip of my life, and if anyone wants to buy me a hand carved waterfowl from that guy in Sag Harbor, I'd like a Wood Duck please.

FOUND NEST!!!!!!

On a photo-documenting trip with a fellow 12th grader, I found what I believe to be a robins nest in the large bush by the 12th grade history room; window to the far left. Leaving the nest there only for the photo opp, I took note on how the nest was built around the live branches of the bush. Being a specimen collector, how so ever, I did take the nest out of said bush. It can now be found in the Orno- lab for observation.

Turkey News Report

Shelter Island, N.Y
Osprey Road, south side of the island
The Martino Dorm

Shelter Island, one populated with hundreds of wild turkeys, is now only home to around 6 known turkey flocks reared up by the islands residents in an attempt to bring the fowl back to the island. Ususally a peaceful game bird, the flightless turkey spends much of its time in the woods and open tall-grass fields looking for food, which usually consists of seeds, green vegetation and flowers, berries, and bug or small lizard when lucky. Not contempt with this natural diet, rafter of around 12 turkeys have been visiting the Martino dorm during the hours between 12 pm and 8:30 pm in search of cat food. The outside doors of the dorm are always left open to allow the indoor-outdoor cats (Lilly and Mr.Cow) to go in and out of the residence. Almost every night for a week straight, the house has been subject to the turkeys fowl play.

On the date of 13.Oct.2011, dorm resident Thomas Rückert, senior at the Ross school, witness the turkeys intrusion. “I was at the dorm sick with some off illness” said Thomas. “I heard a few loud bumps on the deck up stairs, so I ran to see what was going on and there was a colevey of around 12 turkeys on the deck trying to get into the house” Thomas continued to say. “I was in shock so I grabbed my camera phone and started taking pictures for a class Im taking in school. I also tried feeding them some of my dorm parent’s English muffins. They were not interested”.

Closing doors and keeping the cats inside during the day are a few of the steps the Martino dorm is taking to prevent further intrusions.

Hawk Stories from Bas Bleu Farm

Mass pandemonium struck the flock of mixed breed bantam chickens. Hens ran to save them selves. The roosters ran at attention. Young mother hen, distraught over the death of 12 of her babies in one-week time, gathered her remaining two under her wings. The horror that caused this commotion was an adult red tailed hawk. Silent and swift, down it came from the trees, over the paddocks, and in front of the barn. Trying to get at the chicks, still in their juvenile plumage with a crop full of stuffing, the hawk attempted to break up the mother-chick trio. Pumpkin and fallowing three roosters ran at the hawk, which in a shocked disposition, retreated to the riding ring fence. A loud shout from Mona, the estates owner and horse caretaker, send the hawk back to the woods on the out skirts of the farm.

… the flock is safe for another day

NOFO FO SHO

On Saturday, I went to the beach and walked around a park that is connected to it on the North Fork.

On the beach, I saw 24 to 25 gulls sitting calmly and relaxing by the shore.
About half of them were little gray Glaucous Gulls, I believe, based off of their very gray wings, the little black spot on their yellow beaks.
There were Ring Billed gulls, and Herring gulls as well. It was strange to see them all sitting, quietly, without much movement.

I continued walking through the park and saw what I believe was a small flock of Dark Eyed Juncos, which I had never seen before, or even heard of. These small sparrows are identified by the dark gray, or almost black head, white chest, short triangular beak- like most sparrows, tiny black beady eyes, and light orangey- gray legs. They are very cute!

I also saw a few song sparrows... Below is the Dark Eyed Junco!