Hudson River Almanac 11/10/18 - 11/23/18
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 11/30/2018 02:00 PM EST |
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Compiled by Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program Consulting NaturalistOverviewFor some weeks, finding a Highlight is challenging. This week was easy: We had two sightings of three bobcats – one a year is about average. The first real snow of the season blanketed the High Peaks and it was time to put away the fish nets of summer. Highlight of the Week
[New York State has had three “big cats” in historic times: Bobcat, Canada lynx, and the largest of the three, the mountain lion. They were here before the first of us arrived – this was their territory. The latter two species are considered extirpated in New York State. The bobcat (Lynx rufus) has the dimensions of a medium-sized dog, 20-30 pounds, with males being larger. Daylight sightings are uncommon, and bobcats may account for at least some of the many “mountain lion” sightings we receive each year. Tom Lake] Natural History Entries11/10 – Washington County, HRM 192: I spotted an osprey this morning perched in a tree at the Livingston Brook Rookery (part of the Battenkill Conservancy) in East Greenwich. That seemed like a very late date for an osprey to still be here. [Osprey are long-distance autumn migrants, sometimes traveling all the way to South America to winter.]
11/10 – Millbrook, HRM 82: The windy weekend rains made for poor viewing and a disappointing autumn for weekenders hoping to enjoy the yellow, orange and red leaves of the sugar maples. The rain knocked many of the leaves off the trees. The forest understory, however, almost made up for it with red from the dense stands of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) and pink highlights from burning bush (Euonymus alatus). Farther south, the burning bushes were pale green rather than pink, but the spicebush (Lindera benzoin) was as red as the barberry and locally as abundant. 11/10 – Town of Poughkeepsie, HRM 67.5: While taking down a suet feeder this evening, I heard scampering sounds and then saw a flash of fur landing on the trunk of the tree. It was a northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), the first one either of us had ever seen. It sat on the trunk briefly, then ran up it out of sight. 11/10 – South Salem, HRM 44: My neighbor still had his hummingbird feeders out. Amidst snow flurries, today, I spotted a female ruby-throated hummingbird. She stopped by for a few minutes, had a drink, and then left. The only natural foods still available to her were some asters and nasturtium flowers. Hummingbirds and snow flurries – this was the first time I had ever seen those two at the same time. I may keep my feeders out a bit longer as well. 11/10 – Bedford, HRM 35: We counted 77 migrants today at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch, 54 of which were turkey vultures. Red-tailed hawk was high count (13) among raptors. 11/10 – Rockland County, HRM 31: We spotted our fourth northern goshawk of the season today at the Hook Mountain Hawkwatch. It came by very fast in mid-morning at eye-level on the south side and was in view for only eight seconds. The bird dipped down and powered on to the west-southwest. Of the 200 migrants we counted, 161 were turkey vultures. Red-tailed hawk (21) was high count among raptors.
The bird feeders were very active this morning with handfuls of American goldfinches, pine siskins, and white-throated sparrows. Evening grosbeaks at the feeder were harassed by two gray squirrels and four red squirrels. There does not seem to be a permanent dominance of the bird feeder by either species of squirrel; sometimes the grays chase the reds off the feeders and sometimes the reds decide it is their day to hold the feeder territory. There does seem to be one feisty red squirrel that is in a constant state of belligerence and will put every bird (including wild turkeys) and squirrel on the run. Other wildlife notes included a bald eagle flying over the Newcomb Town Hall this morning and an ermine already dressed in its winter whites. (Photo of short-tailed weasel courtesy of NYS Department of Environmental Conservation) [The ermine is a short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea). Its fur becomes white in winter as an adaptation for survival in a season of snow and in the presence of many predators. Tom Lake] 11/11 – Saratoga County, HRM 15: