June 2nd –
8th
We began our week with a quick
look at one of our favorite Orange County birding venues, Benedict Farm in
Montgomery. We had other family
affairs to attend to and so figured we’d just get a quick birding fix before
tending to those. We can usually
count on the farm for a variety of sparrows and swallows as well as Bluebirds,
grassland species like Bobolinks, and Goldfinches. In the short time we spent looking around the farm, we had
plenty of finches and sparrows to look at and photograph. The finches are now in their pure
golden phase and are a joy to behold.
They were joined by a number
of Song sparrows, but try as we may, we were unable to bring any other sparrows
into view. A couple of Eastern
kingbirds and Phoebes did come in to investigate what we were doing on their
turf if for only a brief time.
Barn swallows were also abundant and the old abandoned farm buildings
certainly afford these swift insect hunters a fine place to set up house. Peering into the empty wooden
structures, we could easily see a number of nests ready for the new brood of
youngsters.
The following day, a number of
us took part in the annual Silloway Wildlife Count for Harriman and Bear
Mountain State Parks. By days end,
we had tallied 100 species of birds as well as many reptiles, amphibians, and
insects. The one species we had
trouble counting were the 17 year cicadas which are really beginning to let
their presence known. After 17
years under ground, the noisy critters are out and about, singing their hearts
out to woo any interested females into joining them for a little amorous
interactivity. Millions of the
insects are now choral members of one of the most massive vocal displays
witnessed on the planet. We will
be serenaded for another month or so before the newly hatched young fall to the
ground and bury themselves in the soil for the next decade and a half. I suppose we really have to forgive them for being a little
overwhelming when we figure they only get out once every 17 years!
Later in the week, Sharon and
I went on yet another “chase” as we pursued a King rail reported to be haunting
the grounds of a marshland up in Ulster County. Ulster is pretty far north of the normal breeding range of
these wetland birds and recently, the King rail has been declining in the
north. It is still pretty much a
“regular” down in Florida, but for us to find one this far north is quite
unique. We did not find the rail
when we first arrived as it was remaining quiet and was well hidden in the
vegetation. Eventually, a truck
drove down the narrow road dividing the two parts of the wetland, and for whatever
reason, this noise or vibration seemed to get the rail going. His call is one that’s hard to miss as
it is as loud as it distinctive.
We drove down to close proximity of the call, but gave the bird enough
space so as not to spook it. Sure
enough, after about a 10 minute wait in our vehicle, the rail came out close
enough to the roadside to give us a nice look and a decent photo. We’ve been quite fortunate in finding
the birds we chased this year, and it was rewarding to finally get to see and
photograph this northern rarity.
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| King rail |
Finally, it looks like we are
going to be “grandparents” again as the House sparrows have once again set up
quarters in the eaves of our home.
Some people find these “exotics” annoying, but when you really look
carefully at them, they can be quite handsome. This morning, I was apparently not the only living being to
find them so, as a female succumbed to the advances of an exceptionally fine
looking male and allowed him to have his way with her. And so, can youngsters be expected in
the foreseeable future? We’ll let
you know in upcoming installments of “Naturally Digital”.
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