Note: This field trip was sponsored by the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, a NYSYBC Partner Club. Many thanks especially to Andy Mason of DOAS and Franklin Mountain Sanctuary.
photo by Mary Batcheller
The mountain looked like a giant fog machine had gone haywire. That's never a good sign for hawkwatching. When we arrived at the hawkwatch station, the fog was still fairly thick, limiting visibility to a few hundred meters. The group was jovial despite this birding setback. The fog gradually cleared as the morning wore on, and with this new visibility, vigilance also increased.
"RAPTOR!" This call sent granola bars flying as everyone jumped to their feet. Moments later, "Oops, it's a crow. Just wishful thinking...." More scanning. Repeat: "RAPTOR!" More wishful thinking. Another crow tallied.
After lunch, several of us walked an adjacent trail loop. A Pileated Woodpecker was busy working the area, providing good looks as it repeatedly flew in front of us. A distant Horned Lark called, announcing its presence as a flyover, though the winged wraith remained unseen. We also encountered a few small mixed passerine flocks, including chickadees, titmice, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and both nuthatches.
photo by Mary Batcheller
Upon returning to the hawkwatch, we were happy to hear we hadn't missed anything of interest. As the skies continued to clear, raptor activity picked up slightly. A couple Red-tailed Hawks patrolled the horizon, our first raptors of the day! A Bald Eagle, probably a local bird, also cruised by in the valley below. Unfortunately, no other raptors showed themselves, so we returned our interest to ground level.
Birding is frequently unpredictable—one of the reasons it's so enjoyable. Even when bird activity is slow, though, nature offers a plethora of other fascinating things to look at. Spiders are one of these. We found several interesting individuals throughout the day which we photographed thoroughly before releasing. A dragonfly and other insects also entertained us until it was time to go.
This was a fun trip despite the lack of raptors. Many thanks to Andy Mason, the official hawk counter, for leading, and to the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society for sponsoring this field trip. Here's to raptor-filled skies next time!
List of Birds Seen on this Trip
by
Hope Batcheller
| Mallard Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Pileated Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Blue Jay |
American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch |
Golden-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper European Starling Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch Species Total: 21 |