Our small birding group met on this Veterans Day morning for our Vischer Ferry Preserve field trip. There was a hotspot of songbird activity along the Towpath with eastern bluebirds, house finches, white-throated sparrows, a rusty blackbird, a Carolina wren, and at least one ruby-crowned kinglet. After checking for waterfowl over the last few weeks, we were surprised to spot a pied-billed grebe in the pond as well as four green-winged teal and a northern pintail. Farther down the Towpath, we came upon five American wigeons and six northern shovelers. Other highlights included five woodpecker species: hairy, downy, red-bellied, pileated, and northern flicker. [The Mohawk Towpath Byway runs from Waterford to Schenectady along the historic route of the Eire Canal. The road tells the story of the Erie Canal and the role our local communities played in the westward expansion of the country and in the Industrial Revolution. Diverse wildlife habitats, classic architecture, and beautiful vistas are sprinkled throughout the corridor. The name “Towpath” comes from a period of the Erie Canal's history when canal vessels were moved principally by draft animals–mostly mules–that pulled from the path atop the side berm of the canal along the Mohawk River. New York State DOT] 11/11 – Bedford, HRM 35: As occurred yesterday at the Hook Mountain Hawkwatch, we spotted – for two minutes in mid-morning – a northern goshawk at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch. In mid-afternoon, we also had our third golden eagle of the season. Red-shouldered hawk (19) was high count for raptors among the 94 migrants. 11/11 – Rockland County, HRM 31: For the second day in a row, we had a northern goshawk at the Hook Mountain Hawkwatch. This one was an immature and seen very close. Red-shouldered hawk (18) was high count for raptors among the 74 migrants. 11/12 – Newcomb, HRM 302: Driving around the area today, I found that some of the smaller lakes and beaver ponds had frozen over (we had nighttime air temperature in the teens). There was more snow on the way. 11/12 – Bedford, HRM 35: I counted 88 migrants from five species at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch today, including 60 turkey vultures. Red-tailed hawk (13) was high count for raptors. Non-raptor observations included 153 American robins and 560 red-winged blackbirds. 11/12 – Rockland County, HRM 31: Red-shouldered hawks (15) were coming very close, allowing for nice views today at the Hook Mountain Hawkwatch. Four bald eagles came through with “kettling” turkey vultures (40), after which they all went high and streamed southwest at extreme altitudes. [“Kettle” is a birding term that describes an aggregation of birds, usually raptors or vultures, often circling overhead in warm, rising thermals. It is the circular movement of the group that appears like a cauldron of birds being “stirred” by the wind, thus a kettle. While kettles can occur almost any time of the year, they are particularly common during fall migration. Tom Lake] 11/13 – Bedford, HRM 35: We counted 22 migrants from four species today at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch including 15 turkey vultures. Red-tailed hawk (4) was high count for raptors. 11/14 – Newcomb, HRM 300: Greetings from the Top of the Hudson! After a very dry summer, the Hudson River was again flowing with all its splendor. On most mornings, we could see ice that formed overnight in little pockets near the islands but that melted away before noon. Beaver were putting on quite a show each evening and sometimes even during mid-day; they have a lot of work to do before full ice shuts them in. The whitetail deer were going full speed ahead with a few excited bucks running in circles. This was also a great year for cranberries. The flavor was intense due to the dry growing conditions. Small mammals had finally quieted down from their banner numbers this year. Trying to keep them outside is still a challenge. 11/14 – Albany County, HRM 153: A west wind gusting to 40 mph, coupled with a 22 degrees Fahrenheit (F) air temperature, dropped the wind chill to about zero at Green Island. Snow squalls were coming so frequently that they seemed to coalesce into a snowstorm. The river below the Federal Dam, chilled by the heavy snow in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, was a frigid 40 degrees F. A dozen common mergansers were queued up along the east side of the river, in the lee of a hillside, out of the wind.
