Grassland Migrants
Yesterday I was able to enjoy and photograph a couple of uncommon grassland birds for us in the Northeast – the Dickcissel (Spiza americana) and the Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). Both of these species had been spotted at Stratford Point where they are almost annual visitors, with Dickcissels typically stopping over in the fall and Grasshopper Sparrows being seen sometimes in both spring and autumn. I decided to take a walk around the site with my friend and great birder Tom Murray as we were giving the sparrows some space in hopes the unseen Grasshopper would pop back...
Read MoreCamera Blunders
During this time of the year, when bird migrations are happening, salamander eggs are growing and plants are budding, it doesn’t take long to kill a camera battery from lots of activity. And once that battery is dead, it doesn’t do any good when you are headed into the field once again! I discovered on Monday morning as RTPI Alex Shipherd and I were headed up to the Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport, that my camera battery was done for. Alex’s camera was ready to go, and I at least had my phone and we took our field scope with as well. As you can see, we found Eastern...
Read MoreJamestown Airport Birds
The boys are back in town! Bobolinks have taken over the grasslands around the Jamestown airport again and it makes me happy! Our plant and bird surveys are kicking into gear again – hoping for the return of Grasshopper and Henslow’s Sparrows soon. One of these birds was a nice surprise today – likely a late migrant, but perhaps the Northern Harrier will stick around and attempt to nest? Time will tell… Twan Leenders President
Read MoreGrasshopper Sparrow
I photographed this Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) last week on a dreary and foggy morning in grasslands known to be a spring migratory site for the species. It was busy feeding in the mist, generally avoiding any picturesque views, as is typical for the species. It had even been singing the previous day! RTPI staff documented confirmed breeding of Henslow’s Sparrows and Grasshopper Sparrows at the Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport (KJHW) during the summer of 2013. Both species are listed as New York endangered species with the Henslow’s Sparrow classified as ‘threatened’ and...
Read MoreRecord February Cold
Look at some of these staggeringly low temperatures recorded overnight in western New York via the National Weather Service in Buffalo, New York! The Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport ASOS recorded a low of -18, but a COOP observer on the outskirts of the city got it down to -30! Even Lake Erie didn’t help Dunkirk as it pushed down to -28! These are not wind chills – they are actual air temperatures. These are rather mind-blowing for mid-February, and once again it seems we have a year of extreme cold while the rest of the planet is warmer than usual. Is climate change going to...
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