My previous diary covered July 5th & 6th. On July 7th & 8th we had some severe weather in CNY so I wasn't able to get out until the 9th. I also went birding on the 10th & 12th and got a life bird on every day.
Not a life bird, but it was a good omen for a Scarlet Tanager to give me the best photo I have of one first thing in the morning.
More below the squiggle.
The morning of Wednesday July 9th was a productive morning of birding. I made another trip to Labrador Hollow Unique Area to find a specific bird. My father was sure he saw a Prothonotary Warbler there on the 6th, but I was not able to find that bird.
The first bird that flew into view was a Scarlet Tanager.
I saw the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker again, but was not able to get a photo. At the same spot there was a juvenile Swamp Sparrow and an adult Swamp Sparrow.
Cedar Waxwing
There were also Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern Kingbirds, and Tree Swallows at the pond.
On my way to the parking lot a little bird caught my attention. First life bird of the day, Eastern Phoebe.
I then went to the spot my father thought he saw the Prothonotary. There I saw my second life bird of the day, an American Redstart, but I was using my binoculars at the time and not the camera. There were also Ovenbirds, Common Yellowthroat and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. I did get a photo of a female Grosbeak.
On the way home I decided to stop at a property owned by the Central New York Land Trust in Tully, NY.
The South Meadows Nature Area has a nice little loop path moving through several types of habitat, but the path was blocked by a fallen tree about halfway.
Female Common Yellowthroat
Song Sparrow
A lot more insect life than birds...
On Thursday the 10th I drove out to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Young shorebirds are starting to move north and I wanted to see if any were at the refuge.
First bird to come into view was a life bird. Alder Flycatcher
There was an adult and a juvenile Green Heron sitting in a tree.
Swamp Sparrow
Lots of Red-winged Blackbirds
Pied-billed Grebe
The Black Terns are starting to molt
They don't like Bald Eagles either...
Wood Ducks
The Canada Geese seem upset that you want to drive down the road they are sleeping on.
Three Osprey were circling the main pool of Black Lake, but I didn't see a successful catch.
A different Pied-billed Grebe with a different fish
On this particular morning there were also hundreds, maybe even thousand, Tree Swallows. Both adult and juvenile.
The only shorebird I saw, a Killdeer.
Plenty of Great Blue Herons as always.
Then on to Van Dyne Spoor marsh in Savannah, NY. This year they drained the marsh, so there is just one pool of water left. The Great Blue Herons, at least 30, were crowded into a small area to pick off the few remaining fish.
The last stop was the Morgan Road marsh just down the road. I didn't get out to walk because it was getting late and the bugs were really bad. But I did see a Robin eating a frog...
Saturday July 12th was time for a visit to the Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve. Seneca Meadows is a landfill known locally as "Mount Trashmore". A few year ago they wanted to expand the landfill, so they had to restore a wetland somewhere else. The result is a nice place to visit, even though there isn't much shade...
First bird after leaving the parking lot was a life bird, Bobolink.
Lots of Song Sparrows
This Savannah Sparrow was funny. It just kept hopping along the path never letting us get any closer.
A juvenile Song Sparrow that I incorrectly identified as a Vesper Sparrow.
Marsh Wren
Lots of Swallowtail Butterflies
Swamp Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Female Red-winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow
Bobolink
They should have taken some precautions against House Sparrows...
Since I was right next to Montezuma I couldn't just go home without driving through. Mid-morning isn't the best time to visit, but I got a few good photos...
Female Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Kingbird
The Coot chicks are all grown up...
GBH
Common Gallinule
Eastern Kingbirds
Mallard Hen and chicks