[Bobcat, like the common loon, bald eagle, raven, black bear, moose, river otter, and coyote, are iconic images in the sense that they remind us of calmer, less complex times, when demand on habitat was not as contentious. - Tom Lake] 11/14 – Bedford, HRM 35: We counted 47 migrants from seven species at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch today including 30 turkey vultures. Red-tailed hawk (6) was high count for raptors. Non-raptor observations included 537 Canada geese, 59 snow geese, and 140 red-winged blackbirds. 11/15 – Minerva, HRM 284: We ended up with ten-inches of snow from another storm, and now it was getting much colder. There was still snow from last night lurking, frozen in the trees, ready to fall. 11/15 – Saratoga County, HRM 182: I counted 18 species of waterfowl during a mid-afternoon survey of Saratoga Lake. Hooded mergansers (225) and Canada Geese (1,300) had the largest numbers. The most interesting was ten white-winged scoters, and the most fun was watching hooded mergansers chasing each other and displaying. Included among the 18 species were three hen red-breasted mergansers and three species of grebe: pied-billed, horned, and red-necked grebe. 11/15 – North Germantown, HRM 109: There was a stillness in the air and on the river that brought no comfort – a winter storm was coming. We hauled our seine in the slip of the boat launch, a usually reliable tactic. The water was a bone-chilling 40 degrees F. As the net kept coming in empty, we began to wonder. Was the season over? I thought of the lyrics from a Gordon Bok ballad, Mrs. MacDonald’s Lament: When the wind's away, and the wave's away, Yet he knows full well the fishin' is done ...
[Gordon Bok is a folk singer-songwriter. He was the first mate, along with Pete Seeger, on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater's maiden voyage in 1969, from the Harvey Gamage shipyard in South Bristol, Maine to the Hudson River. Steve Stanne] 11/15 – Bedford, HRM 35: We counted 23 migrants from seven species at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch today including 12 turkey vultures. Red-tailed hawk (5) was high count for raptors. Non-raptor Observations included 403 Canada geese and 84 American robins. 11/15 –- Manhattan, HRM 1: We checked our research sampling gear in Hudson River Park at The River Project's sampling station on the lighthouse tender Lilac at Pier 25 and found an interesting mix of fish and crustaceans. The most impressive were three white perch that ranged in size from 85-240 millimeters (mm.) They are perhaps the signature estuarine fish. The saltwater effect brought us three adorable feather blennies (65-75 mm), and the brackish water estuary brought us two young-of-summer blue crabs (25, 50 mm). [Feather blenny (Hypsoblennius hentz), a seasonally marine resident, is a small, scaleless fish with fleshy cirri (“feathers”) on their head. Their lower jaw has a row of small, close-set teeth like those of a comb, thus their family name, combtooth blennies (Blenniidae). Blennies are benthic dwellers where they often burrow in the soft bottom or find refuge in old mollusk shells. C. Lavett Smith] [Note: one inch = 25.4 millimeters (mm)] 11/16 – Minerva, HRM 284: We have had an early winter here including another eight-inches of nasty, wet, gloppy snow that knocked out power in Minerva for 22 hours. Single-digit cold was predicted for tomorrow, and the pond on the “back-forty” was beginning to ice-over. It will be fully covered after tomorrow. [“Back forty” is a colloquial expression meant to convey wild or rough terrain adjacent to a developed area. In the instance of a farm, for example, it might be a small percentage of the land left uncultivated or natural, sometimes in the “back forty acres” of the property. Tom Lake] 11/16 – Hudson Valley: Last night’s storm created the highest, widespread snowfall amounts on record, occurring on or before November 15. It can snow this time of year, but it doesn’t usually snow with such conviction. We had snowfall rates of three-inches-per-hour for three hours, far surpassing snowfall forecasts. That’s what we mean when we say a historic snowfall, with up to 20 inches in Dutchess County causing many power outages. 11/16 – Bedford, HRM 35: We counted 18 migrants from five species at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch today including ten turkey vultures. Red-tailed hawk (4) was high count for raptors. Non-raptor observations included 72 Canada geese. 11/17 – Rhinebeck, HRM 90: I heard and then saw a male belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) this afternoon perched atop a high fence near the pond beyond my deck. It chattered and flew over the pond, past five mallards that had opened the thin layer of ice that had been on the pond since the snowstorm two days ago. 11/17 – Bedford, HRM 35: We counted 53 migrants from eight species at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch today including 28 turkey vultures. Red-tailed hawk (13) was high count for raptors. Non-raptor observations included 154 Canada geese. 