October Birding
Published: November 03, 2016
Tags: General Observations, Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-plover, Sanderling, White-crowned Sparrow, House Wren, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Pintail, Rusty Blackbird, Bonaparte's Gull, Surf Scoter, Brant, Golden Eagle
Sometimes October can bring in some good birds! True to form, we had a few rarities while we got to enjoy the last of the passerine migration and watch as geese and ducks began their movements through the region.
I think my best sighting of the month was of a small flock of Brant down near the lake shore. I had just arrived one morning and looked up to eleven geese-like birds flying relatively low overhead. They didn't call but my immediate sense was Brant. My camera settings were all wrong for a flyover, but I took a few shots anyway, hoping to confirm my suspicions. After enhancing the photos later on, I was 99.9% sure they were Brant, but sent the photos over to Andy Guthrie just to be sure. Andy replied that they were, indeed, Brant - a county bird for me. Brant were reported a few places in Western New York that day - the winds were just right, I guess!
Another great sighting, a little birthday gift for me, was that of a juvenile Golden Eagle. This bird graced me with low, lazy circles as he flew overhead just as I was finishing up some birding down by the waterfront. Wow! You couldn't ask for a better gift!
The month ended on a real high from the BOS trip to Cape May. I'll post about that next. Below are some photos of the birds I was able to capture with my camera...
A new Black-bellied Plover came upon the October scene ...and Sanderlings too This bird nearly stayed through for the BOS October count. Someone advertised it on Facebook and I can't help but wonder if it was spooked as many of the "photogs" don't know how to give these birds the distance they need. I was bummed I couldn't include it on the count. Sigh Here it is again - just two days before the count... Young White-crowned Sparrow House Wren Red-shouldered Hawk - a new yard bird for me! Northern Pintail Lots of Rusty Blackbirds were here as well as in many huge flyovers American Golden-plover - continuing for pretty much the rest of the month a little further north - these guys made it on the count! Black-bellied Plover Bonaparte's Gull A flock of Surf Scoters Brant A little closer view of the Brant My birthday Golden Eagle Golden Eagle
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