11/17 – Rockland County, HRM 31: The first of three bald eagles at the Hook Mountain Hawkwatch today was an adult – the other two were immatures. We counted 22 turkey vultures that were trying to “kettle”, but they ended up going by the summit heading west-southwest. Non-raptor observations included 47 Canada geese. 11/18 – Bedford, HRM 35: Considering the almost total lack of sun to form thermals, we had a surprisingly good red-shouldered hawk flight (45) at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch today. Non-raptor observations included 528 Canada geese, 15 common loons, and six sandhill cranes. 11/18 – Rockland County, HRM 31: There was a good showing of red-shouldered hawks (20) at the Hook Mountain Hawkwatch today. Three other raptors were also counted, all red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor observations included two beautiful American robins playing together the entire time I was on watch. They both had a very deep orange-red breast – really beautiful! 11/18 – Ramshorn, HRM 112.2: The right people always make the hike right, no matter where you choose to walk. After catching up with long-time friends and artists, we wandered through the Ramshorn-Livingston Sanctuary. Ice bound hepatica, a witch hazel in full flower, a half dozen great blue herons and an adult bald eagle were wonderful trail companions, as was a single hunter, armed and ready at the beginning of deer season. That kept us honest and, on the trails, ... mostly. 11/19 – Saratoga County, HRM 200: I did a drive through the Northumberland farmlands this afternoon to survey the bird life. First, I came upon more than 200 horned larks in a large field picking at freshly spread manure. As there was some topography to the field, there were probably more birds than I could view. One couldn't help noticing that American crows were everywhere: in fields, on the road and roosting in trees, more than 800 of them. I also estimated 350 Canada geese on the Hudson River and in various fields eating leftover corn. 11/19 – Saratoga County HRM 182: Following the Northumberland farmlands, I returned home by way of Saratoga Lake where a flock of snow geese caught my attention. In reviewing my photos, I concluded there were 85 of them along with an estimated 650 Canada geese. 11/19 – Bedford, HRM 35: I counted 14 migrants of five species at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch today including eight turkey vultures. Most of the flight was to the west-southwest at heights above unaided vision. Non-raptor observations included 62 cedar waxwings and 92 American robins. 11/20 – Saratoga County, HRM 12: My sister and I did a tour of Saratoga Lake late this afternoon beginning at Riley's Cove where, through our spotting scope, we spotted three red-necked grebes. At Saratoga Springs Waterfront Park, the sun came out and we were treated to a spectacle of Canada geese and a river of ring-billed gulls. There were at least 1,000 geese and 600 gulls. There were also six snow geese (yesterday there had been more than a hundred). 11/20 – Albany County, HRM 153: At 6:00 this evening, I heard flocks of geese, both snow geese and Canada geese, flying over heading south. 11/20 – Albany County, HRM 143: In the moonlight at 7:30 this evening, I heard and barely made out large skeins of snow geese flying over Delmar. 11/20 – Bedford, HRM 35: We counted 17 migrants from three species at the Bedford Audubon Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch today, including 14 turkey vultures. The three raptors included two red-tailed hawks and one Cooper’s hawk. Most of the flight was to the west-southwest at heights easily seen with the unaided eye. Non-raptor observations included 28 American robins.
11/20 – Manhattan, HRM 1: We checked our research sampling gear in Hudson River Park at The River Project's sampling station on the lighthouse tender Lilac at Pier 25 and found a feather blenny (60 mm), a white perch (180 mm), and what has become our signature fish, an oyster toadfish (50 mm). 11/21 – Rockland County, HRM 31: Of the 29 migrants we counted today at the Hook Mountain Hawkwatch, 18 were turkey vultures. High count among the raptors was red-tailed hawk (7). An adult peregrine falcon came overhead, looked down at me and our great horned owl decoy, and then flew off to the northeast. Non-raptor observations included more than 200 Canada geese. 11/22 – Brooklyn, New York City: Two immature northern harriers worked the newly mowed grasslands at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. The grasslands should have been mowed in early September, but I am sure those two raptors were very pleased that it had not been, for the small rodents it now exposed.
[The northern shrike (Lanius excubitor) is a boreal songbird whose presence in the Hudson Valley is often associated with severe winter weather to the north. They are often in migration from near-Arctic breeding grounds to Mid-Atlantic wintering sites. They have a raptor-like appearance and will often impale their prey (smaller songbirds) on thorns or barbed wire. This has earned them the scientific name for their genera, Lanius, Latin for butcher. Tom Lake] 11/23 – Hudson River Watershed: As a service to birders and Christmas Bird Count coordinators, the New York State Ornithological Association maintains an easy-to-use, one-page, online calendar of New York State Christmas Bird Counts: http://nybirds.org/ProjCBC.html [The Christmas Bird Count (CBC), the nation’s longest running citizen-science effort, is held throughout the country at year’s end. It replaced the Victorian era “side-shoot,” in which guests went out to shoot as many different bird and mammal species as one could on Christmas Day. In 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman organized a group of friends to observe, count and share information about bird species without shooting them. The National Audubon Society, which Chapman helped organize, now sponsors this annual tradition. Each year, thousands of people go out to count and publish as many bird species as their group can in a sporting, competitive way. The result has been the gathering of significant data which has monitored changes in bird populations and distribution over the years. - Rich Guthrie] Hudson River Miles DEC's Smartphone app for iPhone and Android is now available at: New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife App. Adventure NYUnder Governor Cuomo's Adventure NY initiative, DEC is making strategic investments to expand access to healthy, active outdoor recreation, connect more New Yorkers and visitors to nature and the outdoors, protect natural resources, and boost local economies. This initiative will support the completion of more than 75 projects over the next three years, ranging from improvements to youth camps and environmental education centers to new boat launches, duck blinds, and hiking trails. Read more about the Adventure NY initiative. For more information on planning an outdoor adventure in New York State, visit DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor. |
Hudson River Almanac
11/16 – Town of LaGrange, HRM 69: We've had glimpses of a bobcat around here before, but never up close. After last night’s snow storm, we watched a bobcat stalk squirrels around our bird feeders. (Photo of bobcat courtesy of Alan Thomas)
11/10 – Norrie Point, HRM 85: Our Carp Anglers Group seminar to promote Hudson River carp fishing was well attended. We provided free hands-on teaching of the skills needed to successfully catch common carp. We pre-baited the cove at Norrie Point via kayak before a storm started blowing -- hail, snow, and 25 mph winds. Despite the weather, our catch was impressive. All together, we caught seven large carp, the biggest of which was 18 pounds 3 ounces, as well as seven channel catfish. (Photo of common carp courtesy of Sam Williams)
11/11 – Newcomb, HRM 302: Winter had arrived in the Adirondacks. We had some dustings of snow at our elevation, but the winter storm over the last two days resulted in more than eight inches of snow and severe damaging winds. Many trees and limbs were down on the local roads.
11/14 – Norrie Point, HRM 85: Heading out from work in late afternoon, two shapes moving along the east side cove caught our eye. We went over to the railing to get a better look. They were too small to be white-tailed deer and moving too fluidly and gracefully to be coyotes. Getting a better look, we could tell that they were bobcats! They seemed to not notice us as we watched them walk along the bank – the cove was about two hours from high tide – and then up over the hill into the forest out of view. (Photo of bocat courtesy of Michael Kalin)
On our final haul, almost as a parting gift, we netted a gorgeous young-of-year channel catfish, our only catch of the day. (Photo of channel catfish courtesy of Tom Lake)
11/20 – Rockland County, HRM 31: We arrived by 8:00 AM at the Hook Mountain Hawkwatch to heavy fog-mist-cloud cover. By 9:50 AM, turkey vultures began to find thermals and migrate. As the morning continued under very low clouds and damp conditions, the vultures started to kettle and move west-southwest. Of the 160 migrants we counted today, 80 were turkey vultures and 61 were black vultures. High count among raptors was red-shouldered hawk (9). Non-raptor observations included more than 100 Canada geese. (Photo of black vulture courtesy of Ann Brokelman)
11/23 – Galeville, HRM 74: A northern shrike was back at the Shawangunks Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. If it is the same bird, it seems to have become a regular winter visitor. I watched it land in a tree. At first, I thought it was just a meadowlark. But, the long tail had me thinking a late flycatcher, or even a scissor-tailed flycatcher, as it kept diving, flying down into the grass and then back to its perch. Later, it flew right at me and cooperatively landed in a close tree. It posed for me for a minute before it headed off to the west. (Photo of northern shrike courtesy of Jim Yates)
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